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Newtown school principals will get their first opportunity Monday night to react to the possible closing of Hawley School, a budget cutting idea which was unveiled by members of the Education Committee of the Legislative Council on Wednesday, March 3. Education Committee members indicated the school closing idea is in its earliest stages of consideration. At this time they said they could not estimate how much there would be in budget savings as a result of reductions in teaching, administrative and other staff, and in maintenance and utility costs if Hawley School were closed.

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The Newtown Fund, Inc will donate $5,000 to Youth Services in Newtown (YSIN) if YSIN can match that amount with private, non-governmental donations and demonstrate it has sufficient cash to pay a youth coordinator for a minimum of six months. Hiring a youth coordinator by July 1 is the goal of YSIN, which is an independent, incorporated group of adults and young people.

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WLAD radio disc jockey Vinny James will provide musical and verbal entertainment at the Saturday, March 27 Casino Night, sponsored by the Newtown Summer Festival Committee. The event will help support such Summer Festival activities as the Fourth of July fireworks, the town block party in August, and the Labor Day Parade.

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Four seventh grade classes at the Newtown Middle School will be involved in a four-day pilot career program next week. A number of representative speakers from different career areas will meet with the students from Monday through Thursday from 9:40 to 10:30 am. Robert Shaw of NU said the speakers will review their careers, successes and failures, and the world of work with the seventh graders.

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Tans, sunburns, pineapples and shell rings were some of the many mementos seven Newtown High School students brought back from Puerto Rico during their winter vacation. Through the efforts of high school administrators, Newtown established a “sister school” concept with Ramey School in Ramey, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Participating students were elected through the Spanish department on a class-by-class basis coordinated by Spanish instructor Mrs Danny Thibodeau.

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Whether or not the historic district study committee goes into the final stages of the procedures which would designate part of Main Street as an historic district is now up to the Borough Board of Burgesses, the board which originally established the committee. Since 1979, the group, headed by chairman Gretchen Hyde and co-chairman Alice Winchester, has studied the area, spoken with property owners, conducted informational meetings, set boundaries, gathered histories and prepared a 25-page report outlining the area’s historical significance.

 

March 8, 1957

The Junior High School Building Committee, has… reviewed the report of the Educational Planning committee, the supplemental report of the School Building Program, the requirements of the Board of Education, and has examined sites for a junior high school building. After thorough appraisal for the architects interviewed, the committee, bearing in mind the most important consideration, to present to the town of Newtown plans for the finest junior high school possible at the lowest cost, has unanimously voted to retain J. Gerald Phelan as architect, with Fletcher Thompson, Inc, consultants.

* * *

Hugh P. Harper, former radio and television writer, has joined the staff of the Newtown Park Sports Course and Motodrome as Public Relations Representative in Newtown. Mr Harper’s function is to establish better understanding between the town and the group of Fairfield County sports car enthusiasts, and to arrange for a town meeting at which the public will vote on acceptance of a new fifty-foot roadway offered by the sports car group.

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Twenty-eight sons of the Newtown Lion’s Club members attended the February 27 meeting at Hawley Manor, when William Tobin from the State Department of Motor Vehicles spoke to the group on “Youthful Drivers.” Mr Tobin was most emphatic in his pronouncement that the greatest hazard on the road today is the driver between the ages of 16 and 22.

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Members of the Congregation of Adath Israel are planning to make renovations and additions to the synagogue on Huntingtown Road and give the building an entire “new look.” Tentative plans call for the enlarging of the building, installing a heating system, lavatories and a social room.

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Authentic 7-room Cape Cod, original 3 fireplaces, cupboards, paneling, floors. 5 beautiful acres with brook add to charm. Downstairs: 4 rooms, plus entrance hall and studio or bedroom, 2 baths. Upstairs: 2 or more bedrooms, lots of storage space, new oil hot air heat, garage. Location affords convenience and privacy. Long frontage on two town roads near state road. Ask $26,000.

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The Newtown Girl Scouts are making their first public appeal for funds in three years. Letters are being mailed to townspeople next week in which an appeal is being made for the financial support of all local Girl Scout Troops. Over the years, Girl Scouting in Newtown has grown from a single troop to a combined membership of 190 girls participating in four Brownie and five Girl Scout Troops.

 

March 4, 1932

The musical playlet, “When Betsy Ross Made Old Glory” commemorating the 200th anniversary of Washington’s birth will be given at the town hall on Friday, March 11, by the members of the various schools. It will be vivid with color for it will portray the styles and costumes of the Colonial days.

* * *

There was a grass fire, Wednesday afternoon, on the hill south of Arthur Beard’s place. The smoke-eaters of Sandy Hook under the lead of Hobart Warner, Jr and George Ward, led a brisk fight on the fire which was fanning through the tall grass and soon had it out.

* * *

The annual meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce took place on Thursday night of last week, with a good number in attendance. F.H. Metcalf, the retiring president, was given a surprise in the presentation of a box of fancy groceries from the members, including a ham and cudgel of bacon. The speaker of the evening, Warren F. Scott, sanitary engineer of the state department of health, gave a very interesting address on sewage disposal.

* * *

Bishop Brewster, beloved not only in his own church but by Connecticut people generally, had a warm greeting at Trinity, on Sunday morning. He was celebrant at the service of the holy communion at 8:45, assisted by the rector, Rev Richmond H. Gesner at 10:45. Several persons were prevented by illness from attendance.

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EDITORIAL INK DROPS: The country gasped with horror, when the news was flashed over wires, Wednesday morning, of the kidnapping of Col Charles A. Lindbergh’s 19 months old son. The Lindbergh baby, throughout its brief life, has been one of the most carefully guarded children in the world. The opinion will not be disputed that individuals capable of such a deed are utterly lacking in human feeling.

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On March 4, 1932, Pootatuck Grange, No 129, was organized in the town of Newtown, with 19 charter members. Friday evening, March 4, 1932, will be a big night in Newtown for it is then that the Grange celebrates its fortieth birthday. The great event will take place in the Alexandria room of the Town hall at 8 o’ clock.

 

March 8, 1907

Dr A.L. Schuyler was obliged to have his faithful horse shot, Sunday morning, as it was believed to be incurable. Dr Schuyler had owned the faithful stepper for 10 years and parted with the animal with deep regret. Dr A.L. Schuyler has abandoned his office in the Beers block over the Newtown Savings bank, and will have his office at Sandy Hook at his residence, which is connected by telephone.

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The Bee’s long-time friend, Walter S. Bradley, passed Thursday afternoon at The Bee office. Mr Bradley furnishes the record of the weather and variation of the thermometer for the month of February. He says there have been 22 snowstorms this winter and are to be 28 in all. The dates below zero are: February 6,7, 12, 13, 22, 23, 26, and 28.

* * *

The local sportsmen had better wake up. A Sandy Hook lady caught a pickerel, Thursday, weighing six and one-half pounds. It measured 30 inches in length.

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“The Sign of the Cross” presented by Miss McClaran at the Town hall, was a finished and brilliant piece of work, one of the finest entertainments of its kind ever given in Newtown. Miss McClaran held her audience spellbound at times and it was to be regretted a few boys had so little sense as to mar the artistic effect of her work at one or two critical periods in her story. The entertainment netted about $9 above expenses, which will go to the treasury of the Newtown library.

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Blacksmithing and Wagon Repairing: I hereby give notice that I have bought back my old stand in Middle Gate district, and that I am ready to do business and would be pleased to see all my old patrons and the general public. First class work guaranteed, at moderate prices. Telephone No. 26-4. C.F. Conger, Botsford