***
***
 The politicians always have the most to say, but when it comes to appropriating major funding for town projects itâs the voters who have the final say. Thatâs the case in Newtown this Friday as voters will go to the polls and determine the fate of a long and harshly debated proposal to construct a new town garage and maintenance facility on town-owned property on Turkey Hill Road.
***
Rock hurling vandals left a path of senseless destruction which made Newtown High look like it had been under siege as 21 windows and 11 glass doors were smashed sometime during the early morning hours last Sunday. Police and school officials figure the rock throwing took place sometime between 2 and 6 pm, since all was well at the school at 1:30 when one of the custodians returned to the school to pick up his car, and the damage was discovered at 6. No definite cost figure for replacing the glass is in yet, but a minimum estimate of $3,000 had been made, and it could go higher.
***
Rain last Saturday afternoon caused a change in the graduation schedule at the Newtown High School and the ceremonies moved indoors. As a result, a limited number of people were able to view the program first hand, in the auditorium, while the balance had to make do in the classrooms and view the exercises on closed circuit TV.
***
Why does the Legislative Council keep rejecting subdivision open space donations proposed by the Planning & Zoning Commission, and what criteria does the councilâs planning and zoning subcommittee use in formulating its advice to the full council? The Planning & Zoning members want to find out and as a result have sent a letter to council chairman John Knight seeking answers.
***
One of the good things from the garden the Jack McAuliffe family on Hyvue Drive got this year wasnât expected â a 1775 half-penny British coin. Or is it? Lois McAuliffe was digging in th garden May 26 when she came across the coin. How long itâs been there, or how it got there, of course, would simply be conjecture. And Jackâs not too sure at this point whether itâs a genuine article or a forgery. Heâs an airline pilot with TWA and his job gave him a unique opportunity to do some research into the coinâs past. Scheduled for a flight to London on June 12, he stopped by two British coin stores while there, and what he learned was somewhat contradictory. âI went to one dealer, who looked at it and told me, `Too bad itâs a colonial forgery, otherwise it could be worth 25 to 50 pounds.â Leaving the firm, Spinx on King Street, he went around the corner to another shop, Regents Coin Dealer Ltd, and heard the exact opposite. Too bad itâs not a forgery, he said he was told, forgeries are rare and it could be worth from 25 to 50 pounds.
***
The Rev George H. Carpenter will preach his first sermon as pastor of Newtown United Methodist Church in Sandy Hook Sunday, June 26, at the 9:30 am service.
***
Did a disproportionate number of students not graduate with their classmates from Newtown High this year? The answer is no, although figures for those who did not have the credits to receive their diploma on June 18 is somewhat higher than previous years, according to James Caras, guidance director for the high school.
***
Town Counsel William Lavery told the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night that in his view First Selectman Jack Rosenthal had the legal authority to use highway department engineering funds to conduct a well test at the proposed town garage property on Turkey Hill Road. The attorney was responding to a question from Selectman Frank DeLucia. The Board of Selectmen had authorized an appropriation of $1,100 for the testing, but the Legislative Council tabled the request last month, after which the first selectman went ahead and had the test done anyway. Cost was $1,504.
JUNE 27, 1952
Turn back the pages of Newtownâs history to the year 1877 and you will find that The Newtown Bee is about to be born. At first it was just an experiment for its originator, John T. Pearse, who was backed by A.A. Bensel, but it soon gained a hold on the minds and imaginations of the entire town because John Pearse quite definitely had a ânose for news.â
***
As a finale to 12 years of study, 27 seniors received their diplomas as graduates of Newtown High School during commencement exercises held last Thursday night before an audience of relatives, friends and schoolmates that filled Edmond Town Hall Theatre to capacity. The exercises followed the pattern introduced as an innovation a year ago, with a panel discussion as a leading feature. This yearâs theme was âDemocracy versus Communism.â
***
Following the commencement exercises last Thursday night, graduates and their friends gathered for a social evening as guests of Carolyn Paulis at the home of her parents, Mr and Mrs Joseph Paulis in the South Center District. In these fast-moving times, the occasion was also a farewell party for graduate Danny Reardon, Hawleyville, who left Newtown Friday morning for New York City to take his physical examination for entrance into the US Navy.
***
The United Fire Company, Inc, of Botsford will again present Gay Laugh Festival at the Edmond Town Hall, Thursday evening, August 21. This production will be studded with outstanding talent featured on television, stage, and Broadwayâs smart night clubs.
***
Fireworks will be sold in Newtown June 30 through July 4 by members of the five volunteer fire companies comprising the Newtown Fire Department. Five booths are being erected this weekend in various sections of the town, which will be manned during the five days from noon until midnight by members of the companies. All receipts will be entered in a general fund and the net proceeds will be divided equally among the five companies, according to Albert Knapp who heads the committee.
***
Cpl Lee W. Glover, son of Mr and Mrs Walter L. Glover, Glover Avenue, has been awarded the Purple Heart for a wound received in fighting in Korea, where he has been stationed since last December. He is serving with the 279th Regiment of the 45 Division and received a shrapnel wound of his left hand, from which he has since recovered. Cpl Glover entered the service January 22, 1951.
***
Roger and Gerda Treat entertained a group of friends Monday night at their South Center home in a combination housewarming and celebration of Mrs Treatâs birthday. Dr and Mrs Gordon Pierce, Judge and Mrs Paul Cavanaugh, Mrs Margaret Roan, Mr and Mrs John Kohler, Sr, John Kohler, Jr, Richard Morris and Mr and Mrs Ben Corea of Newtown; Mr and Mrs Robert Clark of Hawleyville; Mr and Mrs Lynn Watson of Obtuse; Mrs Betsy Milner of Brookfield; and Richard MacDermott of New York City attended.
Â
JUNE 24, 1927
The first of the week there was a brush fire down in Shady Rest on the banks of the Housatonic. P.J. Schmidt, who has a cottage there, was up Sunday and burning up some brush and thought he had put the fire out. In some way there was a spark left, and on Monday the spark had gotten into a pretty good brush fire. Thomas Leavy and T.F. Reynolds saw the danger and immediately were the good samaritans who conquered the blaze.
***
Martin G. Phelan, for a year and a half the capable and well-liked principal of the Hawley High School, has tendered his resignation to accept the principalship of the Southington High School.
***
The Menâs Club held their final meeting for the season Tuesday night at the Parker House. W.C. Johnson was the host, and W.N. Mitchell in charge of the literary programs. Mr Mitchell presented Commissioner Philo T. Platt, who gave a very interesting address on cooperative methods in the state and showed how directly and indirectly his department was helping the farmers.
***
The Pootatuck Tea Room has opened for its first season at Sandy Hook and is already doing an excellent business.
JUNE 27, 1902
At the school meeting in Taunton district last week Thursday night, Arthur D. Fairchild was chosen committee. It is understood Mrs C.S. Platt will refuse to teach another year. She has proved a popular teacher and has brought the school to a high state of efficiency.
***
E.D. Briscoe of Botsford Hill is erecting a dancing pavilion near his house. A dance will be held there once in two weeks.
***
Francis Waggle caught a trout weighing one and a half pounds in the brook running back of Daniel Lynchâs house.
***
Joe Buzzarâs house is being finished by carpenter Howard Botsford.
***
Troyâs Hotel at Sandy Hook has been brightened up with a new dress of paint.