A rally addressing the problems of transporting nuclear materials has been called for Friday, March 12, at 8 pm, in the Newtown High School auditorium. Sponsoring the event is STOP – Stop Transportation of Pollution – the local group formed last weekend by Mitzi Bowman, Checkerberry Lane, and Joanne Zang, Camelot Crest Drive, in response to news that a transit of nuclear waste was planned across the state’s roads from Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island.

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 John B. Robertson, son of Mr and Mrs John Robertson of 25 Cedar Hill Road, Newtown, has been named Valedictorian of the Newtown High School Class of 1976. The position of Salutatorian will be shared by two members of the class since they both have the same average. They are Mary Leitner and Gerald S. Bilsky.

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Darlene Jackson, wife of Donald D. Jackson of Saddle Ridge Road, was named co-field director for the Mid-Fairfield Council of Camp Fire Girls Thursday, March 4, at the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors. Mrs Jackson, who has been active locally in Camp Fire for the past three years, was named with Mrs Irene Schoene of Danbury, a 20-year veteran of the organization. Both women served on the Board of Directors and must now resign those positions to join the professional staff. They will serve on a part-time basis. Mrs Jackson, a graduate of University of Southern California and Columbia University, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism. She is a third generation Camp Fire Girl and has worked in Newtown as an assistant and co-leader to Connie Bland’s Minnehaha Blue Birds, now Adventurers.

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The state Department of Transportation has put off a final decision on expansion of the Rochambeau Bridge until March 19. On Friday, March 5, however, the state bonding task force released a report listing the project in Newtown-Southbury as one of the 14 “ready-to-go” projects in the state which should proceed immediately. Job inducement was given as one of the reasons for the decision. Another one of the 14 projects is work on I-84 in Waterbury, and a third is I-84 in eastern Connecticut.

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Nelson G. Curtis, president of S. Curtis & Son Inc., reported that the recession had its greatest impact on the company in terms of more competitive pricing and much lower volume in plastics and contract packaging. This resulted in a loss of $74,334 for 1975 compared to net earnings of $145,273 in 1974. Corporate sales declined $451,835 or 5.4 percent. Mr Curtis stated that since the depression in 1934, this is only the second loss year for the company – the other having been in 1952, another recession year.

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A musical celebration of the Bicentennial will take place in the Newtown High School auditorium, on March 26 and 27. The high school symphonic band has been rehearsing selections which represent our musical heritage from the Revolutionary period to the present day. The percussion and flute sections have been involved in the authentic performance of the early fife and drum cadences used by the Colonists. The ensemble, under the direction of Mrs Richard Swanson, will appear in the auditorium before the opening selections.

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It looks as though the Newtown schools will be open until the end of June and the rest of the year’s schedule, as planned, will continue with a teacher in-service day on March 19 and a full Easter vacation in April. Following the Christmas vacation, January came in with old-fashioned winter weather, with several days of school having to be cancelled because of snow. After the snow days piled up, the word went out that school would have to be extended until June 29 to make up for the days missed.

MARCH 16, 1951

A testimonial dinner was held at the Nutmeg Inn, Brookfield, on Monday night in honor of Richard S. Rice of Dodgingtown District, first commander of the Danbury Chapter, Disabled American Veterans. The affair was a surprise to Mr Rice, who went to the Inn expecting a dinner in celebration of the second anniversary of the chapter’s founding. Gathered there were representatives of veterans’ organizations, civic leaders, and friends, all of whom expressed appreciation for Mr Rice’s work for disabled veterans and his leadership in the Danbury chapter since its organization.

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Colonel Robert M. Mackin, USA, Ret, director of the Brigeport-Stamford-Danbury area of the state’s Civil Defense program, will explain many phases of the program to members of Civil Defense Advisory Councils in this section at a meeting being held in Alexandria room, Edmond Town Hall, this Friday evening at 8 o’clock. The meeting, with the Newtown Council as host, will include a joint discussion of mutual problems by the Advisory Councils of Bethel, Redding, Brookfield, and Newtown.

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With several grass fires in Newtown already reported in the high fire-danger month of March, Vincent P. Gaffney, District Fire Warden, reports that beginning March 15 radio stations in Hartford, Bridgeport, Danbury, and New Haven are giving daily reports on the degree of danger for the day.

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Robert J. Shannon, TE/3, son of Mrs Gordon Driscoll of Walnut Tree Hill and Martin Shannon, Bridgeport, is aboard the USS Manchester, now in Korean waters. Far Eastern Naval Forces announced in Toyko last Sunday that the Manchester had been shelling Songjin on the east coast steadily for 72 hours. Shore batteries which opened fire on the Manchester the first night were silenced, the report stated.

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At its annual meeting held in Masonic Temple, Sandy Hook, Monday evening, Mirah Chapter 113, OES, elected Mrs Ivy Mayer to the office of matron and Hoyt Johnson to the office of patron. Other officers elected were Mrs Jennie Robinson, associate matron; Carleton Robinson, associate patron; Mrs Pauline Tilson, secretary; Miss Ruth Tilson, treasurer; Mrs Mabel Avery, conductress. Mrs Madeline Detlefs, past matron, was named trustee for three years.

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At a meeting of the Newtown Ambulance Association board of directors held Monday night in the selectmen’s office plans for a fundraising campaign for the new ambulance to start in the near future received approval. The fundraising group composed of First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson, Association President Harry E. Greenman, Mrs Ralph L. Knibloe, and Anthony Amaral selected 38 volunteer workers who will solicit homes and business houses in Newtown March 30 and 31. Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh was appointed director of public information.

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At the annual meeting of the Newtown Country Club held in the clubhouse Tuesday night, Allen Northey Jones was reelected president of the organization. Felix Baridon was reelected treasurer, and Alfred H. Jurgens, Sr, was made secretary. Fred C. Bauer was elected vice president.

MARCH 12, 1926

George T. Beers of Newtown is making plans to enter in the Old Time Fiddlers’ contest, to be broadcast from WBZ of Springfield, Saturday, March 13, from 7 to 7:30 pm.

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A bold and wicked piece of business was the chicken stealing in the heart of the Borough, when thieves entered the henhouse of Postmaster H.W. Wheeler and took about 30 nice fowls of the Rhode Island Red and Barred Rock varieties.

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Mr and Mrs George A. Northrop are out riding in a new Chevrolet touring car.

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A debate between the Woodbury and Newtown High schools will be held at the Hawley School auditorium on Wednesday afternoon, March 17, at 2 pm.

MARCH 15, 1901

The town meeting on Saturday was well attended, considering the day, about 150 being present. Charles H. Peck presided as chairman. Dr Gordon offered a set of resolutions offering an abatement of taxes to any concern that would operate either of the old rubber shops or the Niantic mills, employing a certain number of hands for ten months in the year.

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It is reported that John Coles of Bridgeport will come home April 1, and run his father’s, James Coles, farm.

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A well-known person in Newtown was dressing a fowl the other day. While making an investigation, he discovered a bright shining piece of silver, which goes to show that the greed for coin is not entirely confined to the human race.