* * *

The Planning & Zoning Commission gave the green light to the Parks & Recreation Commission’s plans for phase II development of Timothy B. Treadwell Memorial Park last Thursday, but because of a concern about the impact on area residents rejected plans for lighting the athletic fields. As a result, the Parks & Recreation Commission is sending out letters and a questionnaire to residents of Philo Curtis Road and some on Riverside Road, asking if they favor or oppose having the lights.

* * *

Is the nuclear freeze “junk thought” or is it a viable moral issue? Such questions received a variety of responses at the May 6 town meeting at Newtown High School as approximately 150 residents considered sending President Ronald Reagan a resolution “to initiate negotiations with the USSR to bring about, at the earliest possible date, a mutual freeze on all further testing, production and deployment of nuclear warheads, missiles, and delivery systems.” The resolution, which passed by a vote of 101 to 41, included an amendment to include the vote count and minutes of the meeting.

* * *

A proposal to evaluate the needs of the school system was outlined by School Superintendent John R. Reed at the May 11 meeting of the Board of Education. If reaction to the idea seems favorable, the Board of Education may seek volunteers from the community to conduct the study. Its purpose would be to pinpoint “as accurately as possible” the needs of existing school facilities by district for the next five years.

* * *

Ever try to track down some Velcro snaps for your tent with the ripped-out zipper or try to locate one of those caps that keep the squirrels out of the bird feeder? To those of you who shop Newtown last, local merchants will be convincing you earnestly that these items and more are available in local stores. The slogan “Shop Newtown First” will be appearing in newspaper advertisements, store windows, bumper stickers, and decals. The theme, printed on a “first prize ribbon” was created by Pam Ashbahian of The Bee advertising staff and will be promoted by the Chamber of Commerce.

* * *

Urging the town government and the Board of Selectmen to finally come to a decision about town takeover of maintenance of school athletic fields, Selectman Michael Osborne has proposed a “rough framework” of an agreement between the town and school system. The Board of Education is willing to turn maintenance of its recreational fields over to the town, acknowledging that budget cutbacks over recent years have resulted in deterioration of the fields.

* * *

The Cyrenius Booth Library trustees were handed a mixed bag of blessings when they met at the library Tuesday, May 11. As architect Stephen Griss examined his plan to bring the 50-year-old building into compliance with the state fire code, trustees realized that they may be reaping some benefits from what at first appeared to be an overwhelming command laid down by the state fire inspector. Mr Griss’s plan would allow the library to use the two upstairs rooms as the children’s library. That was the good news. The bad news was that the changes would cost $135,600.

 

May 17, 1957

Highlight of Dickinson Memorial Park’s opening day set for Memorial Day, May 30, will be a brief ceremony marking the official unveiling of a metal plaque, commemorating Mr and Mrs Bertram Stroock’s gift of the park to the people of Newtown. Before that time, it is expected that all work on the drinking fountains and the sanitary facilities will be completed. Resurfacing of the sandy beach is scheduled soon, so that the water level may be raised by next week.

* * *

A petition asking that a special teaching program be set up in Newtown schools was presented to the Board of Education at the regular meeting Tuesday evening, May 14. Mrs Roy Walker, representing the group of interested persons who are forming the Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children unit here, read the petition to the board. In addition, the group asked that a member of the board serve on its steering committee.

* * *

A special town meeting is called for next Friday evening, May 24, at the Edmond Town Hall at 8 o’clock when action will be taken on a proposed ordinance to provide zoning for the town by adopting the provisions of Chapter 43 of the General Statutes. The meeting will also be asked to designate the present Planning Commission as the Planning & Zoning Commission and establish a Zoning Board of Appeals, naming five members.

* * *

The Newtown Little League will open its 1957 schedule this Saturday, May 18, with opening day ceremonies and an afternoon double-header. Members of the Little League, coaches, and officials will march from Edmond Town Hall to Taylor Field behind Hawley School at 1 pm. Flag-raising ceremonies will be held at the field.

* * *

The May meeting of the Newtown Mothers’ Club will take place Monday evening, May 20 in the downstairs room of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library at 8:15 pm. Dr Clifford Johnson of Main Street will speak on the “Value of Children’s Teeth.” A question and answer period will follow Dr Johnson’s talk.

* * *

One hundred and eighteen pints of blood were given at the Red Cross Blood Bank held last Friday, May 10, at Fairfield State Hospital. Only 129 persons presented themselves while over 200 had made appointments. This accounts for the fact that Newtown failed to make its quota of 150 pints.

 

May 13, 1932

The Jolly Juniors Canning Club and the Flat Swamp Health Club will hold a joint achievement night program on Friday evening, May 13, at 8 pm. Among the features planned for the evening are: two health demonstrations, two short sketches, and some of the club songs. No admission will be charged and all those interested are invited to attend.

* * *

Harold Cotton and his dance orchestra has been engaged to play for dancing, this Saturday evening, at McNiff’s Log Cabin at Newtown on the Bridgeport state road. These Saturday night dances have proven very popular at the place and every effort is being made by manager McNiff to give all who attend an excellent time. Many tourists are also stopping here for dinners and luncheons.

* * *

A.E. Brinton will have this season, one of the prettiest rose gardens in the Borough, having 110 varieties of roses set out. Flowers of all kinds thrive and grow under his care, as he knows the happy art of fertilization and care.

* * *

John Arthur Northrop, Newtown, is one of the students taking part in the Democratic Mock Convention to be held at Oberlin College, May 13 and 14. Northrop, a Junior in the College this year, will be a member of the Connecticut delegation. The Oberlin Mock Convention, the 17th to be held since the tradition was inaugurated in 1864, is Democratic, this year, for the first time. Beginning with Abraham Lincoln, past conventions have nine times nominated the man selected afterwards by the National Republican Party.

* * *

On Sunday, May 22, St Rose’s parish will observe the 50th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone, it was announced last Sunday by Rev William J. Collins. Previous to the building of the present St Rose’s church, the Catholic church stood where the Edmond Town hall now stands. After the present church was built, the old structure was sold to the town of Newtown for a town hall, and was used for that purpose until the building of the Edmond Town hall.

* * *

At a meeting of the board of trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Memorial library held in the Edmond Town hall, Friday evening, Miss Vera Tracey, of Shelton, was elected assistant librarian out of nine applicants at a salary of $1,500. Frederick S. Stoddard of South Main street was elected janitor at a salary of $1,200.

 

May 17, 1907

At the meeting of Pootatuck Grange, next week Tuesday night, Miss Helen J. Penders will give a talk on “Modern Methods in School Teaching,” illustrated by a class from her school. The residents of the Street and vicinity and school teachers are invited to attend. Prof De Mork of Bridgeport has consented to give an informal address on “Missouri and some of the agricultural conditions in the great West.”

* * *

Deputy Sheriff Johnson of Newtown called at the police station in Danbury, Monday, and exhibited the kit of burglar tools found in the Hawleyville postoffice, Sunday morning, after the burglary there. The tools consisted of a brace and several bits, chisels and a heavy hammer. A quantity of dynamite and caps were also found in the postoffice, but the sheriff left these articles in Newtown.

 

* * *

As showing the uncertainty of some of the farm help, L.C. Nicholson had an illuminating experience. A man came along and asked for work. Liking his appearance, Mr Nicholson hired him. When Mr Nicholson returned from the Taunton prayer meeting, Tuesday night, he found the man had skipped with between $3 and $4 in money that was in the house. As he owed the stranger more than this for labor, he is not out anything, although he was not pleased with that manner of doing business.

* * *

Carl Imhoff, who has been laying some very fine stone wall for Selectman Hermon H. Peck, has completed his work there and is now building a wall for James B. Nichols on Mt Pleasant. The frame for the new residence of Henry M. Smith on South Main street is now up and covered in. The carpenter work is being pushed with all dispatch by H.C. McCollam and men.

* * *

The touch of winter this section enjoyed, Saturday, Sunday and Monday was a record-breaker for May. Sunday morning water froze, and at Selectman Peck’s place, ice was formed to the thickness of an eighth of an inch. With snow from one to five inches deep in Central New York, vegetables and fruit trees received a severe setback. Tomato plants in the valley were blackened by the frost.