July 20, 1984

An attorney for Bridgeport industrialist F. Francis D’Addario, named Newtown, its zoning and conservation enforcement officers, and its past and present land-use commissioners in a suit that claims these officials have harassed his client and tried to destroy his Button Shop Road landfill. Claiming the Planning and Zoning Commission’s sand and gravel regulations and the conservation’s board’s inland and wetlands and forest regulations are unconstitutional and preventing him from making full use of his property, Mr D’Addario is asking for at least $15,000 in damages.

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Three youths were charged with criminal mischief after police found Newtown Shopping Center doors, windows and lights, valued at over $3,500, broken on Saturday, July 14. The Village Barbershop, Newtown Hardware, and The A&P Food Store were among the businesses vandalized.

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In a move opposed by First Selectman Jack Rosenthal, the Legislative Council voted 15-2 to pay $4,858 for the town to join the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. Mr Rosenthal called the move “a waste of the taxpayers money.” Since the town already receives information on municipal issues from the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, he said joining CCM “is a duplication of services if I ever saw one.”

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Mountain, the handsome black and white cat pictured each week on The Next To The Last Page of The Bee, will make a rare appearance on Saturday, July 28, to promote this paper’s participation in the annual Sidewalk Sales Days. He is scheduled to meet the public from a blue van which will be parked in front of the Connecticut National Bank. People who stop by will be offered a chance to draw a ticket from a hat and everyone will be a winner.

July 24, 1959

There was considerable interest in town on Tuesday of this week when workmen of the Inter-City Construction Company of Middlebury roped off a small section around the town’s flagpole, erected a trim narrow sectional ladder, and Robert Albon of Middlebury climbed the 100-foot steel flagpole to attach to the top a gilded ball. The new ball was to replace one, a casualty two years ago when a sturdy but neat car whacked the flagpole with more than customary force and knocked the gilt topball into oblivion.

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Superintendent of Schools James F. Hinckley has announced that due to the remodeling of the high school, during the construction of the junior high school there will be no meals served in the high school cafeteria until January 4, 1960. Until that time, students will have to bring their own lunches to school.

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Most of the 34 children from New York City who are guests in Newtown homes of Friendly Town hosts this month were on hand at the picnic held for the Fresh Air youngsters given at Dickinson Memorial Park this Tuesday. The weather was fine, the games intriguing, the food enticing, and everyone is reported to have had a good time.

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Both proponents and foes of the rescinding of zoning have signified anxiety that the matter come to a decisive vote — both groups have submitted petitions to Town Clerk Herbert H. Cutler asking that a town-wide referendum be held.

July 20, 1934

The Newtown Orchestral Society is now a well-organized and going institution. It plans to provide three public concerts each year. It is expected that an intensive personal canvass by the members of the orchestra and their friends will result in a sufficient number of subscriptions to successfully carry on the work.

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The editor of The Bee is indebted to D.S. Popovitch of Taunton district for the gift of a handsome basket of Cobbler potatoes. Mr Popovitch has potatoes this early that weigh two pounds each.

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Michael Hornyak of Bridgeport who, this week, took over the store formerly known as the Consumers’ Food Store, has opened it under the name of the G & M Food Stores. The new owner has restocked the store with a complete variety of groceries and will also carry meats, grain and feed.

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Caution concerning the use of insecticides, the safe use of which is assuming increasing importance with the constantly greater consumption of fruits and vegetables and with the wider interest in home gardening, was urged recently by the State Department of Health. Lead arsenate, one of the more poisonous insecticides used in this part of the country, can be used without apparent injury to health if the common sense precautions of staying to the windward of the spray to avoid inhalation and of wearing protective clothing are observed.

July 23, 1909

In spite of the very warm and threatening weather, combined with the dusty roads, the Town hall was well filled, last Thursday night, to attend the entertainment given by the St Rose’s Dramatic club under the direction of Edward S. Pitzschler. The first number on the program was a piano selection. The next number was a comedy in two acts.

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Bathing in Taunton Lake must cease. The officials of the Newtown Water Co. propose taking vigorous action against any future offenders. A word to the wise should be sufficient.

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The passage by the House of Representatives of the so-called anti-procreation bill is considered by those in charge in this state of mentally defective persons to be the most effective step ever taken in Connecticut to reduce the number of state dependents. The bill applies only to the state prison and insane institutions, where the operation may be performed under the direction of the head of the medical staff of the institution.