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The Amity Star
A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Best Interests of Bethany and Woodbridge
Editor and Publisher
George D. Vaill
Business Manager
Alice M. Vaill
Litchfield Turnpike, Bethany, Conn.
Subscription Rates
Full year - 52 issues - $4.75
6 months - 26 issues - 2.40
3 months - 13 issues - 1.20
Single copy - .10
Vol. 1 No. 6 Thursday, January 4, 1951

Hope for the Future
As another new year begins and we face an immediate future which is full of disturbing prospects, it is a source of hope and satisfaction to reflect upon some of the things which make life in a relatively small community an experience of enduring value and constant inspiration. One of these is the quality of unselfish service to be found in small, closely-kknot communities like Bethany and Woodbridge. While grantingi that larger, more crowded places are capable of cooperative effort when the need arises, we feel that the response, in time of trouble, is quicker and more genuine among people who have more breathing-space. And because we are sometimes more dependent on one another in such surroundings, we have a greater awareness of the true meaning of mutual help and community effort.
At the request of one of our subscribers, we are reprinting in this issue a Christmas prayer which mentions one of the basic elements in small-town living -- "the priceless worth of ordinary people." When disasater, private or public, strikes in a small community, the burden is taken up and carried forward by "ordinary people" -- people whom we know and respect, people whom we honor for their ready willingness to do more than their own share.
While communities of such people continue to exist, each new year may be greeted with hope.

Communications
To the Editor:
In his Christmas Sunday service the Rev. Eric Alton Ayer, pastor of the First Universalist Church in New Haven, offered a prayer which, it seems to me, expresses very aptly some of the ideas which are uppermost in our minds in these troubled times. If you should have room in your columns to reprint this prayer, I am sure it would be an inspiration to many of your readers. Dr. Ayer has graciously given his consent for the reprinting.
A Subscriber
(The prayer is printed below. Ed.)
"O Spirit of LIfe Eternal, may we live as those who constantly expect a surprise. May everything which happens to us be received as bringing a new experience we cannot do without. May we see the priceless worth of ordinary people and seize the hidden gold of every hour. May the star of our exalted moments be our inspiration for lowly duties, and when our star has vanished may we tend our fire. May we leave the heart's door ever on the latch, because at any hour some new and worthy experience, some new friendshiop, some new opportunity to love, to help, to serve, to lift where others lean, may come, and we would not have them knock in vain. So may we follow in the steps of shepherds and seers and come even unto Bethlehem. Deep in our inmost hearts, for many of us, there breathes a sigh -- familiar faces come to us out of the shadows, cast by this enchanted season. We pray for those loved and loving ones who are far away -- so very far -- yet very near, so quickly running back to be gathered home in our unforgetting hearts. May the wings of heavenly kindness be spread over us all. May divine love be born afresh in our lives; may the light that never was on land or sea -- that most beauteous light -- shine before us until the coming of thy great day when all the dark shadows shall flee away and the walls of separation shall be no more, and a new and a better world be for those who follow in this way.
"Amen."
To the Editor:
It was very nice that they didn't chop down the beautiful spruce tree by the reservoir this year. What I want to know is: why don't they plant a living Christmas tree in the New Haven Green?? It would be pretty there all through the year, even when it was only a little big, and later, maybe in 25 years when it has grown very big, it would be more beautiful at Christmas than anything they could bring from another place.
The way things are going now -- in 25 years, they will just have spoiled 25 beautiful places around New Haven and spent lots of money moving killed trees to the Green and then to the dump. After that, it will be harder and harder each year to find any pretty tree at all. So I think that New Haven should plant its own Christmas tree now.
Bill Bunting (age 6)
To the Editor,
Bethany and Woodbridge are richer this Christmastide by one fine old stately Christmas tree saved by the efforts of two public-spirited citizens. The tree is a noble Norway spsruce which stands at the northern end of Lake Dawson and perfectly frames the charming picture made by the treeclad hills of West Rock Ridge and the sparklin water below. The two citizens are Mrs. Virginia Jackson and Mr. J. Stephen Knight, both of Bethany, who discovered the dark designs of the city of New Haven which coveted the tree for a three-weeks' stand on the central Green. By ding of considerable effort, during the course of which everyone from President Truman to Mayor Celantano was contacted, the tree was saved for another year at least.
The view afforded the traveler as he descends Carrington Hill going south and suddenly breaks out of the woods is really breath-taking. Seen on a vacation trip in the White Mountains or the Adirondacks, it would be a source of much admiring comment. Unfortunately, trite or not, familiarity still breeds contempt, and all too few of us are fully aware of the great natural beauty surrounding us in Woodbridge and Bethany.
In any event, the combined efforts of Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Knight have, for the moment, preserved one of Woodbridge's finest old trees. Mr. Knight informs me that a petition is in circulation which we hope, if signed by enough indignatn citizens, will save the tree for all time.
Henry W. Benedict

The Star Reporter
Our inquiry of last week concerning the "Small beer and Soda Water Factory" has brought information from Miss Ida /s. Williams, Miss Cora Hotchkiss, and Mrs. Bertha Kinney. Beer and soda were bottled in a building which later became an inn -- The Clinton House -- on Amity Road opposite the intersection of Burnt Swamp Road, a short distance north of the home of the late George Watrous. The building burned in 1879 or 1880.
Two Woodbridge residents have in their possession bottles which came from the factory. Blown into the glass is the legend "Bottled for U. and I. D. Clinton" We hope to publish a picture of one of these in a later issue.
The grounds adjacent to the Clinton House were used for fairs and exhibitions, at one of which more than 600 oxen were on display. Bethany is said to have contributed 125 pair.
As far as we know, there is now only one yoke of oxen remaining in Bethany -- the team of Ralph R. Downs on Downs Road. Perhaps some correspondent can give us information on the Woodbridge ox population, if there is any. In facat, any further word on beer, soda, or oxen, or any combination of these strange bedfellows, will be most welcome.
The winter sports season now being in full swing, we are reminded again of the fact that at Peck Pond in Bethany and at the various ponds in Woodbridge skaters are dependent on casual volunteer help in keeping the ice free of accumulated snow, and all public-spirited labor in this connection is greatly appreciated, especially by those very young skaters who are too small to wield a shovel themselves. Some Woodbridge residents have contributed their time and efforts with small hand-tractor plows, which help to smooth out rough places as well as to remove the snow.
The Peck Pond Committee urges all Bethany residents to mak full use of the good ice at the pond while it lasts -- and also to keep off when the "Unsafe for Skating" sign is displayed. One of the immediate needs at Peck Pond is some short of shelter which can be heated with a wood or oil stove. If anyone has a small portable building to donate, it will be cordially received.
Children's feet have a tendency to grow faster than their skates deteriorate, with the result that in many households there are impressive collection of perfectly good skates which lie idle because they have been outgrown. "The Amity Star" can do nothing to retard the growth of feet, so it is, instead, establishing a free Skate Exchange to serve those who wish to dispose of too-small pairs or obtain replacements from someone else's supply. Those who care to take advantage of this service may call us at 3-1682, and we will endeavor to put skate onwers in touch with one another. From there on the transaction will have to take the form of private bargaining. (See Classified Ad Section.)
Our brief span of six weeks of publication has been somewhat adversely affected by emergencies, unfriendly weather, and holidays. It has, therefore, been impossible to arrange for regular lines of communication with all parts of both towns or with all active organizations. We are still dependent, for the most part, on the generosity and interest of those who have news to report. Every item contributed is greatly appreciated. If you get no answer when you call 3-1682, it is probably because we are out chasing a story. Please call again.

For Range and Fuel Oil
For free Emergency Burner Service to Bethany & Woodbridge Customers Call Bob Jones - Fuel
Bethany's Own Dealer
Serving Woodbridge & Bethany
Business Tel: 3-0908
Residence Tel: 3-3973

Airport Service Station
Opposite Airport
Bethany
Special for the Weekend
Potatoes and fresh fruit
Gos, Oil, Groceries
The place is small, yet we have a large variety of merchandise. Come in and look it over.
Otto Anderson, Prop.

906 Whalley Ave.     Tel. 3-2625
Sachs Dept. Store
Rubbers, boots and arctics for the entire family.

One Hour Martinizing Is More Than Dry Cleaning
1327 Whalley Ave.

D'Andrea's Pharmacy
Rexall Drugs
Famous for Prescriptions
M. S. D'Andrea, Reg. Pharm.
911 Whalley Ave., New Haven, Conn.
We Deliver     Phone 3-0642
Hallmark Cards - Fine Cosmetics - School Supplies - Magazines - Candy

Imported - $1.05 a fifth
French Graves or Red Bordeaux
Cozzolino's Package Store, Inc.
845 Whalley St.
Phone 3-0440
Daily Delivery to Woodbridge & Bethany
Buy a Case & Save

Tel. 5-3076     M. Sudhalter, Prop.
Morrey's Market
Choice Meats
Groceries - Fruits - Vegetables
Frosted Foods - Beer - Soda
We Deliver to Woodbridge and Bethany