December 21, 1990

Sewer avoidance outside the proposed sewer district and sewers within it are both in Newtown’s future, First Selectman Zita McMahon said following a special meeting on the subject this week. Sewer avoidance — or “septic management” as Mrs McMahon prefers to call it — is one avenue the town can pursue following last month’s defeat of a $4 million plan to design sewers. That proposal probably won’t begin to see action or financing until January. Meantime, although the proposed $113 million sewer project is on hold and has yet to be taken to a vote in its own right, Mrs McMahon said, “It’s important we keep this subject viable and talked about.” The first selectman would like to see the $15,000 assessment reduced and more cost shifted to the tax base. Legislative Council member Alice Ramsey spoke in favor of building sewers last Thursday. She also agreed with the concept of setting up a reserve fund to help residents outside the proposed sewer district with septic repairs.

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A fire extensively damaged a house on Cricket Trail on the morning of December 15. The fire apparently was caused by a problem with the furnace, according to William Halstead, chief of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company. The fire started in the basement and spread up through the walls and to the roof. There probably were between 35 and 40 firefighters at the scene. Responding were the Sandy Hook and Newtown Hook & Ladder Fire Companies. The Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company sent a tanker and later sent additional manpower. The Southbury Volunteer Fire Company initially was on standby. The Stevenson Volunteer Fire Company was on standby, and the Dodgingtown and Botsford Volunteer Fire Companies were also on standby.

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An area hauler charged with depositing cyanide-laced fill at a Newtown home has retained a consultant to evaluate the extent of the contamination before planning for its removal. In November, the state Attorney General’s office charged Monroe hauler Mathew Capozziello, Sr, owner of Aspetuck Tree and Landscaping, Inc, with delivering 1,000 cubic yards of bad fill on January 17 to the home of Newtown property owners Richard and Kathryn Hunyadi on Berkshire Road. Mr Capozziello and the Hunyadis are considered responsible for removal and cleanup of the contaminated material, which can pose a health hazard.

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Residents throughout the area were caught off-guard by a surprise freeze, Saturday, December 15, which left state and local roadways covered with ice. Traffic was tied up for nearly two hours. The freeze was so quick that it not only surprised motorists, but police and highway officials, as well. The town highway crew members who got into the department first, got the trucks and headed out to pick up the rest of the crew.

December 24, 1965

More than 300 people gathered in Trinity Episcopal Church last Sunday afternoon for the dedication of the new parish house, the first in the church’s 233-year history. To the processional hymn “Now Thank We All Our God,” the choirs, the clergy taking part in the service, visiting clergy from many nearby parishes, the vestry and the building committee moved down the center aisle. The Rt Rev John H. Esquirol, Suffragan Bishop of Connecticut, was the officiant and the Rt Rev William G. Wright, Bishop of Nevada and former rector of Trinity, gave the sermon.

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A representative of the State Department of Education has judged the physical facilities of Newtown’s high school building to be generally inadequate, even for grades six through eight, while stating that kitchen, cafeteria, and toilet facilities are satisfactory. The report was prepared by Dr George E. Sanborn, chief of the state department’s Bureau of School Buildings. His recommendations include provision of additional science laboratories, at least two all-purpose home economics spaces, at least two more physical education teaching stations, more locker rooms, additional administrative space including space for the guidance services, a music workshop including library and office space.

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Police are investigating what appears to be a case of sabotage to Newtown’s fleet of town trucks, ten in number. Last Friday, the engine of one burned out, and when a spare rebuilt engine was installed in its place, that also burned out within minutes. A third truck’s motor suffered the same damage. The remaining town trucks were then called back at once and were off the roads by Monday noon. When the oil was removed, an abrasive material of some sort was found in every one of them. Samples of the oil have been sent to the laboratory of the state police… to learn the sort of abrasive… and to learn whether the oil was contaminated when it reached Newtown or whether the abrasive material had been added here.

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The death of a Fairfield Hills Hospital patient under a New Haven Railroad freight train last Saturday morning has been ruled a suicide. Mrs Margaret Chipas, 42, of Bridgeport, has been a patient intermittently for seven years. she had had the privilege of the hospital grounds for some time, and walked a considerable distance to reach the tracks. She stepped in front of the train just as it rounded a curve, too late for it to stop, although brakes were immediately applied.

 

December 20, 1940

Two large trees that were to have been used at the Christmas party held under the auspices of the local Post VFW, were stolen from the yard of Irving Shaw in Sandy Hook on Monday night. The trees were exceptionally fine ones and the members of the post and auxiliary would like to know the guilty parties.

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Robert Lockwood, of Dayton street, Sandy Hook, was seriously injured early Sunday morning in Sandy Hook when assaulted by a group of young men from Seymour. As told by those involved, Mr Lockwood attended a dance at Capellaro’s Grove. About 1 o’clock when he started for home, his hat could not be found and the group from Seymour were suspected of taking it. Later Mr Lockwood stopped at Cantone’s in Sandy Hook and the young men from Seymour were there. An argument started and two of the young men attacked Mr Lockwood, beating him severely. He was removed to the Danbury hospital by friends when it was found that he had a fractured skull and bruises about the body. He remained in semi-conscious condition for several days, but is now responding. Sergeant Henry Paulau of Ridgefield Barracks arrested the two men who assaulted Lockwood and their four companions.

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The choir in the Congregational church, under direction of Miss Agatha Canfield, will go caroling on Monday night and will be pleased to have all those who enjoy singing carols out-of-doors from house to house, to join with them. Cards with the words of the old carols on them will be distributed and lanterns will be carried on poles to give some light. Musical instruments will be welcome, depending on the weather.

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On Christmas Eve afternoon at 4 o’clock the children will again hold their candlelight carol service around the Christmas tree in the Library. Those who were present last year for the carol singing will remember how lovely it was — the lights from the tree, the scent of fir and pine boughs, the dancing flames from the fire on the hearth, and the high sweet voices of the children welcoming the Christmas season with its spirit of peace on earth, good will to men — a spirit doubly needed in the world today.

 

December 24, 1915

The Dodgingtown boys turned out, Monday, and dug out the snowbound road from a point south of the schoolhouse to the Key Hole rock section. It was then possible to drive from Bethel to Newtown. On Monday of this week, the residents of the Dodgingtown section had their mail delivery again, RFD carrier Eugene Stone making his first trip since last week Monday. William C. Johnson drove his auto from his residence to Stepney, Monday, being the first car to pass over the road since the blizzard.

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Philo Bostford, ’16, won the third price in the State Dairy Club contest, competing with all the club members in Connecticut. To compete one must keep a record of the food, care, and resultant produce from a number of cows for several months. The young man received as a reward for his well kept record and essay on dairy farming, a butter worker and subscriptions to many dairy publications.

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They say patience is rewarded and it is true. After working and shoveling for several days to dig his way out of the garage, E.C. Hatter succeeded in running his first trip to Bridgeport from Newtown at 8:30 on Wednesday, December 22. So many people expressed themselves as being glad to see the bus come through again. It’s a real handy way to reach intermediate points and we hope a liberal patronage will be the result of Mr Hatter’s efforts.

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Owing to the fact that the Danbury & Bethel Street Railway Co have threatened injunction proceedings in case the Electrical Engineering & Storage Battery Co. proceed with their plan of erecting poles, stringing wire and furnishing electricity to light the main street of Sandy Hook from the New England station to Newtown station, the managers of the Electrical Engineering & Storage Battery Co are holding the matter in abeyance for the present. If the Danbury company should decline to run their wires to Sandy Hook, so that the citizens could buy the juice for lighting their places of business and residences, then it would appear to the lay mind the Danbury company would lose the injunction. If they are aiming to keep Mr Cole’s company out of Sandy Hook, then they should enter and sell the light where called for.