January 26, 2001

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER OF Peggy Gross.

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS — POWER TO THE FIRST SELECTMAN: First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has to be happy with the way he sees things going with the Charter Revision Commission. The charter panel still has a lot of work to do, but already it is reaching consensus on one issue of vital importance to Mr Rosenthal and all future first selectmen in Newtown: the relative power of the town’s chief executive officer to other branches of local government, especially the Legislative Council. In the commission’s early discussions, power already appears to be flowing toward the first selectman.

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A young male, whose face was covered by a black ski mask, robbed a Botsford gas station on the night of Saturday, January 20, making off with cash and disappearing into the night. At 9:18 pm, police received a call reporting the robbery, which occurred at Buzz’s Mobil at 286 South Main Street, a gas station just south of the intersection of South Main Street and Cold Spring Road. Police said a lone male entered the gas station about 9:15 pm and forced the two employees within the building to hand over cash. There were no other people in the building when the robbery occurred, police said. There were no injuries in the incident.

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Ann R. Chernoff, 91, a lifelong resident of Newtown, widow of Milton Chernoff, died January 19 at Ashlar of Newtown. Mrs Chernoff was born in Austria on October 23, 1909, daughter of the late Max and Fannie Busker, and was the proprietor, with her late husband, of Ann & Milt’s Service Station until 1968. She came with her mother to Newtown at the age of 5 in 1914. They joined her father and brothers, who ran a dairy farm on Washbrook Road. According to her family, she always said one of the biggest thrills as a youngster was delivering milk to Mary Hawley. Her father was a founding member of Adath Israel Synagogue in Newtown.

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Amid family and friends, Bill Halstead took the oath of office Monday morning in the Mary Hawley Room at Edmond Town Hall, becoming the town’s fire marshal. Mr Halstead replaces George Lockwood in that post. Mr Lockwood will remain a deputy fire marshal. Mr Lockwood became the town’s first full-time fire marshal in 1998. Mr Halstead will work out of the town offices in Canaan House at Fairfield Hills.

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This week’s late-January thaw has gone a long way toward melting the usually large amount of snow that has fallen on the Northeast this winter. To date, this area has gotten hit with 28.1 inches of snow since the first snow flew back on December 8. That’s more than we had all of last year and we still have another two months to go. But as Gary Lessor of the Western Connecticut State University weather center points out, this is pretty much a normal winter. Aside from the two big storms, there really has not been that much snow.

January 23, 1976

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — CALLING ALL KIDS: Quite some time ago The Bee suggested in an editorial that the young people in town become deeply involved in our Bicentennial celebration, and we offered a few ways in which we thought this could be coordinated on a central theme and carried out over the course of the year by all grades. Monthly displays, contests, exhibits, etc., were all in the idea. To date, while we realize that drawing takes place daily in the school system, the general public is not aware of just what is happening unless he or she goes into one of the school buildings. The Bee is, therefore, sponsoring a drawing contest which will be open to all students in Newtown according to grade classification. … We are looking for the best representation of either George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, to be judged for publication during the month of February. … Following the selection of the best Washington and the best Lincoln, a $25 savings bond will be awarded to the winner in each category and the artwork will appear on the front page of The Bee.

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The year 1976 seems to be wanting to let itself be known, and is doing so by dumping snow, ice and cold all around New England, and Newtown doesn’t seem to be escaping any of it. The storm which hit town on Wednesday wasn’t particularly expected, and when the snow first started falling in the early afternoon, predictions were for about three inches. That prediction kept increasing as time wore on, and by the dinner hour the local and state roads were clogged with cars slipping and sliding along slick surfaces.

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Planning consultant Oswald Inglese of Ridgefield met for a free-wheeling discussion Monday night with the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission members to review some of his thinking on what the next ten years should hold for the Route 34 corridor area. Retained by the commission a year ago for the study, Mr Inglese will begin compiling a “semi-final report” for commission consideration. That could incorporate some of the following points: Implementation of adjusted zoning controls to prompt “revitalization” of Sandy Hook center; provision for neighborhood shopping facilities along Route 34, possibly in the Pole Bridge Road-Route 34 area first, and, as growth warrants, in the Bennetts Bridge area in the future; and possible suitability of the Mile Hill-I-84 intersection area for light industrial uses.

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The Board of Police Commissioners began their meeting an hour earlier than usual on Monday evening in order to go over budget figures for fiscal 1976-77. Costs are still rising, and this is no exception in running the police department, so the new budget submitted this year will reflect an increase over the one for 1975-76. A tentative total budget request of $458,025 was approved by the commissioners on Monday evening, but this figure will probably change and a higher one submitted to cover an expected increase for civilian personnel, dispatchers and the dog warden.

January 19, 1951

In keeping with its location in the land of steady habit, Newtown during 1950 showed little change from previous years in its births, marriages and deaths in the town, according to the records of vital statistics now in the office of Town Clerk May E. Sullivan. While marriages show a considerable jump from 1949, births were slightly less, with the death rate about the same.

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The annual meeting of the board of directors of the local Thrift Shop was held last Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock in the Edmond Town Hall with Mrs Henry L. Clow, chairman, presiding. Reports of the chairman and treasurer were read and showed the shop to be in excellent financial condition. A vote of thanks was extended to Mrs Clow and her assistant, Mrs Michael Haggerty, for their splendid help in helping the shop in condition and for their volunteer assistance in taking charge of sales each Saturday of the year. The shop is located in the rear of the A and P store, with entrance on West Street and is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Invitations were recently issued for the marriage of Miss Mary Frances Siler, daughter of Mr and Mrs Gilmer Siler of New York City, former residents of Newtown, to Edward Ashwell Raymond. The ceremony will take place on Saturday afternoon, February 3, at 4 o’clock in All Angels’ Church, New York City.

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Mr and Mrs G.E. Wikstrom of Church Hill Road left on Wednesday of this week for a rest and vacation in Florida where they will visit with friends. They expect to stop off in Williamsburg, Va., and other points of interest along the way. The couple will return to Newtown about March 1st.

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Mrs Max Mathis of Dodgingtown, who recently underwent an appendectomy at Danbury Hospital, is now recuperating at her home, where she returned last Friday.

January 22, 1926

The January meeting of the Men’s Club was held at the Parker House, Tuesday night, with E.C. Platt as host. Dr E.L. Kingman, in charge of the literary program, introduced the Chief Game Warden of Connecticut, A.J. Williamson, who spoke in an exceedingly interesting vein. He spoke of the good work of the State Game Commission, who are seeking not only to improve the hunting and fishing and thus provide healthy recreation, but are out to arrest the violators of the game laws and those who do damage to the farmer’s property.

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ANOTHER DOUBLE VICTORY FOR NEWTOWN: Last Friday night the Newtown Basketball teams played the Woodbury High school teams in the Hawley school gymnasium. A good crowd gathered to witness the event. The games were as fast and as snappy as usual. The Newtown boys and girls deserve much credit for the manner in which they “went over the top.” A short period of dancing followed the games. The gate receipts were over $30.

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BUSINESS NOTICES: William R. Buroughs of Sandy Hook has received another car load of semi-anthracite coal.—Adv. | Call Sandy Hook Public Market for choice cuts of meat and fish, Telephone 264. Adv. | When baby suffers with croup, apply and give Dr Thomas’ Eclectic Oil at once. Safe for children. A little goes a long way 30c and 60c at all drug stores. —[Adv.

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At the session of the Congregational Sunday school, Sunday, the following subordinate officers for the year were chosen: Assistant Superintendent, Mrs A.W. Reynolds. Secretary and treasurer, Willis Arndt. Assistant secretary and treasurer, Miss Geraldine Cutler. Librarian, Miss Elizabeth Reynolds. Assistant librarian, Miss Geraldine Cutler. Missionary superintendent, Miss S.J. Scudder. Superintendent of Cradle, Roll, Mrs F.H. Duncombe. Superintendent of Home Department, Miss S.J. Scudder. Committee for 1926 picnic, Superintendent, Willis Arndt; Rev G.H. Ekins. Pianist, H.C. Hubbell.

January 25, 1901

A number of new books will soon be purchased for the Beach Memorial library. Patrons of the library who have any books in mind which they would like to have upon the shelves are requested to send in their lists to any one of the following committee on or before Friday, January 25: Rev Otis W. Barker, chairman; W.W. Gardner, Mrs C.S. Platt, Mrs G.T. Linsley, A.T. Nettleton and Mrs C.H. Northrop. On January 25, the committee will meet to select the books to be purchased.

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OBITUARY. MRS HAWLEY JENNINGS: Caroline, wife of Hawley Jennings, of Taunton district, died on Sunday about midnight, aged 68 years and one month. She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Mrs W.R. Andrews of Oakville and Miss Libbie Jennings of New Milford. The funeral was attended on Thursday from her home, Rev George T. Linsley officiating.

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HATTERTOWN. REV O.O. WRIGHT’S LECTURE. Do not forget the lecture to be given by Rev Mr Wright, Friday evening, February 1, unless very stormy, when it will be given on Monday evening, the 4th. | Miss Georgia Gallagher of Naugatuck has been the guest of Miss Grace Hurlbut. | Charles Hurlbut and daughter, Miss Grace, spent Monday week in Bethel calling on relatives. | Miss Ella Fairchild was in New Milford on Monday. | One lady who braved the weather and attended the burial of Walter Glover on Saturday at the Newtown cemetery, is said to have frozen her nose. | W.C. Johnson was confined to the house for several days with a severe cold.

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A meeting of the Newtown branch of the Five State Milk Producers’ Association was held on Tuesday night at the Brick building. The officers elected for the year were: President, E.S. Lovell. Vice President, Eli B. Beers. Secretary and Treasurer, P.H. McCarthy. E.G. Seeley of Roxbury, the Housatonic Valley representative of the Five States Association, was present and was eagerly questioned by the farmers. In regard to the Mutual Milk & Cream Co., Mr Seeley said it was a reliable concern, of which a Mr Hank was president, Henry Kruse treasurer and J.C. Fayen superintendent.

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A CARD. We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to refund the money on a 50 cent bottle of Green’s Warranted Syrup of Tar if it fails to cure your cough or cold. We also guarantee a 25 cent bottle to prove satisfactory or money refunded. R.H. Beers & Co., Newtown. S.C. Ball & Co., Sandy Hook.

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.