Newtown’s day care-multi use center is now finished and waiting for its new occupants. The Sandy Hook facility will house the town’s senior center, the visiting Nurse Association, and the Children’s Adventure (day care) Center. Also, the portion used by the seniors during the day will be available for other community use the rest of the time. Whether anyone moves in as scheduled depends upon what action the Legislative Council takes at its rescheduled meeting Thursday night, February 8, (after press time). P&R was asked several months ago by the selectmen to take responsibility for the 7,500-square-foot building. Assuming that the council approved the transfer of $6,821 from a contingency account to the Parks and Recreation account, the seniors will be in by Monday.

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There hasn’t been much snow this winter, before Wednesday’s six inches, but the Newtown highway department’s winter maintenance budget has been eaten away all the same by ice building up on the roads and freezing ice storms. The Legislative Council will be asked to infuse new life into depleted winter accounts Thursday night, Febraury 8, at a meeting postponed a day by the mid-week snow storm. A total transfer of $30,650 into winter overtime, sand and salt has been recommended by the Board of Selectmen.

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The Newtown first selectman will no longer have a role in hiring the town’s zoning enforcement officer, members of the Planning & Zoning Commission decided by a 4-1 vote on February 1. P&Z proposed an amendment to the zoning regulations in December to eliminate the role of any first selectman in the hiring. Previously the commission and first selectman designated the zoning officer. Town Attorney Paul Pollock advised that state statutes permit the commission to engage its own zoning officer.

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Is cable television coming to Newtown or not? As far as the state Power Facilities Evaluation Council is concerned, the matter had been settled and Newtown residents would get this service. On December 21 the state regulatory agency voted to give the Housatonic Cable Vision Company the necessary approval for construction of a 40 foot microwave receiving tower off of Reservoir Road. The vote came after a public hearing was held in Newtown on November 14, during which residents spoke in favor of or against the tower location. Construction of the tower would mean that cable television, offering more programs and better reception, would be available to subscribers. However, the company has run into a snag. And one it knew was there all along. The 25 by 25 foot parcel it proposes to lease from the Newtown Water Company is landlocked by property owned by Richard Gretsch. The water company currently has easements through his property but Mr Gretsch has maintained that these easements aren’t assignable for cable television. However, he conceded at the hearing that there might be a chance of the cable company getting onto the property anyway.

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Al Morris, chairman of the paper drive program for Scouts of Newtown, Inc, reports that the January drive brought a larger return than any since the scouts began parking a paper trailer at the end of the Grand Union parking lot one weekend a month. A total of 50,200 pounds of paper was collected in September, October, and November of 1978, netting $360, which was equally divided among four Boy Scout troops, a Girl Scout troop and Scouts of Newtown, Inc.

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An ordinance that would exempt the Newtown Ambulance Association from property tax liability, and another ordinance that will forbid building permits for any property on which back taxes are owed, will be brought to public hearing soon by the Legislative Council.

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Once the ten room Victorian house on Church Hill Road may have been just the right size for its occupants. But now, as the home of the growing Taunton Press, it’s decidedly cramped. Paul Roman, publisher of the successful magazine Fine Woodworking and several books, says he and his rapidly growing staff outgrew the building a year ago. He and his wife, Janice, first started putting out the magazine in a small office that had been converted, appropriately, from a woodshop.

FEBRUARY 12, 1954

John F. Holian, co-chairman of the March of Dimes in Newtown, announced this week that total contributions to the drive, held during January for the benefit of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, were $2,500.96. This sum, the largest collected to date in Newtown by the March of Dimes, was more than 50 percent greater than the 1953 total of $1,632.17, he said.

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A conference seeking to establish the basis of a state shade tree program will be held Wednesday, February 17, under the auspices of the shade tree committee of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and cooperating groups.

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That racial discrimination in this country, and failure to “sell” Democracy have defeated the United States’ foreign policy in Asia is a view contained in a recent letter from A/1C Brendon Jones, son of Mr and Mrs Hobart Jones of Berkshire, now stationed in Korea with the Air Force. Writing to the Rev Paul A. Cullens, pastor of the Newtown Congregational Church, with the request that his pastor “try to speak for me to our town,” A/1C Jones draws a grim word picture of present conditions in Korea. In contrast, and emphasizing the poverty there, the Newtown serviceman gives a touching account of a Christmas party given for the children of a Korean orphanage which was “adopted” by the 51st Flight Interceptor Wing.

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Henry Johnson was chosen drill master of the degree team at a meeting of the Fellowcraft Club of Hiram Lodge No 18 AF and AM held Tuesday night at Masonic Temple, Sandy Hook.

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The Rosary Society held its February meeting on Monday night in St Rose Hall with attendance limited by icy roads. Those who ventured out spent an enjoyable evening playing cards. Refreshments were served by Mrs John Herlihy and her committee.

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A dump truck engaged in carrying gravel to fill in a swamp in Grays Plain District overturned last Thursday, February 4, when it went off an embankment along Great Ring Road. The driver, John P. Capozzullo of Fairfield, suffered various lacerations and contusions, and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, Bridgeport, in the Newtown ambulance.

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A dance of the Newtown Assemblies was held on Thursday evening, February 4, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. Several lucky number dances were held, the winners of which were: Ruth Ann Close, Richard Maye, Linda Walsh, and Jimmy Hellauer. Mrs Kenneth B. Smith and Mrs Patrick Carroll received.

FEBRUARY 8, 1929

Miss Louise Nichols, daughter of Mr and Mrs James Nichols, leaves today for Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., where she will attend the winter sport carnival and costume ball.

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Joseph Cordue, local decorator, has redecorated the interior of the Golden Peach.

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Miss Helen A. Bresson, daughter of Mr and Mrs Frederick Bresson of Gray’s Plain, has just completed a course at the Bridgeport Hospital Training School for Nurses, and is now spending a few days at the home of her parents.

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The interior of the Newtown Savings Bank is being redecorated by A.B. Nichols and men.

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The Bee desires to call the attention of the officials of the New York and New Haven to the dangerous and wobbly condition of the railings on the overhead bridge across the New Haven road tracks on the Mile Hill road. There have been one or two close calls from bad accidents on the east side. We trust the railroad authorities will give this matter their early attention.

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Contractor Joseph Collins is building a new house in Zoar for Stephen Fee.

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Paul Fell housed his ice crop Wednesday and Thursday, cutting it on Ernest Hawley’s pond.

FEBRUARY 12, 1904

Master John Houlihan is enjoying an attack of the measles, at the home of his aunts, Misses Mary J. and Margaret Houlihan.

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The Leap Year Ball held at Sandy Hook Tuesday evening was a success socially as well as financially. The crowd was the largest ever assembled at St Mary’s hall, a large number being present from Bridgeport, Danbury, and Bethel.

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The Leap Year dance at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening was a most enjoyable affair, socially, but on account of sickness and the severe weather not so large an attendance was present as expected.

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The following is the report of the high school for the month of January: In the final examination in civil government the highest mark was made by Paul Wolcott; the highest term mark by Guy Brown.

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On account of the measles, Health Officer Dr Schuyler closed the high school on Tuesday noon for the balance of the week, in order that the room might be thoroughly fumigated.

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The high school committee has turned over to Professor Jewess $10 received from the state, the money to be used for the purchase of books, a like amount already having been expended by the school.