* * *

Jack Shpunt was walking the perimeter of Hawley Pond handing out red and white bobbers to young fishermen. Among the 100 youngsters clutching fishing poles not one had caught a fish, unless you counted on determined young man who netted a trout that was floating on its side. It was dead as a doornail, though. Shpunt and Derby director Paul Rohrmann were at a loss for words. There were 350 fish in the pond, they said. Finally, between 9:15 and 10 am, a few lines snapped taut and the first fish were reeled in.

* * *

A substantial increase in salary for the office of Newtown first selectman was approved by the Legislative Council Wednesday in the first of two nights of action meetings. The increase would be from the $28,750 annual rate recommended by the Board of selectmen to an annual rate of $33,000 effective in January, 1984.

* * *

We were pelted again, this time with from two and one-half to three and one-half inches in less than 24 hours. The system that plagued the Louisiana-Mississippi area a week ago moved up and gave the Northeast a good drenching. It was nearly a record rainfall for the day, which is no novelty in looking back at our rainfall for the past few weeks.

* * *

Nail painting seems to be the new rage in body adornment at Newtown High School. Attention-getting color coordinated fingernails are striped, swirled, dotted and checkered. Girls apply acrylic paints with small brushes and coat the painting with clear enamel nail polish. This process definitely takes time and is considered a luxury item by most harried teens. Because hot water lifts the paint and destroys the hours of work, showering is shunned.

* * *

Newtown Youth Softball Association members believe their girls are getting shortchanged when it comes to assigning playing fields. As the association has complained before, Chairman Judy Furlotte assigned Commissioners Lynda Cox and Dr Ray Craven to work out an equitable agreement. Some commissioner disagreed with the association’s evaluation of the fields, however. “It’s a value judgment,” said Mrs Furlotte.

 

* * *

The eliminated town budget meeting has been replaced with a “public meeting” which will be conducted by the Legislative Council. During that meeting a nonbinding vote will be taken and public opinion be made known to guide the council during its final budget preparations. It appears the commission wanted to retain a town meeting while at the same time investing the council with more power. We hope the council’s final budget will, indeed, take the town vote to heart and that this will result in reducing the number of referenda.

 

April 18, 1958

Proposals for the new junior high school for Newtown had its ups and downs this week as the Board of Finance first voted to recommend the program excepting the planned gymnasium, then indicated a willingness to reconsider the entire program provided a town referendum is held.

* * *

Armand Menegay, Jr, Jaycee safety chairman, has stated the safe-driving teen-age Road-E-O is ready to roll now that equipment for the driving course has been delivered. The equipment includes large barrels, road tape, lines of red balls, etc, which serve as guides for testing parking, turning, stopping, roadmanship, and alertness skills. A standard model automobile, supplied by Amaral’s Service Station, has been made available as one of the automobiles to be used.

* * *

Mrs Robert J. Clarke announced that she will open the Land’s End Country Store in Hawleyville on Monday, April 21. This will be the ninth season for the unique store, the profits of which benefit the work in cancer research at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

* * *

The Federated Archery Clubs of Connecticut and New York will hold the first tournament of the 1958 season at the Granite Ledge Archery Club Range off Currituck Road in Newtown, on Sunday, April 20. The range is comprised of 28 targets in a wooded section of the farm of F. Byron Tomlinson. Being one of the best ranges in the area, it offers a fine opportunity for all classes of archers.

* * *

A subcommittee of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce has selected the week of May 12 through 17 as Clean-Up Week and the motto, “Don’t be a firebug, keep Newtown green, don’t be a litterbug, keep Newtown clean.” They decided to feature clean-up week, to make it a year around project, to invite any organization to assist and to appoint a subcommittee to work out the details.

* * *

At the Newtown Congregational Church this Sunday evening, April 20, at 8 o’ clock, a four manual rebuilt Moeller organ will be formally dedicated. The installation of the organ was recently completed by the Cannarsa Organ Company of Hollidaysburg, Penna.

 

April 14, 1933

All lovers of music will be happy to learn that the Immanuel church choir of Hartford will sing at the Union Lenten service to be held at the Congregational Church, Newtown, on Good Friday evening, April 14. Gordon Stearns, known to many of the Newtown people because of this former visits, is the organist and director. There are 50 voices in the choir and they are well known in Hartford for their excellent music.

* * *

The annual Borough caucus took place on Monday night at the Edmond Town hall, Senator Rodney P. Shepard was made chairman and Miss May Sullivan clerk. The ticket nominated was as follows: Warden, Edward B. Allen; Clerk, Miss May Sullivan; Burgesses, P.H. McCarthy, Walter A. Glover; Treasurer, Rodney P. Shepard; Auditors, George M. Stuart, H.N. Tiemann, Sr; Fire Inspectors, J.A. Carlson, Fred Crouch and Paul V. Cavanaugh.

* * *

A smart, sophisticated comedy whose central character is decidedly sympathetic and delightfully dumb is the description given John Barrymore’s newest RKO Radio picture, “Topaze,” coming Saturday to the Edmond Theater. Barrymore appears in the title role. “Topaze” is said to be thoroughly amusing and it certainly promises an interesting and delightful comedy characterization for Barrymore, who claims he is at his happiest when making people laugh.

* * *

Albert Boyson, local milk dealer, has just introduced something entirely new in milk bottle caps. This new cap fits entirely over the top of the bottle and has a rolled edge, crimped. The new cap is absolutely the last thing in sanitation and while the cap is much more expensive, Mr Boyson feels that his trade deserves the very latest in milk bottle protection from dirt.

* * *

The Sandy Hook Baseball Club will hold their annual dance to raise funds for maintaining a summer team at St Rose’s Casino on Saturday evening, April 22. So much interest has been around about town, over the contest held by the local ball club in an effort to obtain new uniforms, that a large gathering is expected.

* * *

It will be of interest to Newtown people to learn that Mrs Marie Maulick is opening a Beauty Shoppe at her home on Saturday, April 15. Her home is on Hanover road, the house of Mrs Olive Mead, which is a convenient location for her Beauty Shoppe. The phone number is 452.

April 17, 1908

Dr S.E. Allen of Hattertown puts up medicine for the blood which is just the thing to take this time of the year; also puts up a fine spring tonic. Dr Allen also fits those who are troubled with the eyes to glasses. Her postoffice address is Stepney Depot, Route 15.

* * *

Norris S. Lippitt, the new State bank commissioner, made his first official visit to the Newtown Savings Bank, last Monday, making a thorough examination of the bank’s affairs. Later, after auditing the bank’s securities at the safe deposit vaults in Bridgeport, Commissioner Lippitt expressed to President David C. Peck his appreciation and pleasure of the highly efficient management of the bank by its officers and the high grade of the bank’s investments.

* * *

The fair ground or the part consisting of the big meadow which was bought of the Skidmore estate by H.G. Curtis and C.B. Taylor and rented by them to the Fair Co, has passed into the possession of C.B. Taylor, he having bought out the interest of Mr Curtis. Mr Taylor has already caused a considerable part of the high board fence to be removed and it is said will take down the board fence on the front as soon as the advertising leases run out. All hope of a revival of the fair thus passes away.

* * *

L.C. Nicholson’s horses, attached to the wagon carrying the school children from Head of Meadow district, ran away near Mrs I.B. Harris’ place, Tuesday morning. The wagon overturned, throwing the children and Mr Nicholson out. The wagon passed over Mr Nicholson and one of the Wood children. It was a fortunate escape for all concerned. The harnesses were badly wrecked in the scrimmage.

* * *

The auction of the contents of the Gay carriage shop takes place, this week Saturday, at 11 am. There is a shop full of new material of all kinds for wagon making and blacksmithing and hundreds of useful tools and other articles. Don’t fail to attend. One minute from Newtown station.