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WAY WE WERE FOR MAY 2, 1997

MAY 5, 1972

Nearly 500 persons attended the annual budget meeting on Tuesday evening but

no vote was taken because last Friday the town clerk received valid petitions

calling for the town's first ever machine referendum on the budget. The

referendum was set for May 10 on the proposed 1.3-mill tax increase. But the

meeting defeated, 207 to 206, in a standing vote the traditional resolution to

collect all auto taxes in one rather than two installments. The logic for not

having two payments is that it costs the town more to collect the taxes twice

and there are more uncollected taxes because people move away before the

second payment is due, according to First Selectman Frank DeLucia. The meeting

voted unanimously to authorize the Board of Selectmen to repair, maintain and

improve the town roads. Town officials and the State Bureau of Highways are

still reviewing the roads to come up with a list of which ones will be worked

on this summer.

The Garden Club of Newtown planted a flowering crab apple tree in front of

Edmond Town Hall on Friday morning in commemoration of Arbor Day and as a

memorial to the late First Selectman Timothy B. Treadwell. Mrs Treadwell, who

took part in the ceremony, said the flowering crab was aptly selected because

it had been one of her husband's favorite trees.

Mary Susan Goldhwait Jackson, the widow of Jerome P. Jackson, died in the Glen

Hill Convalescent Center in Danbury where she had been a patient in recent

weeks. Mrs Jackson, 96, lived on Zoar Road in Sandy Hook. An active member of

the women's suffrage movement, she was a graduate of Wellesley College, class

of 1897, and also attended Oxford University in England for a year. She was

one of the organizers of the Newtown League of Women Voters and instrumental

in the effort to have the old neglected cemeteries in Newtown be restored and

preserved. She was a charter member of the Newtown Historical Society and

served as clerk and historian for the Newtown Congregational Church for many

years. She had lived in Newtown since 1931.

On Wednesday evening a group of 40 residents from Crestwood Drive, Dayton

Street, Church Hill Road and Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook met at the home

of Mr and Mrs Gerald Hayes to formally organize a civic action group to

explore different avenues of action to relieve the traffic problem in Sandy

Hook permanently. Several weeks ago members of the group began a letter

writing campaign to state officials, demanding that a solution be found for

the traffic problems caused by the construction of I-84. William Bausch of

Church Hill Road and Mrs Vaughn Mann of Washington Avenue were named

co-chairpersons of the group.

The Newtown Police Department now has a second police dog. The dog was a gift

to the department, as was the first dog, and as soon as the puppy gets a

little older, his training will begin. The dog will be handled and trained by

Police Officer Kevin Flynn.

MAY 2, 1947

The deed to the Glover Hall property recently purchased by the SAndy Hook

Volunteer Fire company as fire headquarters and as a community service, was

passed to the new owners in a ceremony which took place in front of the

Newtown Savings Bank on Wednesday morning. Joseph H.A. Symonds, member and

legal advisor to the fire company, and Edward E. Knapp, treasurer, represented

the firemen. A member of the firm of Pullman and Comley, attorneys,

Bridgeport, acted for the Glover estate. The property is on Glen Road near the

intersection of Riverside and Washington Avenue.

The Town Development Committee submitted a report to the Board of Selectmen on

Wednesday, outlining its activities to date and pointing to the fact that the

matter of tax revaluation stands out as one of the town's most pressing needs.

With the report, the committee submitted a petition for a special town meeting

for May 16 to authorize a revaluation of taxable property for the town of

Newtown. The town also needs a sanitary code regarding septic tanks and must

address highway safety, the committee said. Members of the committee include

First Selectman Stanley Black,man, W.W. Holcombe of the Board of Fire

Commissioners, Judge Paul Cavanaugh of the Board of Finance, Board of

Education member Mrs John Boyle, Dr Waldo Desmond, health officer, and a

citizens group consisting of Mrs Herbert Wilde, Mrs Ellis Gflawin, Walter

Gutman, William Knox, Nelson Curtis, Arthur Carmody and Paul Smith.

Danny Lawler, Jr, of New Haven started on Tuesday his duties as professional

at the Newtown Country Club. He began his golf career at the New Haven Country

Club and employs the Ernest Jones method of teaching golf, having spent some

time in New York with the internationally famous instructor. While he will

commute for the present from his home in New Haven, he hopes soon to move to

Newtown with his wife and two children.

Liu Liang-mo, known as the morale builder in China, spent a busy day in

Newtown last week climaxed by a speech before a large crowd in the Alexandria

room of Edmond Town Hall. His visit was sponsored by the Newtown Committee of

United Service To China, Inc., (formerly United China Relief). A national fund

of $8 million is being raised to help China, of which Newtown's share is $600.

Mr Liu said that whatever happens in Asia will inevitably have an effect on

the the peace and welfare of the United States. China will lead Asia and will

be friendly if the United States remains as a loyal friend in times of need

and crisis.

Pat's Log Cabin on South Main STreet in Newtown is serving whole live broiled

Maine lobster on Friday nights. The lobsters are served with french fries and

Birdseye peas, all for $1.50. The chef is Merit Ingrahan, former head shef of

Winchester Country Club.