November 9, 2001

HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER of Roseanne Loring.

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Dave Samoskevich stopped by The Bee this week on his day off from his work as a patrol officer for the NYPD. The longtime Newtown resident has been working extra long hours since the tragedy of September 11 and he seemed to enjoy his few moments of peace and quiet. Eight weeks since the attacks, Dave, a 1987 NHS graduate, said he still has trouble believing it actually happened. Life in New York City has changed immensely since that fateful day. Dave, a rookie cop, was on duty in the 45th Precinct of the Bronx when the first plane hit.

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Newtown Health Director Mark Cooper was elected first selectman in Southbury Tuesday, defeating Carol Hubert by nearly 1,000 votes. The lifelong Southbury resident takes over his new seat December 3. Mr Cooper, a Republican, has been a member of the Southbury Board of Selectmen for the past six years and was the favorite to win the town's top seat vacated by outgoing first selectman Alfio Candido, who served for six years. … Mr Cooper, 46, was expected to hand in his resignation this week, bringing to an end a 16-year career in Newtown. He spent the last nine years as director of the Newtown health district.

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Following an emotional November 1 public hearing, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are considering a range of zoning rules on horse keeping proposed by the Newtown Bridle Lands Association, Inc, (NBLA). The NBLA is a local nonprofit corporation that preserves horse trails and open space areas. The zoning regulations proposed by the group concern horse boarding; the commercial boarding of horses for trade and sale; horse manure control; horse exercise space requirements; the operation of nonprofit equine clubs; the construction of indoor horse arenas and outdoor horse rings under the special exception provisions of the zoning regulations; horseback lessons, and the operation of horse day camps, among other equine topics.

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The debate over charter revision was mainly black and white in the days leading up to Tuesday's election. Supporters of the proposed changes urged residents to vote "yes" on all five questions. Critics, on the other hand, were calling for a complete rejection. This week, town officials find themselves navigating gray areas as only two of the five questions were approved.

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Members of the NICE Party caused a bit of a stir Tuesday as they campaigned outside the District 2 polling place at the Sandy Hook firehouse. Police were called to the scene after voters complained that the party members were blocking traffic as they handed out flyers. There were also concerns that party chairman Barry Piesner and candidate Richard Dunseith were campaigning within the 75-foot restricted area, which had been marked off with chalk earlier that morning. Mr Piesner denied the allegations, saying construction vehicles were doing most of the blocking. A policeman remained at the scene for most of the day to ensure order.

November 12, 1976

Two cars and a school bus were involved in a minor accident on Route 34 just west of Zoar Road during the season’s first snow on Wednesday morning. According to police, a vehicle being driven by a man from California attempted to pass a truck, found he couldn’t and skidded and tried to back up. At that time a westbound car driven by a Sandy Hook resident came around the curve and skidded into the California man’s vehicle which was in turn pushed into a school bus. The bus was not occupied by students at the time but was on its way to pick them up. All vehicles were driven away from the scene and no injuries were reported. Officer Fred Kasbarian investigated and issued a warning to the California man for failure to drive right on a curve.

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The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials’ consulting firm, which prepared a solid waste management plan for the area, has recommended in a summary of the report that the Town of Newtown join with other municipalities in the Housatonic Region in the implementation of that long range plan. Flaherty-Giavara Associates of New Haven stated four reasons for Newtown’s joining the regional plan.

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Franklin Smith, director of curriculum for the Newtown School System, died at his home on Walnut Tree Hill Road, Thursday morning, November 11, of an apparent heart attack. He was 46. … He joined the Newtown School System in 1967 as a 5th grade teacher and in 1968 came to the Middle School as assistant principal and then moved on to principal. He was appointed director of curriculum in the fall of 1975. Survivors are his wife and two sons.

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The first selectmen of Newtown, Southbury and Woodbury agreed at a Wednesday meeting that their three towns will join in a regional study of their respective groundwater pollution problems and need for sewers, Newtown First Selectman Jack Rosenthal has announced. The study is required of Newtown by the State Department of Environmental Protection, which included the other two communities in the project under Federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.

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High scorers for the Sandy Hook Women’s Bowling League on November 2 were: high single, B.J. Trosan and Bobbie Brooks, 145; high three, Mae Hein, 369; high no-mark, Joyce Peterson, 89. Team high scorers were: high single and high three, Diamonds with 476 and 1,354. Other high scorers for the evening were: April Brown, 126; Leone Long, 125; Peggy Forbell, 123; Lois Mathews, 122; and Laurie Stockwell, 121.

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Nelson G. Curtis, president of S. Curtis & Son, Inc, reported its net earnings of $46,534 for the first nine months of 1976 showed a gratifying improvement compared to a loss of $9,192 for the same period in 1975 and a loss of $10,173 for the first six months of 1976. Sales of $7,289,460 were 28 per cent higher than the $5,691,356 sales in 1975.

November 9, 1951

EDITORIAL INK DROPS — FOOTBALL IN FAIRYLAND: We found ourselves on Saturday afternoon, in company with other sports-minded individuals, watching a football game in the midst of a most unseasonable snow storm. In addition to being unseasonable, the snow fall in the Berkshires, where we chanced to be, was continuous, heavy and wet. … Fully three inches of snow lay over the field before the final whistle. Yet the players, boys in their energetic prep school years, played with as much vigor, and perhaps more than if the sun had been shedding its warmth on a typical autumnal afternoon.

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Art Week at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library is nothing new, for it has been a standing practice for a number of years now for the library staff to invite local painters to exhibit their work during the national celebration of American Art Week. Newtown is fortunate to be able to assemble such a representative show. The community has a large number of first-rate artists working here, and these annual exhibits explore a wide range of talent and are looked forward to year after year by library visitors.

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Miss Mary Pat Carroll, daughter of Mr and Mrs Patrick A. Carroll of Meadow Road, was the year’s head of costumes for the Wellesley College Junior Show, the musical comedy written and produced annually by the junior class at Wellesley College. A history major, Miss Carroll is a member of Barnswallows, the college dramatic association, and belongs to the campus social service organization. As a freshman she received recognition for outstanding academic work by being awarded freshman honors.

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Mr and Mrs William Hunter left on Sunday by automobile for St. Petersburg, Fla., where they will spend the winter.

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Bobby Thomson, star player of the New York Giants, will be the featured speaker at the annual golf dinner of the Newtown Country Club being held next Wednesday night, November 14, at 8 o’clock in the club house. The annual dinner is the occasion for awarding prizes to winners in the past year’s tournaments. Fred Buermeyer, tournament committee chairman, is in charge of the program, assisted by club pro, Danny Lawler. With Fred Bassato planning the menu, catering will be by the Newtown Inn. A record number of 70 reservations for the affair were reported on Tuesday morning of this week.

November 12, 1926

The annual convention of the Girls’ Friendly Society in Connecticut met in the church of the Good Shepard, Hartford, Friday and Saturday. … Rev Dr Linsley, who was formerly a rector of Trinity in our town, welcomed the 400 delegates, all of whom were hospitably entertained by families in the various churches. … St John’s branch, Sandy Hook, was well represented by Mrs Hobart Warner, its president, and Misses Eunice Curtiss and Dorothy Jennings. Miss Virginia Gesner also was present as a guest.

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Mrs L.B. Cavanaugh and daughters, Eleanor and Millicent, and Miss Aline Gibson of New York, visited the sesqui-centennial over Saturday and Sunday last. While in Philadelphia they were the guests of Miss Gibson’s sister, Mrs Coy A. Bowen.

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Born, October 25, at the Danbury hospital, a daughter, Dorothy Jane, to Mr and Mrs W.C. Baxter. Mrs Baxter and daughter returned from the hospital this week.

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Clarence Meeker and his brother, Donald Meeker, the latter of New York City, were home with their parents, Mr and Mrs Charles G. Meeker, over the State Election day, November 2.

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John O. Pitzschler is having improvements made on the interior of the former Birdsey Sniffen place. He and his family will move into the place at a later date.

November 15, 1901

W. Walter Finch of Newtown is spending a week’s vacation with relatives in town. Last evening he took his accustomed place at the rehearsal of Philharmonic band, and was greeted by his fellow bandmen.—[Southington Phoenix]. Mr Finch returned to his position with R.H. Beers & Co. on Saturday morning as bright and breezy as of yore. He says it is one of the most enjoyable vacations he ever had.

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Lauren Skidmore is receiving congratulations on the attractive appearance of his residence, just decked out in a fresh dress of paint. The color is a light yellow, with green blinds.

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Some of the boys are having a good laugh at the expense of a local Napoleon of Finance. He is an all around and up-to-date business man, having the faculty of keeping numerous irons in the fire without burning them. The other day he took a notion to have a plunge in the cattle business, and so journeyed over to a neighboring town where he found a likely pair for $125, and paid $10 for a refusal. He then returned to town, and went to the man he expected to sell them to for $150, but could only get a bid of $115. It is said he has given up the thought of going after those cattle and will seek tips from members of the Coon club before engaging in so rash a venture again.

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DODGINGTOWN PERSONAL ITEMS: The services held at E.E. Ferry’s on Sunday evening were largely attended. C.I. Smith of Danbury was present. | Jesse Sherwood of Naugatuck has been the recent guest of his mother, Mrs Esther Sherwood. | Mr and Mrs George Quick of Derby have been recently entertained at E.E. Ferry’s. | Miss Nellie Nash is visiting friends in Greenwich. | Mr and Mrs Miles B. Wakeley have been the recent guests of Mrs Wakeley’s mother, Mrs Orphia Ferry.

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Stop at the Sandy Hook shoe store and see our men’s grain and Kip boots. They cannot be beaten. Also a new invoice of felt and rubber boots and rubbers to fit all.—{W.C. Corbett, proprietor.

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Mrs L.A. Barber of Boston, her sister, Mrs Giberson and niece, Mrs Fowler of Brooklyn, N.Y., have returned from White Mountains and Buffalo exposition. Mrs Barber is the widow of the late James K. Barber of Danbury, and is well known in Newtown.

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 and details 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 schedule an appointment.