***

As the Newtown Concerned Taxpayers submitted their signatures this week to force a referendum on the proposed $15.6 million budget, they faced criticisms from some town officials and pro-budget residents that they had not proposed any alternatives to the appropriation, which would increase taxes form the current 33.3 mill rate to 36.23, nearly 3 mills higher.

***

Like dogs? Well more than 100 breeds of purebred dogs will be strutting their stuff this Sunday, May 10, when the Newtown Kennel Club holds its 260th AKC Dog Show and Obedience Trial on the grounds of Newtown High School. Over 300 entries are expected to vie for ribbons and trophies.

***

When Dennis J. Clarke, the town’s new librarian, arrived this week, he learned that the library’s custodian, Jim Kearns, is on vacation for two weeks. What with the sun and rain, the lawn certainly needed cutting, so out went Dennis with the clunkity lawnmower to pretty up the place.

***

Stating that the Meals on Wheels program in Newtown is “in jeopardy” directors are asking the community for financial and volunteer help to continue the service. The Meals on Wheels Association in Newtown began delivering noontime meals to anyone who is handicapped or unable to prepare his own food in 1974. Until now community support has enabled MOW “to run smoothly and maintain funds enough to operate from month to month,” said Dawn Lukehart, publicity chairman.

***

Five teams remain unbeaten after two weeks of play in the Newtown Slowpitch Softball League. Fireside Inn and Hawley Manor are leading the A Division; Loomis Construction and Chintz-n-Printz are on top in the B Division; and Oldies But Goodies is the lone undefeated team in the C Division.

***

Close to 50 citizens from the Botsford area have complained to the town about the excessive noise from motorcyclists riding on D’Addario Sand and Gravel Company property on Button Shop Road. “We have been trying to keep it under control,” said Police Chief Louis Marchese to the Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday night.

 

May 11, 1956

A group of Newtown’s junior “town officials,” high school students who participated in Student Government Day last Thursday, were guests of the Newtown Lions Club at its regular dinner-meeting Wednesday night at the Hawley Manor Inn. The students told of their studying the functions of the various town offices last week alongside the town’s elected officers.

***

Trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library this week asked users and friends to help in its support. As most residents are aware, the library was the gift of the late Miss Mary Elizabeth Hawley who not only furnished funds for its building but provided an endowment for its maintenance. When the library first opened in 1932, it could hardly have foreseen that invested funds a quarter of a century later would not provide sufficient income to cover running expenses.

***

Postmaster Albert H. Nichols of Newtown calls attention to the fact that rural mail box improvement week is upon us. This is the time, Mr Nichols says, to repaint the mail box along with sprucing up the grounds of one’s home. White or silver paint is recommended with the name of the owner painted over it. Straightening of mail box posts and even relocating in some cases is needed to correct damage done by snows of the past winter.

***

Unspectacular, but more costly perhaps than the general run of non-fatal highway accidents, was the damage caused to a utility pole on Main Street near the flagpole, when an unknown truck slammed head-on into the pole early Monday morning, cracking it about halfway to the top. According to Police Officer Hiram Hanlon, the truck apparently backed off from the pole and the highway sign which it had also damaged, and went on its way without being damaged.

***

That present day schools are charged not only with the responsibility of teaching children in what must be an old-fashioned concept of education but must look out for the pupils’ social and emotional welfare as well, was one of the more significant facts brought out at the three-hour open meeting of the Newtown Board of Education on Tuesday evening. That so many emotionally disturbed or maladjusted ones enter the school system may come as a surprise to the layman, but it apparently is an ever-present problem, requiring the time and the attentions of all individual teachers who lack the specialized training for dealing with it.

***

A brand new red, white and blue mail collection box was placed at the Queen Street shopping center last week, in front of the Connecticut National Bank as the result of the cooperative effort of Postmaster Albert H. Nichols and the Newtown Chamber of Commerce. The Community Service Committee of the Chamber of Commerce has been working on this project for some time.

 

May 8, 1931

The management of the Hillanddale Inn on the Newtown-Danbury state road, has just erected a refreshment stand and will cater to local and transient trade for light lunches, consisting of the various sandwiches that are to be found at an up-to-date stand.

***

At the Borough election, Tuesday, local citizens had an opportunity of seeing the working of voting machines, which were demonstrated by A.P. Gunn, of the Automatic Voting Machine corporation. Forty-five of the cites and towns of Connecticut have already adopted the automatic manner of voting, and several towns are already considering the purchase of machines. There is a strong sentiment locally in favor of adopting voting machines for Newtown.

In the Borough election, Tuesday, there was the largest number of citizens who voted than in any election in the last 30 years. Sixty-six voters cast their ballots and one was rejected. The only contest was for the office of tax collector, Charles F. Cavanaugh, present incumbent, receiving 41 votes and John A. Carlson, 24. Herbert Beers was moderator and John J. Northrop and Elliott M. Peck were booth tenders.

***

The Edmond Town hall theater was filled to the doors, Friday afternoon, in the May day health program entertainment staged by the schools of Newtown under the direction of Miss Baker, the efficient health nurse of the public schools. The program of the afternoon opened with a selection by the Hawley school orchestra, under the direction of Miss Florence Smith. A May pole dance was given. The Hawley School glee club rendered two numbers in an excellent manner.

***

Mrs J.A. Berger has opened a very handsome and attractive tea room on the Dodgingtown-New Milford state road, near Swanson’s gas station, which has been christened “Matilda’s Tea Room.” It has been beautifully finished. Mrs Berger will serve sandwiches, lunches, ice cream, etc, and is sure to meet with a fine success.

***

There will be a barn dance at Fred Bresson’s, Saturday night, May 9, at 8:30 sharp. Round and square dancing. Music furnished by Walt Nichols’ orchestra. Admission 50 cents.

 

May 11, 1906

In next week’s Bee will be published a list of all the dogs registered in town. Town Clerk Houlihan informs us only about 300 dogs have been registered to date, which is about 100 short of the usual number. The dog agent will start out June 1, and prosecutions will follow. It behooves the delinquents to get their dogs registered at once.

***

The Newtown Inn will open for the season on May 10. Improvements have been made about the hotel property. The stairway in the Assembly hall has been closed. George A. Northrop is doing a very fine and creditable piece of cabinet work. The walls and floors have been brightened by the painters’ brush.

***

The body of Lawrence Burton Pierce was found, last week, on the Newtown side of the Housatonic river by Charles B. Glover. On Friday Funeral Director Keating carried the body to the Southbury side in a boat, where it was prepared for burial, which followed in the Pierce Hollow cemetery. It will be remembered Pierce lost his life while attempting to swim the Shepaug when it was at flood tide.

***

The novel spectacle of a nonsupport case being tried before Judge George W. Wheeler and a jury in the criminal superior court was witnessed Wednesday. It was the case of Michael F. Carmody of Newtown, charged with having neglected his wife, Bridget Carmody, from January 1 to April 2. It took the jury about a quarter of an hour, after listening to the evidence, to bring in a verdict of not guilty and to free Carmody. The jury decided that a woman with $200 in the bank was in no danger of starving and so freed the prisoner.

***

With commendable energy Patrick Gannon has been at work removing the stump of a large maple tree, recently cut down, which stood in his yard. Mr Gannon takes great pride in keeping everything in fine order about his place.