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THE WAY WE WERE FOR March 14, 1997

MARCH 17, 1972

Nearly 150 people attended the public hearing on the proposed revision of the

town's zoning regulations at the P&Z meeting last Friday evening in the Edmond

Town Hall gym. Although the proposed changes in the 70 pages of regulations

are extensive, most questioning center on a relatively few sections: that a

farm be at least 10 acres in size, with many other specific requirements; that

the usable gross floor space in a single-story dwelling be 1,000 square feet,

up 200 from the current requirement; that keeping five or more dogs over the

age of six months constitutes a kennel, prohibited in residential and farming

zones; that top soil may be removed from a building site under certain

conditions. Questions also were raised by a change permitting a guest house

and on methods of detecting and regulating offensive odors and sound in

decibel levels.

A fact-finding meeting was held this week by town officials and

representatives of the state Department of Transportation over the traffic

problems that have been created in Sandy Hook because of the construction of

I-84. The traffic build-up began when the ramps which connect I-84 and Route

34 were removed in the process of widening the superhighway from two to four

lanes. The DOT said the problem will be solved once new Route 25 is completed.

Town officials doubted this. The state plans temporary ramps from I-84 to Mile

Hill Road and plans to remove them when the new Route 25 is completed, now

estimated for 1980. Once these ramps are removed, Sandy Hook will again be

tied up in traffic, town officials contend, and they are urging a permanent

solution.

At a special meeting of the Democratic Town Committee on Wednesday, it was

decided to petition for a special election to fill the office of first

selectman. Chairman Jack Rosenthal said that the regulations allow the

remaining selectmen to appoint one of themselves as first selectman. If they

cannot agree within 30 days, the elective town officers of the same political

party as the former first selectman may appoint a successor. Mr Rosenthal said

the late Republican First Selectman Timothy Treadwell had served only eight

months in a two-year term and he did not want eight people, no matter who they

might be, to choose a leader who would serve a town of 17,000 residents for

more than a year.

To guide homeowners making a decision about controlling insect defoliators

this spring, the Conservation Commission has prepared a report on the elm span

worm. Parts of Connecticut were heavily invested in 1970 and 1971 for the

first time since 1938. In Newtown, the heaviest infestation was in the

southwest, in the Hattertown-Platts Hill-Castle Meadow Road area. A somewhat

less extensive, but still serious, infestation exists throughout eastern

Newtown in Sandy Hook, from the Monroe line northwesterly to the Brookfield

line. The usual characteristic of these outbreaks is noticeable defoliation

one year followed by a year of massive defoliation. Although repreated

defoliation increases the instances of tree mortality, it is not expected that

large-scale forest destruction will occur.

The Hawley Manor Inn and Restaurant has a new manager. Joseph Keller, who

formerly managed the Hartford Hilton, has a degree in food service and

restaurant and hotel-motel management. He brought with him from the Hilton

John Baulski, who was the hotel's comptroller and purchasing agent. Mr Keller

and his wife, Nancy, are now living at the Hawley Manor. The only change he

has made is a free hors d'oeuvres table for diners to enjoy while they wait to

be seated.

MARCH 14, 1947

Saturday night's adjourned session of the annual town meeting was attended by

some 60 voters and taxpayers who reacted favorably on a motion to increase

last year's 18-mill rate by 4« mills. The new tax rate will be 22« mills. The

additional funds will be needed for increased salaries for teachers, general

operating expenses, an extra $10,000 for road work and a partial payment on

the new road grader and fire truck. Attention was called to the fact that the

present budget includes no funds for the contemplated addition to Hawley

School and Newtown's part in construction of the regional high school, both of

which will be brought before the voters at a later date.

The first woman in the history of the State of Connecticut to head a

state-controlled institution of higher learning is Ruth Alice Haas. Miss Haas

took office this week as the fourth president of Danbury State Teachers

College. In the audience of nearly 1,000 at the ceremonies in the Danbury High

School auditorium were Gov James L. McConaughy and a large representation of

state and local officials. The principal speaker of the event was Vice

Chancellor Finla Crawford of Syracuse University, the school from which Miss

Haas was graduated.

The first Smorgasbord served Saturday night at the Hawley Manor proved to be

great success. Nearly 100 guests enjoyed the wide variety of delicious foods

which Mrs Bowen provided, and many compliments were paid to her for

instituting such a fine idea. The Bee suggested that those who do not want to

run the risk of being disappointed should make reservations early so there

will be a table for them.

Friends of Hughie Quinn will be pleased to know that he is now a corporal. He

is serving in Toyko, where he has been stationed for about five months serving

in the Honor Guard for General MacArthur.

A benefit concert will be given at Edmond Town Hall by the Grassy Plain Fife

and Drum Corps of Bethel, featuring Barbara Thumann, junior national champion

baton twirler, to aid the fife, drum and bugle corps being fosted by the Sandy

Hook Volunteer Fire Company. Proceeds from the tickets, priced at 75 cents

each, will benefit the local corps which may be on the streets of Newtown by

this spring.