[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10093]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING THE NEWTOWN BEE

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                         HON. ELIZABETH H. ESTY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2017

  Ms. ESTY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The 
Newtown Bee, a weekly paper based in Newtown, Connecticut, upon the 
140th Anniversary of its first publication. For well over a century, 
The Newtown Bee has chronicled the town's history and informed the 
Newtown community.
  The Newtown Bee was first published on June 28, 1877, and was 
initially led by editor John Pearce. Brothers Reuben and Allison Smith 
purchased the paper in 1881, and their leadership brought the paper 
increased prominence. Successive generations of the Smith family have 
been committed to The Newtown Bee's success and have ensured the 
paper's weekly publication, totaling over 7,000 issues. Despite changes 
in journalism, The Newtown Bee has remained a relevant part of the 
Newtown community, while keeping its historic charm. It is still 
published as a traditional eight column broadsheet newspaper, but it 
also pioneered Connecticut's first online newspaper in 1995.
  The Newtown community has looked to The Newtown Bee paper for 
information on town government activities, the work of public officials 
and business leaders, and even profiles of their neighbors. Since 1903, 
The Newtown Bee has been run from the same historic building on Church 
Hill Road, which is topped with an iconic bee weathervane. Moreover, 
members of the Smith family have been active members of our community, 
supporting local sports teams, the arts, and community organizations 
such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.
  Mr. Speaker, The Newtown Bee has been a vital and successful 
institution in Newtown, Connecticut for 140 years, and the leadership 
of the Smith family has ensured the community is informed and engaged 
in civic life. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor the 
paper and the many leaders who have ensured its success here today.

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