December 29, 2000

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Milissa McMahon.

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A Newtown resident tried and true, Sarah Farrell Mannix died Tuesday morning after a lengthy illness. She is remembered by many for being a “Newtown treasure” who leaves behind a legacy of dedication to the community. She was 92. … Mrs Mannix grew up in Newtown in the same house she was born in on South Main Street. She enjoyed several different careers here. From her flowers and her school bus to her kindergarten and her toyshop, Sarah Mannix was widely considered to be the first lady of Newtown.

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The state Department of Labor (DOL) has dismissed an unemployment compensation appeal filed by former police chief James E. Lysaght, Jr, determining that Mr Lysaght engaged in “willful misconduct” while employed by the town before his March firing, and thus is not eligible to receive unemployment checks. In the decision issued December 13 by DOL appeals referee John W. Blair, Jr, the referee affirms an April 6 decision by a DOL administrator, which denied Mr Lysaght unemployment checks following his March 3 termination by the Police Commission.

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The State of Connecticut has agreed to extend the deadline for the completion of negotiations over Fairfield Hills with the town. The original deadline had been Sunday, December 31. However, the complicated issue has forced both sides to move talks into 2001. The state has offered to sell the 185-acre property to Newtown “as is” for $5.5 million. The negotiations are centering around the offering price and the existing environmental contamination on the site.

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The Homesteads at Newtown, an elderly housing complex, is now under construction on Mt Pleasant Road in Hawleyville. The building contains one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and studio apartments, plus apartments for residents with Alzheimer’s disease. The building is on the site of a former sand-and-gravel quarry. The complex is expected to open in February.

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Members of Newtown Congregational Church’s WorkCamp program spent last weekend at Borders Books in Danbury, offering free giftwrapping for shoppers. The teens were participating in a fundraiser (donations were being accepted) for WorkCamp, a program where a group of Newtown youth spend one week rebuilding and repairing homes in a depressed area of the country. … WorkCamp members took turns working in shifts of a few hours last weekend at the Danbury bookstore.

December 26, 1975

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — OUR BEST FOR 1976: One of our readers called us up on Monday and merely said “Thanks a lot.” When questioned what for, we were told it was our comments in this column last week, referring to warm weather and the lack of snow, which caused all of the white stuff we received. Thus we probably stand well in the good graces of the skiers, but not quite in the pleasure of those who favor the bare ground. In any case, it is nice to think that the weatherman reads the paper and pays us some heed. … The schedule for publication required that last week’s paper carry our Christmas message, and this time around we bring our good wishes for a Happy New Year. Again we have relied on the talents of artist Harrie Wood and we at The Bee join him in sending out the best for 1976 through the [illustration of the] Liberty Bell. May its sounds this birthday year ring in happiness and good times for all.

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Seven area tax collectors gathered at the Yankee Drover recently to honor one of their number, Mrs Kay Tomlinson of Woodbury, who is retiring after 22 years, 11 terms, as that town’s tax collector. Taking over after January 4 will be Mrs Lorraine Traver. … Also celebrating were Violet Davis of Southbury, Ora Keeler, Brookfield; Ann Posich, Oxford; Betty Smith, Newtown; and Laura Halliwell, Easton.

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The Newtown Bicentennial Committee is sponsoring an art contest for professional or amateur artists. First prize is a $50 savings bond and a ticket for two, worth $50, to the Newtown Bicentennial Colonial or Heritage Ball. (Tickets are nonredeemable.) Second prize is a $25 savings bond. The artwork should be something related to the town of Newtown — a scene, a building, a historical event in the town, a symbol, design or graphic representation, either past or present. … All art submitted will become the property of the Bicentennial Committee to use for fund raising to support Newtown’s Bicentennial events.

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Saturday morning and the first flakes of a weekend-long snowstorm were drifting down into the Edmond Town Hall parking lot. Parents and children expectantly waited. Suddenly, around the corner, riding on the back of a Hook and Ladder fire engine, comes Santa Claus himself. The kids cheered and filed into the Town Hall gymnasium along with Santa for an opportunity to tell him what they’ve always wanted for Christmas.

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David R. Porado has been named banking officer of the Connecticut National Bank’s Botsford office, effective January 2. Mr Porado has been serving as the manager of the Botsford office since February, 1975. He was assigned previously as an assistant manager at the Madison avenue office in Trumbull. … He is married to the former Rita Moynihan. They are the parents of a daughter, Mary Jane, and reside in Newtown.

December 22, 1950

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — ON OTHER DAYS AS WELL: Christmas Day is drawing near. For little children it will be the usual joyous occasion — we must all see to that. Adults, too, will try bravely to shut from their minds the dread realities of the world about them, and for a day be carefree youngsters again. We will all delight in the pleasures of giving and receiving gifts. Greetings of good fellowship will sound forth on every hand, and life will be bright, indeed. With the joyfulness which is so much a part of the Christmas season, there will also be present this year, perhaps more so than in the recent past, an appreciation of the religious significance of the observance. But what about the morrow? … As each one of us prepares for Christmas and outwardly takes part in its celebration, we will do well to pledge ourselves anew to lives of closer fellowship and understanding. Whatever then may follow, we will be making our individual contributions toward the creation of lasting peace on earth, good will among men, which now are so lamentably lacking, save on Christmas Day.

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The recessed session of the annual town meeting was held in the theatre at the Edmond Town Hall on Thursday evening, December 14, with an attendance of 17 voters and taxpayers. In the absence of W.W. Holcombe, chairman of the October meeting, Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh was named temporary chairman and on motion of H.H. Cutler, the auditor’s report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1950, was unanimously accepted.

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Laughs, spills and good ball playing marked the fourth annual basketball classic between the Boys SAC Midgets and the girls Bobbysockers played Wednesday night of this week in the gym of the Edmond Town Hall. In a fast game that provided many thrills for the small crowd of enthusiasts that watched, the Midgets outshot the Bobbysockers to win [by] five points and to chalk up their fifth straight win this season. The final score was 30-25.

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There has been a lively program of entertainment at Fairfield State Hospital in anticipation of the coming holidays. During the month Christmas parties are being conducted in all the buildings, and there have been special entertainments conducted in Kent House, Bridgeport Hall and Canaan House. Opening the month’s activities was a hillbilly program presented in Kent House, Monday, December 4, with entertainment for veterans presented the following night by the Fairfield County Council, V.F.W., in Bridgeport Hall.

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Patrons of the Newtown post office have had much to be grateful for in smooth operation and the prompt dispatching of incoming and outgoing mail, making possible the dispatch and arrival of many greetings in time for Christmas Day. Postmaster Albert H. Nichols reports that the peak load of outgoing mail was handled this Monday and that there was prompt delivery of the top loads of incoming mail on Tuesday and Wednesday, all on schedule. The services of Theodore Hamlin have been added to those of the regular staff during the rush season.

December 25, 1925

The Story of the Nativity given by the choir and members of the school and church as a Christmas celebration at the Congregational church on Sunday evening last was a well merited success. The church auditorium was filled almost to capacity and many were the comments of appreciation. The pageant was directed by Mrs Arthur W. Reynolds, to whom much credit should be given and to a large committee of ladies who assisted with costumes and dressing.

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The game of basketball, where the Woodbury High school girls and the Hawley High clashed, last Friday night, was a very tame affair. The Woodbury girls could do nothing but shoot fouls, while the Hawley girls were right in their element, and when it came to baskets, Miss Louise Nichols was the Hawley star, and her record was 16 baskets, while Miss Farrell was not far behind and her record was ten baskets and two fouls.

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The directors of the V.N.A. are pleased to announce that a nurse, Miss Baker, has been secured and will take up her duties on Monday, December 28. Miss Baker has had several years experience both in public health and school work and comes to Newtown very highly recommended by Miss Stack, director of public health nursing in Connecticut. Miss Baker’s telephone number will be 7-12.

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Mr A.P. Smith, The Bee Publishing Co., Newtown, Conn. Dear Mr Smith: I spent last Saturday on your town forest, burning more of the brush. There is still some left and I expect to come down another day and bring the Fairfield County Patrolman to help me. My time and his will be put in there with no expense to your Forest Association. I feel that we ought to do that much toward helping your forest along. I was glad to see a nice looking sign there near the road when I was down, Saturday. Yours very truly, S.E. Parker, District Forester

December 28, 1900

Now that the new Library building has been formally presented to the Association it is well to be reminded that the responsibility for its care and maintenance has but just begun. It would be to the everlasting shame of our historic town, and so of the citizens of our town, unless we rise to meet this duty which we owe to society in a generous and unselfish spirit. What is first needed is a large increase in the number of those who are willing to give one dollar a year towards maintaining the library … There is needed a set of andirons, tongs, bellows, fender, and so forth, for the fire place … We need reference books of all kinds, or a special shelf of any particular class of books, to be given in memory of friends, and properly inscribed, as has already been done in one case. Who is ready to do this? —[George T. Linsley, President

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Mrs Silas E. Fairchild, who has been quite poorly, is now much better.

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Asa Hawley is having a large shed, 21x36 feet, built on the east end of his barn. Frank Pinkney of Brookfield is doing the work.

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Miss Neelie Caskey of Port Jervis, N.Y., is the guest of her sister, Mrs Robert D. Smith.

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Miss Elizabeth Scudder of New Haven is at her home in the Street for the holiday recess.

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Michael Ryan of Passaic, N.J., has been passing the holidays with his parents, Mr and Mrs Owen Ryan.

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Edward Lyons and Thomas F. Bradley, men employed in the Jersey City Car Springs & Rubber factory at Jersey City, N.J., are passing the holiday vacation with relatives in town.

Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by readers of The Newtown Bee. Images can be emailed as attachments to shannon@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date. If you live locally and would like to loan a photo/photos, please give us a call (203-426-3141) to let us know when you will be visiting.