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The budget is off and running and during its first real exposure to the public on Tuesday drew very little attention. In fact, fewer than one hundred taxpayers turned out for the hearing which was conducted by the members of the Legislative Council. However, small as this number was, there was a clear indication given by some of those present that this was to be a year of reduced spending, and some major cuts to the proposed budgets would be expected.

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The Senior Center celebrated the wearing of the green on St Patrick’s Day. There was an Irish jig contest won by Helen Hernandez, with Emily Eastwood as a runner-up. The Irish garter contest was won by Helen Drew and George Maser.

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Newtown Grants Administrator Zita McMahon was on hand at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Tuesday night to discuss rehabilitative recreational programs the town may seek federal money for. Mrs McMahon said legislation has been enacted that allows for competitive grants between states for programs including rehabilitation of a recreational area or facility.

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Congregation Adath Israel is having its second annual Passover Seder at St Rose Recreation Hall and Mrs Isabel Cohen, chairman, is looking forward to a very special evening with the most minute details being planned to perfection.

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If you were planning a party and wanted something a little different than “Pin the tail on the donkey” or other tried and true game staples, where could you go? Fran Benvenuti of Just Good Games, Inc. has one answer: the second floor showroom of the Sandy Hook Center business. Just Good Games, which sells coin operated amusements and vending machines, and specializes in reconditioning pinball machines for home and commercial use, rents out its spacious showroom by appointment for parties.

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The property bordering Lake Lillinonah sought by Newtown from Northeast Utilities for recreational use will not be available to the town after all, according to NU District Manager Robert Shaw. Newtown had been seeking long-term rights to the utility property to develop it for hiking, picnicking, swimming and other activities.

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Through the local Lions Club, various groups in Newtown have contributed money to the Newtown Ambulance Association to go toward purchase of the ambulance which replaces the one demolished in an accident November 10.

March 25 , 1955

Following an editorial which appeared January 14, considerable interest developed in the announcement contained in that editorial that July 25, 1955 would mark the 250th anniversary of the date on which the land now comprising the town of Newtown was purchased from the Indians. A celebration in observance of the town’s 250th birthday was suggested and met with enthusiastic approval. Since then a partial committee has been named by the town’s First Selectmen, but to our knowledge no further progress has been made in arranging an appropriate celebration.

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As their only money-making project of the year, the Newtown Cub Scouts of Pack 70 will sponsor a benefit movie to be given on April 14 in the Edmond Town Hall Theatre. The movie, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” will have a matinee performance and two evening performances at 7 and 9 o’clock.

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 The Newtown Music Association has completed the final returns of the recent annual drive, known as the Mile of Pennies. Through donations of the school children, by subscription and store collections, the total sum amounted to $521.20. The funds will be used in several ways to supplement the needs of various musical groups.

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 With the approach of spring weather, many people seem to find it convenient to call at The Bee office on Saturday mornings for various items of business. As a matter of convenience to the public, The Bee office will be open on Saturday mornings, starting March 26, with a staff member present to wait on those who may wish to call.

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Connecticut’s attorney general, John J. Bracken, and Mrs Bracken, will be the honored guests of the Newtown Young Republican Club at a dance this Friday evening, March 25, following its regular monthly meeting. The affair will be held at Hawley Manor.

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A program designed to steer youngsters into safe bicycle riding habits on the highways was described by Oscar E. White, chairman of the community service project. With more than 20,000,000 youngsters in the country riding bicycles to and from school, to the local stores and, joining with the other boys and girls in riding along heavily traveled highways, Pohtatuck Grange has adopted this problem as one of its current projects.

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Found trap with valuable pelt near south end of Taunton Lake. Owner may have both by identifying trap. Call Newtown GArden 6-2214.

March 21, 1930

 There was a chimney fire, Saturday morning, in the house of Frank Ruffles located at the foot of Lyon Hill on the state road. They were unable to get the fire truck from Hawleyville as the driver was sick and the substitute driver was away at work. But several went over from Hawleyville and the fire was put out in short order.

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 A card party recently held at the home of Arthur E. Brinton, popular plumber, Main Street, proved conclusively that Mr Brinton’s team, known throughout Newtown as the “Newtown Invincibles,” and famous for their card victories, was a poor match indeed for their New Haven contemporaries, who are known in social circles as “The Silent Three.”

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A certain member of The Bee force who is supposed to know his poultry, came into the office with a “cock and bull” story, Wednesday morning about the “peepers” singing to him a lullaby as he came to work. We tried at once the hear the aforesaid “peepers” but could not. We later in the day put one of Newtown’s sharp-eyed sleuths on the trail and he ran the clue down and it turned out that it was Sam Sheldon’s happy band of hens singing at their morning meal. Thus another sign of spring and our friend’s ability to tell a hen when he hears it has gone up the flue.

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Last Thursday afternoon we were entertained and enlightened by Elliott James and his liquid air experiments. Almost all of the high school pupils paid the 15 cent admission and none were found who did not declare the demonstration well worth it.

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E.J. Mannion, handling the Century Motors of Danbury, who are distributors for the Hupmobile cars, will visit Falls Gas Station in Newtown every Wednesday afternoon, where he will be glad to show to prospective customers the new Hupmobile car.

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The decorators have been at work on the interior of the attractive Upham’s Japanese Tea Gardens. New and pretty curtains at the windows, the tables handsomely redecorated, pretty mats for the tables and new chairs to fit in with the general furnishing.

March 24 , 1905

The Executive Committee, appointed to arrange for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the purchase of the land of the town from the Indians, held a meeting at the house of E.L. Johnson, on Monday evening. At that meeting it was decided to hold the celebration on August 5 instead of on July 25, as at first proposed.

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Mrs E.C. Bevans of Dodgingtown has been feeding the sparrows all winter with homemade bread. The other day, not feeling well, she purchased a loaf from the baker and threw it out for the birds, but they refused to eat it, having a preference for the homemade goods.

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Dr Morris of Binghamton, N.Y., the veterinary for the Borden’s Condensed Milk Co., completed, on Friday, the task of examining the local dairies supplying milk for the Newtown creamery. He stopped at Taylor’s hotel while in town.

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Gordon Stevenson of Bennett’s Bridge, B.M. Tuttle of Southbury and two friends caught 286 pounds of suckers in the Housatonic river, near Bennett’s Bridge, Thursday night. It was the largest catch of fish of this kind the writer ever saw.

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Spring necessities for the housekeeper include straw mattings, oil cloths, window shades, lace curtains, lawn curtains, fixtures, etc. A new invoice of these goods just received at Taylor, Curtis & Co.’s.

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P.F. Keating of Hanover went out, the other night, in his yard to drive away some dogs fighting there, when one turned on him and bit him in the face, requiring Dr Kiernan’s attention.