January 21, 1994

Cory Stephen Fisher, the winner of our First Baby Contest of 1994, joined his family January 6 at 5:31 pm, weighing 9 pounds and 1 ounce. Stephen and Mary Ann Fisher of Greenbriar Lane brought their son home two days later. “He’s a good baby,” said the proud mother. His two-year-old sister Rachel readily agreed. Mrs Fisher is a hair stylist at Ricci’s Salon in Newtown. Mr Fisher is employed by Bridgeport Hydraulic. The couple has lived in town for eight years. Maternal grandparents are Margaret and Fred Benke of Stamford and paternal grandparents are Harold and Dolores Fisher of Newtown. As the contest winner, Cory and his parents are eligible for a variety of gifts and services offered by the local business community.

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It’s been a while since the area has experienced such a week of sustained arctic cold, not to mention the snow, rain, sleet, and ice. Consequently, oil companies have been very busy, making more deliveries while having difficulties getting into some driveways; car repair shops have been hopping, trying to get people’s cars to start; and stores have been running out of supplies. Newtown’s volunteer emergency service personnel also were kept busy, particularly during the 24-hour period that began Monday night. There were 10 fire calls including malfunctioning furnaces, fallen wires, and flooded basements caused by frozen pipes; and 11 ambulance calls, many for medical problems stemming from storm-related conditions and over exertion. According to Western Connecticut State University’s weather center, the number of “degree days” from December 1 through January 19 was 1,927, as compared to the norm of 1,789. For this period. (These figures represent the total of average daily degrees below 65). The low temperature of the week was at 5:40 am on Wednesday (eight degrees below zero); on Thursday ay 6 am it was six degrees below zero.

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A program on tea, how to brew it, enjoy it and its health benefits, will be presented by Reinhilde Krampe at the C.H. Booth Library on Thursday, January 27, at 7 pm. Mrs Krampe of Danbury will share her knowledge and love of tea. It is simple to make and can be enjoyed in many ways. Mrs Krampe is a popular speaker at the library where her programs are always a treat. The program is free and open to the public.

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OVER THE BACK FENCE: Two of my daughters use a regular fountain pen, the ones you fill with ink or an ink cartridge. I decided I had to have one. Years ago it was all I had — a lavender Parker pen. I loved that pen. Thinking about that pen made me wonder why we abandoned them a few years ago. I remember the introduction of the ball point pens. Remember their advertisements that guaranteed the pen would write under water? Pens and pencils were the tools of my trade and I developed a fierce liking for some and dislike for others all the many years I was reporting for the newspaper. I remember the first time that I found myself with a pen that had expired. I never left for another meeting without grabbing several pens!

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The Garden Club of Newtown will have its first 1994 meeting in the Newtown Methodist Church, Sandy Hook, on Tuesday, January 25, at 12:30 pm. The guest speaker will be Linda Whippie, who with her husband, operates the Taunton Hill Landscape Company. Mrs Whippie will present a program called “Horticultural Squares,” which will be a take-off on the popular show “Hollywood Squares.” Members and guests will participate in this entertaining program. Mrs Whippie is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University and holds a degree in ornamental horticulture.

January 24, 1969

President Paul A. Cullens of The Newtown Forest Association, Inc., has announced that, re: letter dated December 30, 1968, the Forest Association has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it is a “publicly supported” organization within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. In effect, the ruling declares that contributions to the Association are deductible to a maximum of 30 percent of adjusted gross income in each year by donors. In addition, donations of more than 30 percent of the donor’s adjusted gross income may be carried forward for a period of five years. The ruling is welcomed by the Association since it is felt that persons desiring to make contributions of land or money to the Association will be enabled to take maximum available advantage of income tax deductions. In connection with the ruling the Association will henceforth publish its annual financial statement.

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This week has been a historic one in the life of the nation and the American people. Countless persons watching television joined those in Washington on Monday as Richard Milhous Nixon took the oath of office as the 37th President of the United States. It was a solemn occasion, with the country’s leadership passing from Lyndon Johnson to Richard Nixon, and from control of the Democratic party to that of the Republicans. But, all in all, it was a smooth transition, and one which augurs well for the future. There seems to be abroad in the land a growing sense of confidence in Mr Nixon, an urge for unity, and a feeling of optimism that, under his direction, solutions will be found to many of the problems which have become so serious in recent years. We sense also, the realization that, although the tasks confronting the incoming president may be colossal in size, they are not insurmountable. The country appears ready to provide the sort of support that is so necessary to overcome such ills as inflation within and the scourge of war beyond our borders. In a remarkable eloquent inaugural address, President Nixon urged Americans to “go forward together.” He described as a “high adventure” the task of bringing a decent life to everyone. He did not offer pie in the sky but did emphasize that the new administration would “promise only what we know we can produce.” He asked the nation to look within itself for such simple things as “goodness, decency, love and kindness.”

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Named 1969 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow for Newtown High School is Frances Whittle on the basis of her score in a written knowledge and aptitude test on homemaking given senior girls here on December 3. Frances’ achievement has made her eligible for state and national scholarships. She also has been awarded a specially designed silver charm from General Mills, sponsor of the Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow. A state Homemaker of Tomorrow and runner-up will be selected from the winners of the schools in the state. The state winner will receive a $1,500 college scholarship and her school will receive Encyclopaedia Britannica. The runner-up will receive a $500 educational grant.

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A LOOK AT THE HOOK: Sandy Hook School, Brenda Bergeron. Mrs Parker’s grade 5 social studies classes are studying the southeast. They will now do reports. Miss Reymann’s grade 4 is studying desert regions and making sand prints. They also wove, using ribbons, ric-rac, yarn and paper. Miss Genovese’s grade 5 reading class is playing a game called “The Dragon Game.” By the end of January one of the teams, boys against girls, will have read the most books. Good luck!

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Despite freezing weather, Christmas holidays, and ravages of the flu epidemic, the Salem View Farms December horse show still had a comfortable turn-out of entries, numbering in the 400 figure. This was the second show of the season for the North Salem horse establishment. Limit hunters, with horses shipped in from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other parts of New York state, was the division with the most entries. Kristine Pfister’s Welwyn won the championship with 13 points. Debbie Perlman’s Spirideon was reserve with less than half the points. The full pony jumper division drew a large number of entries. Page Estes, aboard Minetto’s Holiday Farm’s Dinkie, won all three small classes and the championship for the pony. Her own pony Page Boy took the small pony reserve. Gretchen Blair’s Gwyness As Me was winner of the large championship, ahead of Pam Skidmore’s Playmate.

January 28, 1944

On Wednesday of this week Mrs Milton J. Budlong, a resident of New Milford and New York City, and formerly of Roxbury, learned from the War Department that her son, Staff Sergeant David A. Barker, has been missing in action since January 11. Sgt Barker was on his 25th mission over enemy Europe, and if he had returned safely, would have been eligible for a furlough in Scotland. He was a cameraman and turret gunner. Sgt Barker was a graduate of Choate School and has been a member of the 8th Army Air Corps, stationed in England for some time.

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Friends of Bob Stephens, erstwhile member of The Bee staff, will be pleased to know that he is now a yeoman c-3 aboard the U.S.S. Charrette, somewhere in the Pacific. He wrote home on January 3rd that he had not received any Christmas packages, except from Trinity Church and the Rotary Club, which arrived about November 1. He only gets first class mail, so that eventually a lot of packages, etc., will catch up with him.

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Townspeople will be particularly interested to know that Chaplain Paul A. Cullens, who is attached to the Fifth Station Hospital in North Africa, has recently been promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Cullens wrote that he is well and has recently acquired a car of 1934 vintage which is enabling him to travel in style.

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It is obvious that the whole world is watching the American people and our performance record in the 4th war loan drive. Particularly are our own boys and girls in uniform anxiously glancing our way, to be assured that their heroic efforts on the fighting fronts are being backed to the limit with Bonds and Stamps, the funds from which provide ammunition and supplies, without which they cannot win. Newtown, and every other town, has a quota which must be met, We hope it will be topped by a generous amount. It will be, if EVERYONE does his part. Let’s show the world — our own boys and girls, in particular.

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As The Bee goes to press, Chairman Arthur B. Nettleton of the Newtown War Loan Committee, reports during the first week of the campaign subscriptions totaling $158,100. He states that subscriptions are not coming in as fast as they might, and urges the people of Newtown, each and every one, to put their shoulder to the wheel and give their whole-hearted support to this Fourth War Loan Drive, so that Newtown’s quota of $493,000 will be raised as quickly as possible. Attention is drawn to the fact that this is not an outright gift, but is an investment equaled by none in the world.

January 24, 1919

Microfilm for the January 17 through April 18, 1919 issues of The Newtown Bee are not available. It is unclear why New England Micrographics Inc in 2000 was not able to produce film for these dates. Based on the poor quality of the early January issues, the film for which reveals torn and damaged originals, the newspapers for these dates may have been destroyed.

Please consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.