In a regional planning bulletin resulting from a study of the major stratified drift aquifers in the ten-town Housatonic Valley Region, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials listed Newtown’s Pootatuck River Valley aquifer the No. 1 priority for “urgent protection measures.” The planners’ report said, “Existing land use problems present the major concern for possible groundwater contamination, including the town landfill near Peck’s Lane, three road salt stockpiles, and several industrial waste disposal sites along Route 25…”

***

Next Wednesday, July 30, at 8 pm, it’s another school re-roof project, this time 65,000 square feet of the leaking high school roof. No one is disputing the need, but 150 voters are still needed next Wednesday according to the charter. The $360,000 special appropriation for the high school re-roofing would be funded by bonds issued over 20 years.

***

Starting today, Thursday, July 24, and continuing through Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, you’ll be able to work on your suntan and take advantage of shopping bargains all at once. Newtown merchants are celebrating Sidewalk Sale Days with special prices on items displayed both inside and outside the confines of their stores.

***

The motorcycle may be a cheap mode of transportation, but it has also contributed to increased accidents, usually serious. Newtown Police reported that as of July 23 there were over twice as many motorcycle accidents for 1980 as during the same period last year. Lt Tompkins said he believed the rising accident rate was due to more motorcyclists on the road, because the cycle gets better gas mileage than a car.

***

If Caleb Davis were alive today, he would have another reason to be proud. On Monday, July 21, Cold Spring Cemetery on Botsford Hill Road, the resting place of the Civil War veteran as well as many members of the Botsford family, received a bright new sign from the Newtown Police Department. Sgt Ray Paccodolmi, an “avid woodworker,” constructed and hand-lettered the sign because “it leaves your mark on the town. No one’s going to be around forever.”

***

The Newtown Summer Festival Committee in conjunction with WINE radio will sponsor a town-wide block party on Saturday, August 2, from 6 – 11 at the Newtown Shopping Center parking lot on Queen Street. This year, Roller Disco will be added to the list of attractions, and 200 pairs of skates will be available for rental.

***

Falling branches, trees and wires in the Newtown area caused nearly 250 CL&P customers to be without power after severe storms late Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning. Fire, police and highway officials were also busy following up on calls for storm related problems.

July 29, 1955

The color, music and precision marching of 30 fife, drum and bugle corps in the Newtown High School athletic field last Saturday afternoon and evening made the first home meet of the Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps an outstanding success.

***

As interest in Newtown’s 250th anniversary celebration on August 6 increases, two events have been scheduled to precede the big day, the first being the tour of six old Newtown homes July 30. The second is a free movie in the Edmond Town Hall theatre August 4 with two performances, to mark not only the 250th anniversary of the town, but the 25th anniversary of town hall.

***

 In connection with the celebration of Newtown’s 250th anniversary, an attempt has been made to compile a list of adults now living in Newtown who are of at least the fourth generation on either the paternal or maternal side. The ancestry of many of the persons listed goes back to the time of the founding of Newtown in 1705, and some have even earlier origins in Connecticut and New England.

***

 When a file of 40 or so jaunty Model A Ford cars leaves the State Capitol grounds at Hartford this Saturday at 8 am under State Police escort to begin a week-end trip to Greenfield Village at Dearborn, Michigan, one of the drivers will be Art McCollam, Newtown contractor, in his trim 1931 car, accompanied by Mrs McCollam.

***

It is recommended that business establishments in Newtown close at 11 am on Saturday, August 6, in order to allow their employees to participate in or witness the parade, 11 am to 12:30 pm and to attend the park dedication between 2 and 3 pm. Business at this time is likely to be at a standstill, and can be most profitably resumed after the events are over.

***

With some 750 townspeople having signed statements to the effect that they favor town planning and will support a resolution in town meeting to establish a town planning commission, the program committee which has arranged a group of open meetings on this timely topic deferred petitioning the selectmen for a special town meeting.

***

Newtown, like other communities in the state, showed little interest in the amendment to the state constitution proposed by the last General Assembly. The amendment, which was passed in the state 20,904 to 4,463, effects a technical change in Article Eleven of the constitution which defines the procedure for amending the constitution.

July 25, 1930

 The Hawleyville postoffice began doing business, last week, Tuesday, in the handsome new building E.C. Platt has erected just north of W.A. Honan’s store. The postoffice is located in a large and handsomely furnished room in the north half of the building, where Postmaster Platt has also a private office.

***

 Newtown Street lost one of its long-time and valued citizens in the death on Saturday afternoon of George Arthur Northrop, veteran contractor and builder. While picking cherries in Southbury, a little more than two weeks ago he fell from the tree, sustaining injuries which finally caused his death.

***

White elephant sale at Newtown library to be held at the library on Thursday, August 21 for the purchase of new books. Contributions of china, bric-a-brac, kitchen utensils, clothing, shoes, hats, and odds and ends of all sorts are very much desired. As the success of this sale determines the number of new books in the library, the coming winter, it is hoped that everyone interested in the library will contribute and come on August 21.

***

The Jolly Juniors’ Canning Club held its regular meeting at Mrs Fred Waterbury’s on Monday afternoon, July 14: There were 14 members and five visitors present. Miss Shaw and Mrs Slocum demonstrated the canning of beets and Swiss chard.

***

L. Noel, the American Steeple Jack, was in town, Wednesday, repainting the liberty pole in the Street. No one on the ground envied him the job but he worked deliberately and appeared entirely unafraid.

***

Upham’s Miniature Golf course at Hawleyville attracted crowds Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings, and is proving a popular success. Mr Upham has now electric lights flooding the island, so that it is a pleasure to play at night.

July 28, 1905

Miss Kathryn T. Houlihan is organizing a summer school to meet daily from 9:30 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 3:30 on Sunset hill. The course will consist of gymnastics of outdoor class, and healthful games, supplemented with raffia and bead work and story telling. The tuition will be $1 per week, payable at the beginning of each week.

***

There will be an entertainment at the Town hall, Newtown, for the benefit of the Village Improvement Society, Saturday evening, August 12. A three-act comedy will be presented entitled “Maidens All Forlorn.”

***

Newtown people are preparing for the bi-centennial celebration of the first purchase of the land of that town from the Indians, to be held August 6, at Ronald Park. Through THE BEE an invitation is extended to all descendants of the early settlers to attend. If one-tenth of them does attend they will have a big crowd.

***

Rev George W. Davenport, rector of St James’ Episcopal church, Danbury, saved one of his choir boys from death by drowning in Taunton lake, Friday, by jumping into the water fully dressed and swimming with him to the shore. …the lad was unconscious when pulled ashore and energetic methods were required to restore him to consciousness.

***

On Saturday last rain prevented what promised to be one of the hottest ball games on the Fair grounds, this year. The Ansonia team was on hand and although only two innings had been played the score stood two to one in favor of Ansonia. Another game has been arranged for August 26 with this same team.

***

BI-CENTENNIAL SUNDAY, AUGUST 6: This day will be celebrated in the church with three appropriate services. At the morning service at 11 o’clock the quartet choir will render an anthem that was sung in the church 100 years ago and such old-time hymns as “Mine Ain Countree” and “The Old House at Home.”