March 2, 2001

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Sean LaPak.

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For nearly 50 years the Grand Union has been something of a landmark in Newtown. For some, the Queen Street supermarket was considered one of the enduring symbols of Newtown’s center. But the company will be no more after Saturday at 5 pm. The declining and bankrupt Grand Union has been selling its stores off to other companies. Many of the stores will re-open under different names. No one expressed interest in opening the Newtown store, however, and in the coming weeks the doors will close for good, its shelves empty and its freezers bare.

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Andrew Lobsenz was riding his bicycle up Church Hill Road Tuesday afternoon when one of his tires went flat. But with a portable pump, some rubber cement, and a patch on board, the Sandy Hook resident quickly went to work. In no time, he was back out on the road.

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An assortment of pot holes, sink holes, and frost heaves litter Newtown roadways like never before these days. The highway department is doing its part to alleviate the problem, but it appears to be out of control right now. Big swings in temperature this past month have created a situation of uneven thawing and re-freezing. This wreaks havoc on roads, which can easily be effected by a settling of the soil.

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What started as a senior project for one Newtown High School Art Portfolio student may turn into a continuing dialogue between the students and faculty of the Newtown public school system. Diane Dutchick offers a senior class that helps students prepare portfolios for practical use, primarily art school applications. … One of the class requirements is to have ten works framed and matted, and then put on view somewhere in the community. When Gwen Eissman was faced with this challenge, she found herself looking back at her roots. She approached Sandy Hook School art teacher Leslie Gunn, a former instructor of the high school senior, and inspired about the possibility of hanging a show at SHS.

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The Newtown Health & Fitness Club has been helping seven middle school boys learn about their bodies and how to build muscle properly. Trainer Raymond Smith has been instructing the six-week program that is in its fourth week for the middle school boys. Each week the group has been working on different areas of the body, from abs to arms to legs. Mr Smith has been giving the youths instruction on how to become fit either at the gym or at home.

February 27, 1976

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — STILL TOO SOON: One of the first votes taken by the Legislative Council in its short existence was to turn back the proposal from the First Selectman to consider a charter change and do away with the Board of Selectmen. The vote was a close one, in fact a tie. And if one were to study the roll call, it would be very easy to see how this “non partisan” group fell pretty much into party lines. But in any case, and what is most important, is the fact that the Board of Selectmen will be around for a time still. … The Council is new and has hardly had time enough to get its feet wet. Right from the start, many people in Town have felt that eighteen members is too large a number to be effective, while others contend that there is more than enough work to be done and plenty to keep all hands busy. Only time will tell, and we should give it that testing period.

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Firemen from each of Newtown’s five volunteer companies, plus firemen from neighboring towns, gathered at the Sandy Hook firehouse, February 20, to pay tribute to recently retired Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company Chief Herbert Lewis Jr. Chief Lewis retired last August after serving 18 years at the head of the company. He was the second chief the company had. … Fire marshals, company chiefs, his own former officers, fellow employees at Dan-Ridge Chevrolet in Danbury, all expressed their respect and affection for Mr Lewis.

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Town Counsel William J. Lavery delivered his legal opinion this week on Selectman Frank DeLucia’s question as to who can hire the town’s highway superintendent, and it appears First Selectman Jack Rosenthal has been given the authority he needs. Mr Rosenthal began advertising two weeks ago for a new highway superintendent, and Mr Lavery ruled that he could do so as the term of the current superintendent ends in two months. The First Selectman wants to hire a civil engineer by April for the position, to serve in the dual role of town engineer and highway superintendent.

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On Tuesday evening, following a brief closed session, the Board of Education took action on three items relating to contracts within the school system. First, the board unanimously voted aye to the motion that Lester Burroughs, board chairman, enter into negotiations with Superintendent of Schools Dr Albert Brinkman for a renewal of Dr Brinkman’s contract for a one-year period. ... The second action item was to ratify the new contract with the custodians. … Action item number three was for the board to approve the bus drivers’ contract.

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Henry N. Gellert, DDS, has opened an office for the specialty practice of orthodontics at 23 Church Hill Road, Newtown. Dr Gellert was born and raised in Fairfield, graduating from Andrew Warde High School in 1964. He was graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut in 1968 and from Columbia University School of Dentistry in 1972. He continued his education under a rotating dental internship at the Eastman Dental Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., in 1972-73. … Appointments with Dr Gellert may be made by calling his office, 426-5900.

February 23, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION: Residents on both sides of the Housatonic should welcome the opportunity to attend the open meeting which has been arranged for this Friday evening at the Edmond Town Hall to discuss the matter of water pollution in Lake Zoar. Representative Robert C. Mitchell of Southbury, whose idea it is to hold the meeting, realizes the seriousness of the situation and has introduced a bill in the current session of the General Assembly at Hartford, asking for an appropriation to clear the water condition in the lake. It is necessary, of course, to get to the source of the trouble in order to cure it, and two state authorities will be present at the meeting to inform the public about matters of local water contamination which, we are sure, are unfamiliar to many of us. … We, the public, should not rest until Lake Zoar and its tributaries are restored to their natural state of purity, so that fishing, swimming, camping and life in general will be safe and pleasant along its shores.

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Town Players’ spring production, “Light Up The Sky,” has recruited much new talent from varied fields of endeavor in order to insure Newtown of a polished performance on the evening of March 15. The action of this Moss Hart comedy takes place in a lavish hotel suite in New York City. The set designer for this play is Mrs. Patricia Vellrath of Southbury. Mrs. Vellrath attended William and Mary College in Virginia, where she worked with the drama group designing sets for such productions as “Death Takes A Holiday” and various Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

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It is reported by H.H. Cutler, chairman, that the High School Building Committee met with the architects, Westcott & Mapes, Inc., again last Thursday, and discussed in detail the revised tentative floor plans for the proposed new Junior-Senior High School. In view of the low elevation at the site ... it was decided that a combination single- and two-story structure is definitely indicated, but actual determination of a layout was deferred until another meeting set for Thursday evening of this week.

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The name of Ruth Berglund, daughter of Mr and Mrs Harold R. Berglund of the Riverside District, has been placed on the dean’s list of Becker’s Business College, Worcester, Mass., for the second ten-weeks period of the college year. Miss Berglund’s name was also on the college’s first dean’s list issued after Thanksgiving of last year.

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Members of the Pine Tree Patrol, Explorer Post 70, Newtown Senior Scouts, left at 6 o’clock Monday morning for a four-day camping trip to Francestown, N.H. in cars piloted by Scoutmaster Paul A. Cullens and Hoyt Johnson. They carried skis, tents, food and equipment, and weather permitting planned to enjoy skiing the following day at Lake Sunapi in the State Development.

February 26, 1926

One of the pleasantest gatherings of men held in town in recent years, was the banquet at the Parker House, Thursday evening, in honor of Ortie S. Stoddard, who for two and a half years has been the principal of the Newtown High school. Mr Stoddard is completing his work, March 1, and leaves soon for his former home at Adams, N.Y. The gathering represented all shades of political and religious belief, every one desiring to express his appreciation of a man who won a high place in the public regard by his gentlemanly bearing.

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The reception and house warming given by Rev and Mrs G.H. Ekins at the Congregational parsonage, Monday night, was attended by 104 people, and was one of the most delightful and enjoyable events held in town in a long time. The musical program was especially fine. Those popular New York musical artists, F. Arthur Ekins, baritone, and William De Mangin, tenor, captivated their audience by their selections, in solos and duets.

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Howard R. Briscoe, the hustling Bethel real estate broker, reports the sale of the Parmlee farm in Newtown, Hattertown district, owned by Mrs Ada Parmlee, to Albert Clements, of Mt Vernon, N.Y. This farm had been in the Parmlee family for 150 years. The sale includes the buildings and 30 acres of land. The old homestead was burned some years ago and was replaced by a modern house.

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The Young People’s Fellowship of Trinity and St John’s held a very interesting meeting, at St John’s guild room, Monday night. After the general routine of business Dr Gesner spoke on Washington’s character, refuting some of the vain and foolish things said about him by Rupert Hughes. As Dr Gesner had the facts from documentary evidence and personal letters, the young folks enjoyed the talk. Afterward, as subject of discussion, Bishop Manning’s statement on the propriety of Sunday amusement, aroused quite a discussion, in which many spoke their minds.

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DISTRICT OF NEWTOWN, ss. Probate Court, February 20, 1926. Estate of Jennie B. Roberts, late of Newtown, in said District, deceased. The Court of Probate for the District of Newtown hath limited and allowed six months from date hereof, for the creditors of said Estate to exhibit their claims for settlement. Those who neglect to present their accounts, properly attested, within said time, will be debarred a recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to James M. Betts, Executor. Address: 233 Broadway, New York City, N.Y.

March 1, 1901

While calling on Aaron Sanford the other day, the editor was shown one of the hand-made beaver hats, made at the factory of Moses Parsons in Sandy Hook over 50 years ago. Mr Parsons did business in the building which was afterward occupied as a dwelling by A.W. Orgelman. The hat was encased in a hand-made bandbox and is quite a curiosity. Moses Parsons was the father of Charles Parsons of Sandy Hook and Mrs Julius Sanford of New Haven.

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Wilson M. Reynolds has been on the sick list for a week.

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Mrs Morris, wife of Selectman L.C. Morris, has been ill for a few days, requiring the attendance of a physician.

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A Card—To all those who so kindly assisted us in so many ways during the illness and death of our mother, Mrs Lois Fairchild, we wish to return most sincere thanks.—[Mr and Mrs Eugene Bulkley.

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Curtis Glover, a student at the Cheshire Military Academy, came home on Washington’s birthday, and remained till Monday with his mother, Mrs S.C. Glover.

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CHARLES H. NORTHROP Counselor-at-Law and Notary Public. Agent for the White Star and American Line steamers. Office at residence, Newtown Street. Telephone 248-14.

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 e-mailed 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.