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THE WAY WE WERE

MARCH 2, 1973

A lively debate over how the Board of Education spends its money took place at

the special town meeting Wednesday evening before it was adjourned for a

voting machine referendum on March 12. At issue were two special

appropriations, one of $38,000 to pay unbudgeted salary increases, and the

other $12,000 to correct unsanitary conditions in the septic system at the

middle school. Board president Russell Strasburger and Lester Burroughs, vice

chairman, made it clear that if the appropriations are not approved at the

referendum, the town will have only two alternatives: close school early this

year, or cut down on some of the school programs. But George J. Grosner and

John W. Kershaw, two leaders of the Taxpayers Group that petitioned for the

referendum, said they oppose all additional spending, with no exceptions. Cuts

should be made in the existing budget, they said.

The Newtown Lions Club officially presented the new warming hut at the town

park last Saturday to First Selectman Frank DeLucia. The hut is part of the

new ice skating facility that was opened this year by the Park and Recreation

Commission.

The CDAP's General Traffic Circulation and Road Study, based on the 1969 Plan

of Development prepared by Technical Planning Associates, indicates most of

Newtown's town roads are substandard. The study, which was presented to the

Planning and Zoning Commission, generally follows the 1969 plan for a loop

system of roads to get through town without having to travel through the

traffic-congested and more heavily populated center of the borough. The

existing town roads that are part of the loop system are from Route 25 to Pond

Brook to Hanover, Hanover to Sanford, Albert's Hill, Black Bridge and Route 3

(or Walnut Tree Hill), Route 34, Toddy Hill, Botsford, Meadowbrook,

Huntingtown, Brushy Hill, Castle Meadow, Hattertown, Taunton Hill and Taunton

Lake. Twenty-nine roads, including most of those mentioned, are collector

roads which need to be improved. The cost estimate for fixing them is $2.3

million.

The Sandy Hook plant of S. Curtis and Son Inc realized an increase of about 40

percent in folding paper box orders in 1972, making it necessary for the

company to order a six-color offset printing press and begin construction of a

16,000-square-foot addition to the plant. Completion of the addition, which is

estimated to cost $160,000 excluding the foundation, is expected in about two

weeks. Curtis produces folding paper boxes for many nationally known

cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electrical, automotive, hardware, and other

manufacturers.

According to reports from certain Newtown Republicans, a GOP primary for a

seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission is taking shape. Mrs Maxine Ginn, a

longtime student of activities of P&Z, has all but formally announced her

intention to challenge the party-endorsed candidate John D'Addario for the

position on the May 7 Republican ballot. On March 1, 25 circulators of primary

petitions will review their week-long attempts to obtain signatures. According

to a spokesman for the group, early indications are that the collection of 185

signatures necessary to call for a primary have been successful.

Two Borough boards, the Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals,

this week rejected two controversial proposals. The zoners turned down an

application from Ernest Wiehl for a change of zone for property at Church Hill

Road and The Boulevard from residential to commercial to erect a shopping

mall. The ZBA disapproved a request by Ronald Segala for a variance to permit

two oversized illuminated signs in front of the Hawley Manor Inn on Main

Street.

The pros and cons of completing the proposed Route 25 through Monroe and

Newtown to I-84 were debated Monday evening at a public hearing in Bridgeport

City Hall and most speakers were strongly in favor. The hearing was conducted

by the Transportation Committee of the state legislature. First Selectman

Frank DeLucia of Newtown told the committee that a 10-year delay in funding

the Monroe-Newtown segment of the road, as proposed by the state Department of

Transportation, would make it difficult for the towns to plan for the future

and cause problems for property owners in the path of the planned highway.

MARCH 5, 1948

The Hawley High School girls' basketball team has completed its season as

champions of the Southern division of the Housatonic Valley Schoolmen's

League, winning all of their games. They will play Thomaston, winners of the

Northern division, for the league title in a game this Friday at Bethel High

School. There is high hope that the title will be kept in Newtown for the

third successive year. The team includes Marilyn Platt, Barbara Drew, Marie

Cavanaugh (captain), Joan Glover, Mary Pat Carroll, Sheila Liskin, Jean Taylor

(manager), Ruth Berglund, Gertrude Ray, Joan Weeks, Audrey Wood, Catherine

Quinn, Evelyn Hrvnak, Joan Pully, Joan Pelletier and Rosanne Hunihan.

In an action anticipated since last year, the General Assembly at Hartford

last week changed the present sales and use tax law. Instead of levying a

three percent tax on consumer goods, as formerly, the rate has been reduced to

one percent. Meals under $1 will be exempted. Purchases of less than 25 cents

will be tax-free. Existing exemptions also will be continued.

The Kindergarten Committee, composed of representatives of the various local

women's organizations, met with the Newtown Board of Education last Friday to

present the need and explore the possibilities of establishing a public

kindergarten in Newtown. A survey being conducted by the committee indicates

there are 39 families which wish to have the kindergarten and can furnish

their own transportation. There are 16 others who want it and need

transportation. Two others were undecided and one said the distances involved

made the trips impractical.

On Thursday a group of 25 persons gathered at the Hawley Manor to hear Mrs

Hugh Gallagher, Fairfield County chairman of the League of Women Voters,

describe the aims and methods of the organization. Those present agreed to

form a Newtown league. Mrs Herbert Wilde was appointed chairman of the

nominating committee to select a slate which will be presented at a meeting

scheduled for March 15 at the Hawley Manor for the purpose of electing

officers.

Invitations to join the revived Newtown Republican Club were mailed to

prospective members on Wednesday. Dues are only $1 per year, and all

supporters of the Republican party are urged to join. W.A. Upham of

Hawleyville, who heads the organization, requests that dues be mailed or

handed to A.J. Gies, treasurer, of Hall Lane. A meeting soon will be held to

name officers and plan future activities.

A new era of banking will be ushered in on Monday, March 8, when checking

account passbooks will be replaced by modern registered receipts, the product

of a new automated teller machine system. The customer will prepare a deposit

slip as usual, then hand it to the teller who will press a few keys and

tabulate the transaction. The new system will eliminate the slow laborious

method of inscribing the deposit by longhand in a passbook. The new system

will be installed at the First National Bank and Trust Company in Bridgeport

but it is expected that other banks will follow.

The biggest night in local basketball will be staged Friday, March 29, in the

Edmond Town Hall gym, when proceeds from the games that evening go toward the

purchase of a trophy for the Hawley School's boys team. The main event will

feature Hawley High School team versus the St Rose team, both of which have

drawn much attention to themselves this season. In the preliminary event of

the evening, the Junior SACs will play the Hawley seventh graders.