The proposed open space plan public hearing, March 31, started off like a game of musical chairs. The hearing was called to elicit public comment on whether to amend the open space portion of the Town Plan of Development developed by a New Haven firm in 1969 and substitute the plan drawn up by Frederick P. Clarke Associates, Rye, N.Y., for the Conservation Commission. Planning and Zoning Commission chairman Robert DiGiovanni opened the meeting and turned it over immediately to Howard Kemmerer, head of the conservationists. After remarking, “This plan expresses the desires of the Conservation Commission,” Mr Kemmerer turned the meeting over to David Portman of Frederick Clarke Assoc.

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Last Friday, Bruce Onderdonk, a structural engineer from Glastonbury, had a look at the cracks at Newtown High School, and it is expected he will have a structural investigation report ready for First Selectman Jack Rosenthal within a week. Mr Onderdonk, recommended by the town’s newly-hired engineer and road superintendent John Olsheky, was hired by the town to study the cracks in the building in a step towards trying to find out whether there are parts of the facility which are structurally unsafe.

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The site committee for the Newtown Children’s Adventure Center is still considering possible sites for a new facility. Operated by a non-profit designated agency of the town through state funding, the center has just received a letter of credit from the Housing and Urban Development administration for $56,000 for a new building to house a day care program for at least 60 children. The letter of credit authorizes the day care center to draw upon the federal funds at any time and in any amount up to $56,000, without imposing a deadline or a schedule.

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A proposed federal plan to upgrade Currituck Road that carries an estimated $1.5 million price tag has met with swift disapproval from First Selectman Jack Rosenthal. The proposal, which includes widening Currituck from 36 to 40 feet and paving to town road standards, was initiated by former First Selectman Frank DeLucia, and Mr Rosenthal will ask Mr DeLucia at next Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting for a fuller explanation. The first selectman also has asked Currituck residents to mail to him their views on the safety and problems of the road.

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The home economics department at the high school decided recently to create a Newtown flag as their Bicentennial gift to the Town of Newtown. The flag was presented to First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, and again to Chris Spiro, chairman of the Bicentennial Commission. Mrs Mary Thomas’ classes first set about to create a design using the golden cock as the theme, and then hand-appliqued the motif on deep blue fabric. The class members who contributed to this project were Sue Jones, who did most of the embroidery; Monica Larkin, who was responsible for the overall design; and Marianne Morhauser, Debbie Provenzano, Margie Vanderlip, and Leslie Cogswell.

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Vandals had a go at the new elementary school going up on Boggs Hill Road over the weekend, causing damage which runs into the thousands. According to the police, a complaint was received on Monday morning of this week from the foreman at the school site that vandals had come onto the property over the weekend and destroyed approximately $500 worth of materials and taken about $20 worth of items. The worst vandalism was caused to the electrical and plumbing underground piping which had been filled with rocks. It is estimated this damage may cost as high as $4,000 to repair, and the full extent of the weekend damage has still not been determined.

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Llewellyn Rowe, president of the Newtown Ambulance Association, Sam Eisenbach, chief driver of the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Driver Corps, and Stuart Smith, chairman of a committee in charge of selecting a new vehicle, asked State Rep John Anderson for help with Emergency Medical Service regulations at the state level in the legislator’s constituents meeting Monday, March 29, in the new Sandy Hook firehouse.

 

APRIL 6, 1951

The High School Building Committee of Newtown at a regular meeting Tuesday evening decided upon the basic plan for a six-year high school to be built on the Queen Street site purchased last year, and voted favorably to instruct Wescott & Mapes, architects of New Haven, to proceed with preliminary plans, detailed specifications, and cost estimates for presentation at a town meeting within about four weeks. The plans will outline a building of two-story, brick construction with pitched roof and of Colonial architecture in accord with other public buildings in the town.

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The evening of Friday, May 18, was set for the 1951 Youth Club Jamboree by representatives of Newtown youth clubs who met with Recreation Director Harold S. DeGroat in Hawley School auditorium Monday night. Mr DeGroat was in charge of the meeting and, in addition to determining the date, plans were discussed for the coming event. It was agreed at the meeting that the general plan of the 1950 Jamboree, which was considered highly successful, should be followed in this year’s event, with added features.

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Plans for a new fire house to accommodate a new fire pumper expected to be delivered this June have been announced by the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company. The building would also serve as a community center. The proposed structure is to include of a full basement where all the fire apparatus can be housed. It would also be large enough to provide a meeting room, kitchen, and lavatories.

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A second issue of The Neighborhood News was recently published by Miss Carol Hibbard, daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Hibbard of Main Street, who distributed copies to her friends and neighbors. The news ranged from a “Lost and Found” item about Henrietta DeVeer, to the expected arrival of kittens at the Knapp and Meyers store.

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Saturday was the last day at the Newtown Post Office for Barton Carmody, who has resigned his post there to accept a position in the Internal Revenue Department in Hartford, where he will be doing auditing work, starting on April 16.

 

APRIL 2, 1926

Mr and Mrs F.H. Johnston move this week to the new house of Miss Mary E. Hawley, south of the Smith-Scudder residence.

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E.W. Troy and Miss Anna Troy attended the Empress on Monday afternoon and saw the great picture, Fighting at the Front.

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The selectmen have purchased a Larrabee truck of Louie Lovell for use on the town roads.

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A very interesting meeting was held at the Zoar school on Friday evening, March 26. About 50 people were present. Miss Lillis gave some excellent demonstration lessons. These were followed by the annual speaking and spelling contest. Marjorie MacClymon won both the speaking and spelling contests.

 

APRIL 5, 1901

One by one the former workers in the local factories of the N.Y. Belting & Packing Company are removing their families from town. Last Saturday, James Callahan was added to this list, moving to Passaic, N.J., where he is employed by the same company.

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At the cattle sale held in the Newtown Inn yards on Monday by Walter Hine, there was quite a large attendance of farmers and about all the cattle were disposed of.

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Philo T. Platt is anxiously waiting for the mud to dry up, so that he may use that handsome bicycle-tire runabout. His young lady friends will read this announcement with great pleasure.