* * *

A grass-roots group of sports-minded individuals has sprung up to try to improve town playing fields. Claiming to represent 2,350 citizens either as players, parents, or volunteers, the Newtown Sports Coalition wants to demonstrate to local officials that more money is needed to provide recreation facilities in Newtown.

* * *

For fifteen weeks we talked about rain — too much rain. Rain is not the big story now. It’s heat and humidity and frazzled nerves, and it’s not over yet. Danbury hit a record high Wednesday of 96 degrees. Until a new air mass moves in, from the west, we’re stuck. There is one forming on the west coast — rain followed by cooler air, and unless it’s broken up in its journey, we may see it next week.

* * *

In order to discourage unauthorized use of its future park at Orchard Hill, an area planned for passive and active recreation, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted Tuesday night to lay a cable across the entrance to the property and post some rules. Commission members expressed concern at their meeting that teenagers were driving into the property and leaving litter.

* * *

Four Newtown racers placed at the Greater Danbury Soap Box Derby run on Casper Street in Danbury last Sunday, and one, Sarah Gallo, driving a Newtown Bee-sponsored car, won her age division. Gallo, 12, finished the day undefeated in double elimination competition, winning seven straight races.

* * *

In a surprise move just prior to adjournment June 8, the state House and Senate by amendment raised the legal drinking age to 20, one year after raising the age to 19. The amendment was tacked onto a bill that would eliminate the alcohol education and treatment fund, providing that fees payable to that fund be credited instead to the General Fund.

* * *

Residents of the Pootatuck section of Sandy Hook received the good news that a town project to upgrade the substandard dirt access roads into the 94-home community will finally begin. Town Grants Administrator Zita McMahon said the long-delayed improvements to Narragansett Trail and Far View Drive will begin next week and should be complete within three months.

 

June 20, 1955

Probably the biggest parade to be staged in Newtown will highlight this year’s carnival week, sponsored by the Newtown Combined Fire Companies, with fire departments coming from as far as 65 miles away participating, and to date, 36 registered, with another ten expected. Thirteen bands have signed up with four more having indicated that they will join the march, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, starting at 7:45.

* * *

A class of 34 graduates this Thursday from Newtown High School in commencement exercises at Edmond Town Hall when Dr James H. Halsey, president of the University of Bridgeport, speaks on “Values To Live By.” Edwin Weber, Jr, is valedictorian of the class, Carol Ann Pekar, salutatorian, and Sarah Blann Jackson is third honor student.

* * *

Twenty Newtown residents have offered to be Friendly Town hosts this summer to Fresh Air children from the tenement areas of New York City. However, the goal for Newtown has not yet been reached. Mrs Spear is hopeful that additional calls for children will come through before the end of June.

* * *

Members of Boy Scout Troop 70 of Newtown along with Scoutmaster Harold Carey will leave this Friday morning for a bike-train camping trip to Macedonia Brook, Kent, over the weekend. They’ll bike to Bethel, board a train for Kent, then bike to the camping site. For eight of the ten boys on the trip it will be a first train ride.

* * *

Now that school is out, townspeople may like to know where they may obtain park passes which sell for $3. The passes, which help the park to pay its way in regard to salaries, maintenance, and upkeep, are for sale at the park, the first selectman’s office, and the town hall switchboard.

* * *

Plans are now going forward for a food sale, which will be held on Saturday, July 5, for the benefit of the new St Rose School and Convent Fund. All kinds of home-made food will be offered, including, cakes, pies, cookies, rolls, bread, doughnuts, salads, baked beans, etc.

 

June 16, 1933

Members of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects held their regular meeting in Newtown, June 14. They inspected the Cyrenius H. Booth Library in company with the architect, Philip N. Sunderland, and afterward went through the buildings of the Fairfield Hospital with Mr Crabtree. On their return to the Parker House, where the dinner and business meeting were held, they stopped and visited the residence of Mrs Lee B. Woodworth, which won a prize in the Better Homes in America competition, with William Sunderland its architect.

* * *

A&P: Fowl fancy milk-fed, Fresh, Plump, and Meaty, 19 cents lb; Rib Roast, 19 cents lb; Lamb Fores, genuine Spring, 12 cents lb; Salads, Potato, Cole Slaw and Cabbage, 12½ cents, lb. LETTUCE Native Iceberg, 2 Heads, 9 cents; BEETS, Native, 3 Bunches 10 cents; Eggs, Wildmere, 15 cents doz.

 

* * *

On this Saturday evening, June 17, W.R. Tomlinson, manager of the Sandy Hook Tavern, will open with a dinner and dance, with Ted Howes and his orchestra furnishing the music. Mr Tomlinson has an especially attractive place, with a large dining and dance room for the convenience of his customers. The Tavern is also handling all kinds of confectioneries and gas and oil for the motorist.

* * *

Alexander Morrice of Shady Rest severed a tendon on the back of his left hand, last Friday, necessitating surgical repair. He decided to stay on at Shady Rest and makes daily trips to Sandy Hook for medical attention. The injury was sustained by a hard blow from a sickle.

* * *

The Newtown Hook & Ladder Co are planning for a pippin of a good clam bake on the afternoon of July 2. By courtesy of Hon W.T. Cle, it will be held on the grounds of the castle. The bake will be prepared by W.D. Parker, which ensures an A-No-1 bake. The tickets will be $1.50 to members and $2 to outsiders.

* * *

The Eden Hill Golf Course enjoyed one of its best weekends since opening this season. During the extreme heat numerous golfers found this place cool and inviting. Its location is one of the highest in this section and it is seldom that the entire course is not swept by cooling breezes.

June 19, 1908

L.C. Morris, W.B. Glover and C.F. Beardsley, the street inspectors of the Borough, will shortly confer with the property owners relative to the repair of the sidewalks in the borough. Warden D.C. Peck requests property owners from throwing stones, turf, and rubbish into the road after cleaning their gutters. He also requests property owners to attend to the mowing of the grass and weeds about unoccupied property. This is a sensible request and one that should be cheerfully complied with.

* * *

Ferris Mead is building on an extensive addition to his barn. George W. Stuart is the builder. He will put in cement floors in his cow stables and make other improvements.

* * *

What the Tax payers of the Town of Newtown want to know: The amounts of money taken by each of our Town officials found short by expert accountant, and the amounts each one has paid into Town treasury to make up their shortage and the balance, if any still due the Town. They would also like to know the situation regarding the property of C.H. Northrop deeded to the Town. It has been stated in Town meeting by Town Attorney that the Town was secured against loss by mortgage and attachment. It is now rumored that the Town has a very small claim if any on the property through some error made by selectmen or their attorney. —Frank A. Blackman

* * *

At a special Town meeting of the Town of Newtown the following vote was passed: “Resolved, that Henry B. Coger, E.C. Page, Charles E. Beers, Edward Troy, and Charles G. Morris are hereby appointed a committee with full power to investigate and to cause to be investigated the books and accounts of the Town Treasurer together with books and accounts of any other town official which they may deem necessary or convenient for their purpose and to employ and expert accountant to act under their directions and to report back to this meeting or an adjournment thereof.”

* * *

Very interesting and beautiful were Children’s day observances at the Congregational church, Sunday morning, the auditorium being filled. The pulpit platform was prettily decorated with roses, laurel blossoms and other flowers. Gathering in the chapel, the children, about 100 in number, and led by the pastor, superintendent and assistant superintendent, marched around the church and into the auditorium singing.