* * *

Just over a month after being ordered to shut down, the Hawley Manor Inn scored an 89 on a second health inspection and the town dropped its charge to close the restaurant. A score of 80 or above is required for a restaurant to remain open. The Hawley Manor scored a 68 on its original June 26 inspection. The problems which kept the restaurant from a perfect score were “minor.”

* * *

The Board of Selectmen met August 5 with Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Theodore Whippie and Conservation Commission Chairman Paula Greenfield to discuss the issue of erosion from new subdivisions. Selectmen cited the subdivision area off Jeremiah Road as an example of erosion causing problems to residential properties. P&Z always has the town engineer review developers’ erosion control plans. Mrs Greenfield said the Conservation Commission exists to protect water courses, not necessarily to worry about erosion to residential properties.

* * *

Three Sandy Hook teenagers were killed in a high speed crash early August 4 after their car swerved off River Road, Southbury, and struck a tree. The three were coming from an area known as “satellites” where Newtown residents often go to hang out with friends.

 

August 12, 1960

How would you like to own a car that uses absolutely no gasoline to run it? The Connecticut Light & Power company owns one. The car, a Henney Kilowatt, resembles a foreign auto and operates on batteries. The Henney Kilowatt can attain speeds up to 35 miles an hour and can travel distances up to 60 miles on one overnight battery charge. So simple to operate, it is virtually a “woman’s dream,” with no complex gadgetry on the dashboard or steering column to confuse the most timid driver. Who knows? One day the motorist of the future might conceivably pull into a service station and say, “Charge it up, please.”

* * *

The Newtown High School Foreign Student Committee has presented a gift of Living Language records in French, Italian, and German to the high school library. These records, which are designed to aid students in the mastery of a spoken foreign language, will be used by Newtown High School students participating in the American Field Service program for American students abroad.

* * *

The Rev Richard E. Ryder, Jr, associate minister of the Newtown Congregational Church, has accepted a unanimous call to become the minister of the Congregational Church of Presque Isle, Maine, beginning October 1. Mr Ryder came to Newtown in 1958, after graduating from Amherst College and the Harvard Divinity School. He was ordained on November 23, 1958, by the Fairfield County Association and the Newtown Congregational Church.

* * *

The Newtown Junior Chamber of Commerce has launched its second annual “Operation Library” campaign. The campaign’s purpose is to stimulate interest in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library in Newtown and to raise money for the general fund through the sale of used and new books donated for the purpose.

August 9, 1935

Over $80 was cleared on the sale of articles for the blind that was held at the Edmond Town Hall on Thursday last. The sale is an annual event in Newtown and the committee in charge wish to express their thanks to all who helped in any way to make this sale such an outstanding success.

* * *

The Board of Education will meet on Friday evening, August 23, at the Hawley High school to decide on the advisability of closing the Flat Swamp school in Dodgingtown district. For several years Miss Ella Maroney has taught in this school, but was recently transferred to Lands End school. The taxpayers in Dodgingtown district will be extended the opportunity of expressing their views before any direct action will be taken about closing the school.

* * *

Bessie Nalier, a patient at the Fairfield State Hospital, who wandered away on Monday, July 29, was found on Wednesday and returned to the hospital. She stopped at a house for food near Dead Man’s Curve in Botsford. The people notified local authorities who started in search for her. She had been wandering in the woods looking for berries since her disappearance and was not much the worse for the experience.

* * *

NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION BOOTH: Mr Tiemann reports that many more cars stopped this week. One lady wanted a doctor and got her directions. After the operation, she returned to thank Mr Tiemann and wanted him to stop a car to give her a ride home. Another lady, after getting her information said she guessed Mr Tiemann was an old timer. “No,” he replied. “I may be old but was born and brought up in New York City.” “Oh, then,” she replied. “You are not a hick.”

August 12, 1910

While out driving, Sunday afternoon, Mr and Mrs D.G. Beers were so unfortunate as to have their horse fall down, throwing Mr Beers and bruising him somewhat.

* * *

The Newtown baseball team went to New Milford on last Saturday and were beaten by the Highlanders of that place, 6-2. R. Bradley did the twirling for Newtown’s and Carlson caught. It seemed to be an off day for the whole team and the errors charged up against them were costly, letting in a number of runs. The umpire was with the Highlanders in every decision, as was to be expected.

* * *

There was a hearing before the railroad commissioners at the Capitol in Hartford on Friday last upon the petition of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad company to approve its proposed layout of another track, which will make a double track from Botsford to Shelton. Also to change the radius of the curves of the present track and to straighten the line of the railroad.

* * *

The Kimball mandolin club of Bridgeport promises an excellent concert at their appearance at the Town hall, Friday evening, August 12. The tickets are on sale at the store of R.H. Beers & Co.