March 6, 1987

The Board of Education’s proposal for a free-standing, three-room addition to Hawley School was sharply criticized by Legislative Council members at the council’s meeting March 4. Council members did not question that the school system needs to do something about the overcrowding situation at the school. Members were disturbed over the board’s proposal for financing the $125,000 project. They also were not thrilled by the idea of building another free-standing building, which, by being separated from the main body of the school, would have the same disadvantages of portable classrooms.

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John Vouros and William Reibe have finally purchased the two-acre plot of land, which was the site of the former Yankee Drover Inn, from the Congregational Church, in hopes of rebuilding the inn that was destroyed by fire in 1981. Mr Vouros, a middle school teacher, and his partner Mr Reibe, a developer, have had their rebuilding plans approved by the Borough.

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An increased percentage of school officials and police were on hand at the Newtown High School basketball game against Bethel on February 27 to prevent any possible fights, such as the one that occurred after a game with Brookfield on February 25. A Newtown student allegedly got into a fight with a Brookfield student. There was pushing, shoving, yelling, and shouting, and in the end, one student sustained facial injuries. During the morning of February 27, Officer Lamparelli of the Brookfield Police Department called Newtown and spoke with Det Harry Noroian about reports he had heard that there would be a potential “rumble” at the Bethel-Newtown game.

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The Board of Education expressed dissatisfaction on March 3 with the architect who designed the plans for the proposed six-room high school addition, after hearing the Public Building Committee’s recommendation to reject the bids for the high school addition and redesign the plans to lower the cost. The school board may decide to postpone the high school one-story addition and to consider building a two-story structure instead, an action urged by high school teachers and some town officials.

March 9, 1962

Edward R. Hveem, First Selectman of Southbury, met with Newtown Board of Selectmen, Monday evening, to discuss the joint protest which Newtown and Southbury contemplate filing with the State Highway Department concerning the proposed reclassification of River Road in Southbury and Glen Road in Sandy Hook. The state plans to turn them back to the towns.

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The Salary Committee of the Newtown Teachers’ Association and the Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday evening, to discuss the teachers’ salary scale for 1962–63. A salary scale mutually agreeable was formulated, as follows: teachers with BA degree, from $4,800 starting salary to $7,600 in 13 steps; MA, $5,500 to $8,250 in 15 steps; and six-year certificate, $5,300 to $8,800 in 16 steps. Under the new schedule, a total increase for teachers’ salaries would amount to $27,450.

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First Selectman Charles W. Terrell will proclaim March 18 to 24 as World Understanding Week for Newtown. The Newtown Rotary Club is planning to observe the week with special meetings open to the public. Cooperating with them in this observance will be the Newtown Lions Club and the Newtown Jaycees, and full participation by many townspeople is expected. A special meeting is being planned for March 22 in the Edmond Town Hall theater. The main speaker will be Arthur Fletcher, executive editor of the Worldwide Press Service. The subject of his talk will be “Can and Should the UN Survive?”

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A community “Hymn Along,” enabling persons to join in singing their favorite hymns, is being sponsored by the Newtown Methodist Church on the second Sunday of each month, at 7:30 pm, in the church. Light refreshments will be served at the close of the evening. A St Patrick’s Day supper is also being planned by the church members. This will take place on March 17, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, from 5 to 7 pm.

March 5, 1937

The Warden and Burgesses of the Borough met on Tuesday evening at the Edmond Town Hall for their March meeting. It was voted to buy 250 feet of two and one-half inch hose, which is to be kept on a reel, and which will be for use in the Borough for protection while the fire apparatus is outside of the Borough limits. The old one and one-half inch hose that the Borough had will be given to the Dodgingtown Fire Department.

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Newtown fans jammed themselves into the New Milford High gymnasium last Thursday night, to see the Hawley High school girls add 20 points to their score in a second quarter rush that put the Housatonic Valley Schoolmen’s League title on ice for the second successive year. The Salisbury girls, winners of the northern section of the League, opened the game with a bang, drawing blood in the first two minutes of play and made Hawley’s chances for a win look a little dubious.

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The Board of Finance has received from the Board of Education a formal request that the Finance Board recommend to the Selectmen that a special town meeting be called to authorize an expenditure of a sum not to exceed $100,000 for the purpose of enlarging the present central school system. It is expected a special town meeting will be called in the near future to determine the tax rate and also to act on this matter of enlarging the present school facilities.

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Tax Collector Robert N. Camp has handed to Prosecutor Paul V. Cavanaugh a list of tax delinquents for collection, complaining that these delinquents have refused or neglected to pay. Warrents (sic) will be issued for the purpose of necessary arrests. This list includes taxable items other than real estate.

 

March 8, 1912

Last Thursday as C.E. Minor was coming down the hill near the Zoar schoolhouse with a load of planks, the load slipped, the planks being icy, and struck the horses, causing them to run, at the same time throwing Mr Minor down onto the pole between the horses. He held on until near the schoolhouse, when he went down between them, receiving several bad cuts on the head, many bruises and losing three teeth. He was taken to his home and Dr Gale was called and dressed the wound. The school teacher, Miss Lillis, did good service for Mr Minor, by tearing up her apron to bind the wounds.

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The Underground and Top-of-Ground Water Co of Sandy Hook, which began business about two weeks ago, had a freeze-up in the mild March snowstorm of Wednesday. When this new company was organized, a midnight banquet was held at the Brick store at which Dr Kiernan did heavy execution on the viands and made some clever speeches. It was feared, Wednesday, for a time, that there might be another midnight banquet, but the repairs were completed before dusk.

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Health Officer Kiernan and Charles N. Hall, an agent of the State Board of Education, have received complaints as to the condition of the North school building in the Middle district in Newtown Street. Dr Kiernan has called the attention of the committee of the district to the matter, and says if conditions are not remedied, it is possible the school will be ordered closed.

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NEWTOWN. Incorporated as a town, October, 1711. Population 1910. 3,012. Elevation above sea level, 640 feet. Ideally located for summer homes for residents of New Haven, Bridgeport, and New York. Manufacturers: Fire Hose, Buttons, Books, Paper Boxes, Pumps. Banks: Home of the Newtown Savings Bank, with deposits of $1,119,309.32. Newspapers: Home of the Newtown Bee, with circulation of 4,400 copies. Hotels: Up-to-date and attractive Summer Hotels. New York City Reached in Two Hours by Rail from Newtown. Boost. Don’t knock your town or its worthy institutions.