June 15, 2001

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — THE CLASS OF 2001: If there’s one thing we’ve learned here at The Bee after 124 years of covering community news, it’s that everyone has a story. And almost everyone’s story is remarkable. We have preoccupied ourselves in recent months telling the story of the town’s pursuit of Fairfield Hills and a new 5/6 school, thinking that these were the truly important stories of the year. … But in looking through all the portraits of the members of the Newtown High School Class of 2001, we are reminded that the millions we spend on education year-in and year-out is our biggest investment in opportunity. … Every portrait on the four pages we devote to the 313 graduating seniors at Newtown High School this week represents a story. Each senior has faced challenge in its many forms, from stepping on to the bus alone on that first day of school to finessing those impossibly awkward years of adolescence to grinding out countless essays, projects, and presentations in high school. Throw in the ordinary — and sometimes extraordinary — ups and downs, stresses and strains that families go through these days, and the story of each of these young men and women is compelling. … We offer all the graduating seniors our congratulations and hope that their stories unfold into many more chapters of happiness and success.

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HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Paul LaFrancesca.

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Middle Gate School students and staff spelled out the word RESPECT June 8. The school has put together a Respect, Responsibility, Diversity Committee with parents, school staff, and students to help the entire school reflect positively with the three throughout the year. Over 600 posed for a picture with red and white shirts (the school colors) taken by a photographer with On Location Aerial Photography on a small aircraft. The letters were 40 feet by 20 feet and had 10 feet of spacing between them, totaling 200 feet from one end to the other.

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Although it’s not apparent from the street, the police station interior looks quite a bit different than it has in the past. Workmen have completed the first of a three-phase project intended to make the building’s interior a better utilized, more efficient space. The workers have created several “new” rooms in the rear section of the police station, an area that was formerly an unfinished space used for storage.

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A pack of Newtown police runners took part in the annual Special Olympics Torch Run on Friday, June 8, part of which went over the steep hills of Mt Pleasant Road. Newtown Police Lieutenant David Lydem carried the torch southbound on Main Street, near the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps garage.

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Matt Saunders can’t believe that his high school athletic career has come to an end. But at least he’s going out on top. Matt, 18, a senior middle with the Newtown High School lacrosse team, was named to the CIAC Division II All-State team — an honor that puts a final emphasis on what has been a truly solid career.

June 11, 1976

The New England wagon train, on its way to a gathering of similar trains from all over the United States at Valley Forge, Pa., rolled into Newtown on Wednesday morning, and for a brief hour the horseshoe of the Middle School was turned into a small pioneer encampment as wagons and their beasts were circled up to let residents, young and old, catch a small flavoring of the past. As one person there was heard to say, “this really brings the Bicentennial spirit to town at last.” The train had wended its way across old Route 6 from its overnight stay the previous evening in Southbury, and hit Newtown’s borders at the Silver Bridge on Glen Road where it was met by local residents on horseback who served as outriders escorting the entourage down Glen Road into Sandy Hook Center, up Church Hill Road and onto Queen Street for a lunch break and some very special presentations.

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The Riverside On Lake Zoar Association voted to authorize president Virginia Winans to sell or lease for $1 all roads, easements, drainage rights and road rights of way owned by the Association to the proposed Riverside Tax District when this becomes a legal entity, at a June 5 meeting in ROLZA Clubhouse. A two-thirds vote was required and easily obtained, with only five negative votes recorded.

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After arrest of the excavator failed to halt an illegal sand and gravel mining operation last week, the Town of Newtown obtained a temporary injunction from a Court of Common Pleas judge Friday, May 4, and halted the excavation. Acting on behalf of the Planning & Zoning Commission, Town Counsel Paul Pollock obtained the injunction last Friday afternoon, and the order was served on the excavator, Pat Puglio of Trumbull, and the property owner, Antonino Samperi of Bridgeport, that day.

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Two members of the Highway Department have submitted their resignations to First Selectman Jack Rosenthal as the July 1 deadline he gave the road crew to “shape up or ship out” approaches. Jack Butler and Robert Pratt left their resignations on Mr Rosenthal’s desk Wednesday, and “there is a possibility there may be more by July,” said the selectman. The resignations came after Mr Rosenthal told the crew members their conduct had been closely watched for the last two months and by July 1, “heads would roll,” if things continued as they were.

June 8, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — UNIQUE IN TWO RESPECTS: Sunday marks the opening of an art show in Newtown, which will be unique in two respects. It brings to our small New England town a public showing of paintings done at the turn of the century by The American Ten — artists of that era who were outstanding in their work and who, as friends, chose to exhibit together. Such a showing has not been held in some forty years. Lovers of art will greet this opportunity to see and admire the pictures done by Benson, Chase, DeCamp, Dewing, Hassam, Matcalf, Reid, Tarbell, Twachtman and Weir, which Addison Metcalf has painstakingly assembled for the month-long show at his Sign of the Fleur-de-Lys gallery on North Main Street.

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Dr Mary Reed, whose name is synonymous with the Golden Books published by Simon and Schuster, was the speaker on Tuesday, June 5, at the final meeting of the year of the Newtown Parent Teachers Association. In discussing the topic, “Learning to Read and Children’s Books,” Dr. Reed stressed the importance of “reading readiness” in the teaching program. She went to considerable length and used numerous illustrations to develop the concept of “reading readiness” which she defined as the maturity and motivation of the individual child for reading.

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Not many envy the task Alfred Nelson has cut out for himself this week, although almost everyone enjoys watching him — from the ground. At one point he was seen swinging from the topmost part of the Newtown Congregational Church steeple, applying a fresh coat of paint. While in the process he took the opportunity of applying gilt to the steeple’s famous rooster. The awkward part of the operation is, the 24-foot extension ladder, anchored to the church roof, lacks reaching the top of the steeple by at least six feet. It is always that last long mile, but Mr Nelson made it successfully both ways to gild the plumage of the weather-beaten and bullet-riddled rooster which, since Revolutionary days, has been telling us which way the wind blows. Mr Nelson is to be congratulated for becoming so intimately acquainted with the wise old bird.

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Mr and Mrs Charles Terrell, Newtown, are the parents of a daughter born in Bridgeport Hospital last Saturday. The Terrells, who live in the first house off Main on West Street, have another child, a daughter.

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Alex Clark was graduated from Vermont Academy, Saxon River, Vt., last week-end. His parents, Mr and Mrs Robert J. Clark of Hawleyville, attended the exercises. Alex will enter Dartmouth College in the fall.

June 11, 1926

A very interesting meeting of Pootatuck Grange was held on Tuesday evening with two members of Norfield Grange, two members of Harmony Grange, two visitors not members, and 35 of our own members present. The lecturer’s program opened with a song, “Sowing the Seed,” by the Grange, after which we listened to some of Edgar A. Guest’s poems read by Brother Robert Tiemann. An original paper, “Boosting Newtown,” by Brother John J. Northrop, gave us all a good chance to think a bit about our town and its progress.

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PICTURES AT BLACKMAN’S — LON CHANEY IN “THE BLACK BIRD.” Lon Chaney is a creator of thrills. He thrilled us with criminal honor in “The Penalty,” with the honor of deformity in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” with the honor of the supernatural in the “Phantom of the Opera,” and now in “The Blackbird” he thrills us with the ultimate honor of mystery. Lon Chaney is a human bird of prey who uses his strange powers to carry out fantastic crimes — mysterious shadows in a London fog — and the most unusual tale of love and regeneration.

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CARD OF THANKS: To the friends who so kindly remembered us at the time of the death and funeral of our husband and father, we wish to return sincere and heartfelt thanks.—Mrs Ernest G. Ridings and Family, June 1, 1926.

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The month of May has been very busy for the Jolly Sewers’ Clothing Club. Three meetings, two regular and one special were held. The judging of two articles, reports of Round-up, a demonstration, and the preparation of our club room were a few important matters which took place.

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WANTED — For July and August two rooms with board by family of six. Write stating price to 493 Fairfield avenue, Bridgeport, Ct.

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WANTED — Home in Protestant family where young boy can earn board during summer. Box 820, Newtown, Conn.

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FOUND — Came to my place, June 2, a red Airedale dog. Owner can have the dog by paying for this advertisement. William H. Downs, Hawleyville, Conn. R.D. 38.

June 14, 1901

The Bee’s prediction that the town meeting of Saturday last to consider the proposition of the Fabric Fire Hose Co. of Warwick, N.Y., would be the largest attended of any similar gathering in recent years proved correct, the Town hall being crowded to the doors. All sections of the town were represented, and the number of voters in attendance must have exceeded 500. The meeting was opened at 2.09, Town Clerk C.J. Houlihan reading the warning. Attorney W.H. O’Hara named Aaron Sanford for moderator and he was elected without opposition. Thomas J. Corbett moved that the warning be accepted and adopted, which was carried.

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Harry S. Mason passed Monday night with New Haven friends.

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A special communication of Hiram lodge, F. & A.M., was held, Tuesday night, when the third degree was conferred on one candidate.

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John J. Northrop is out after a severe attack of throat trouble.

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James H. Boyson of Palestine district found on Monday, June 3, a pocketbook with a small sum of money; also a postal money order, No. 559, South Britain, May 28, 1901.

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Thomas Bailey of Great Ring has a new steam saw mill at work on his timber land and will get out about 2,000 ties, besides timber of various kinds.

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Homer Clark of Gray’s Plain has had substantial improvements made in his house, removing the main old-fashioned chimney, and substituting a modern one. W.H. Shepard did the work.

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.