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A new and higher grade point eligibility requirements for Newtown High students who want to participate in extracurricular activities has met with mixed reaction since it took effect in September. Newtown High’s new eligibility rule applies to athletes and in addition, to students who are involved in such time-consuming extracurricular activities as cheerleading, drama, leadership council, string ensemble, and madrigal singers. The new rule states that students must maintain a 75 grade point average and can fail no more than one course. At Newtown High, 70 is passing.

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The majority of Newtown students in grades 4, 6, and 8 scored at or above the standard score on the Statewide Mastery tests taken in October 1986. Results of the tests, given in mathematic, reading, writing and language arts, were reviewed by Assistant Superintendent David Quattropani at the January 6 Board of Education workshop meeting. Dr Quattropani told the board that in general students did well, and scored “extremely well” in math at all three grade levels.

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Newtown had to wait for the fourth day of 1987 for its first baby of the year. Emily Lynn Nezvesky was born to Maritza and Jay Nezvesky of Huntingtown Road on January 4, at 11:12 am. The Nezveskys are the winners of The Bee’s First Baby Contest.

January 12, 1962

Dr Waldo F. Desmond has returned to Newtown from Winter Park, Fla., and has announced he is opening his office to a full-time practice of medicine. Prior to 1954, Dr Desmond had worked for 28 years in Newtown, when for reasons of health, he had to discontinue his full-time practice and move to Florida. Having recovered his health, Dr Desmond will dispose of his Florida home and work full-time in Newtown once again.

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A route number has been proposed for the nameless old Route 6. State officials propose to consider the old route as an extension of Route 34, at least from Sandy Hook to Stony Hill. A State Highway spokesman explained that approval had been granted to number the Yankee Expressway Interstate 84 and to also mark it US Route 6, leaving a vacant route number for old Route 6.

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Charles W. Terrell, Jr, First Selectman, announced that the two International trucks authorized for the town highway department were recently received, and the new plow mounts were installed and ready for the last snowstorm. The new selectman’s car has also been delivered and the selectman’s car formerly used is now in use by the town police officers. This gives the town three cars with two-way radio communication.

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GRAND UNION is the place to buy… Top Quality Mild Cured Smoked HAMS full cut shank half 39 cents/pound, full cut butt half, 49 cents/pound. Real Savings on FISH N SEAFOOD: FLOUNDER 59 cents/pound; SCALLOPS DEEP SEA 69 cents/pound; COD FILET 2 lb pkg/79 cents; PERCH FILET 2 lb pkg/75 cents. California Navel ORANGES Sunkist 8 large size/49 cents; California AVOCADOS 3 for 25 cents; Large Grade A EGGS Quality Maid Brown 49 cents/dozen; Lucky Leaf APPLESAUCE 2-15 oz cans/25 cents.

 

January 8, 1937

Miss Margaret McLaughlin of Bridgeport is at the Hawley Manor every Wednesday with a complete line of yarn for suits, coats and sweaters. Instructions for all knit garments are free with every purchase of yarn.

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One of the worst automobile accidents that has occurred in this town in some time happened on New Year’s morning about 5 am, when a heavy sedan driven by Richard P. Griffin of Bethel left the road just south of the residence of Harry Greenman, struck a stone ledge and after traveling 400 feet, turned over, seriously injuring Miss Cecelia Grapkowski, Danbury, and Miss Cecelia McNamara, Danbury, and slightly injuring the driver. Motorists rushed the injured parties to the Danbury Hospital, where Miss Grapkowski’s death occurred a few hours later. State Policeman Fred Virelli with several local constables investigated the accident, and the police believe it was due to the excessive rate of speed at which the vehicle was traveling.

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Close to 400 people enjoyed a visit to the Fairfield State Hospital on Sunday afternoon to attend the exhibition of patients’ work by the Occupational Therapy Department. This exhibition was most interesting, three large rooms having been given over to the showing of work done entirely by the patients. One of the interesting features of the exhibit was a loom being operated by one of the patients on which were being made chenille bath mats.

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With the New Year less than five hours old, one person had been killed and two badly injured in an automobile accident as the result of traveling at excessive speed through Newtown. This serious turn of events prompted Prosecutor Paul V. Cavanaugh to announce in the Town Court on Monday evening that speeding must be curbed in the town and especially in the Borough. Motorists who are arrested can expect no leniency. The discharging of firearms in the Borough is another offense which will be no longer tolerated. A carelessly fired bullet, a short time ago, went through a window of the Edmond Town Hall and on Wednesday, a rifle bullet with through the front window of the R.H. Holcomb Fee Company.

 

January 12, 1912

No service was held in St John’s church, Sunday, owing to the intense cold, as it was found impossible to heat the building properly that day.

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The Men’s Club met at the Grand Central Hotel, Friday night, with W.L. Carpenter as the host. After an excellent spread provided by Mine Host Pomeroy, M.I. Payne of Waterbury gave an interesting talk on the “Attractions and Magnitude of Greater New York.”

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Mrs R.S. Wheeler of Zoar presented a book as a Christmas present to the Zoar library and Mrs M.E. Hill of New York City, whose summer house is in Zoar, gave a Christmas present of five books, and Mrs F. Moyers of New York City, who visited the Zoar library last fall with Mrs M.F. Hill, has presented the book “The Rosary” to the library, and all the gifts are much appreciated by the people who patronize the Zoar library.

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Newtown Inn, NEWTOWN, CONN. Open The Year Around. Automobile parties accommodated. Special low rates for the winter. For terms, etc., apply to W.H. Hale, Proprietor.