Artist David Merrill was this year’s Labor Day parade grand marshal. Wondering why he was chosen? Go look at the masterpiece in the stairwells of Edmond Town Hall. –Bee Photo, Clark

Munchkin Laura Pino awaits the start of this year’s Labor Day Parade. Despite the heavy rain, crowds lined the streets once again for Newtown’s biggest annual event. –Bee Photo, Bigham

State Rep Julia Wasserman has been a leader in the town and state’s effort to find the best possible re-use for Fairfield Hills. Here, she stands alongside Wasserman Way, the state’s new bypass road, which runs through the heart of Fairfield Hills. –Bee Photo, Bigham

A Y2K scare? Dave Johnson of Natural Food Distributors in Newtown reports 1999 sales were way up for wheat, dried beans and other storable foods. The threat of a “millennium bug” at the start of 2000 had residents stockpiling… just in case. –Bee Photo, Bigham

A rain soaked Herb Rosenthal (left) and Son Dan Rosenthal congratulate each other on election night in November. Herb, running unopposed, was re-elected to a second term as first selectman and Dan was elected to a first term on the Legislative Council. –Bee Photo, Bigham

Longtime Newtown resident Ruby Johnson had a big year as a leader in the push to convince the town to buy Fairfield Hills. She was also elected to the Legislative Council as her popularity soared with residents who shared her belief that Fairfield Hills was the answer to the town’s growth problems. –Bee Photo, Bigham

Popular Newtown High School teacher Rich Pesce was one of more than 20 Newtown teachers who retired this past year. It is believed to be the largest exodus of Newtown teachers in history. The retirements came after the Board of Education offered the teachers a generous early-retirement package. –Bee Photo, Bigham

 

Students at Hawley Elementary School took time one autumn afternoon to show that they were Y2K ready. A helicopter hovered above the school’s football field to behold the sight from the sky. –Bee Photo, White