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THE WAY WE WERE FOR MAY 9, 1997

MAY 12, 1972

Newtown voters, in the town's first machine referendum, turned down the

proposed $7.3 million budget by an almost 3-1 vote. Fifty percent of the

town's 7,129 eligible voters came to the polls, rejecting the budget 2,459 to

997. The budget would have required a 1.3-mill increase. Prior to the vote,

the Board of Finance had cut the selectmen's budget by $72,521. Most people at

the town meeting on the budget had complained about the budget proposed by the

Board of Education. The budget now goes back to the Board of Finance for

review. There is no requirement as to when it must go back to the voters, but

the fiscal year ends June 30 and there is no money for next year if a budget

isn't approved by that date.

Edwin B. Storrs of Sandy Hook received his commission as a district deputy of

the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Connecticut during

impressive ceremonies May 3 at the Masonic Temple in Sandy Hook. He is only

the second man to serve in this high Masonic office from Hiram Lodge No 18 in

its 181-year history. In his new post, Mr Storrs will supervise the work of

the six Masonic lodges in this area.

St John's Church in Sandy Hook has just welcomed the Rev William Loring as its

new vicar. Father Loring, who has been making his home in Scituate, Mass., is

working toward an advanced degree in theology and will be in Sandy Hook on a

half-time basis. He expects to move into the rectory this summer and in the

meantime is spending two or three days each week at the church. Before coming

to Sandy Hook, Father Loring served as vicar of St James Church in Callicoon,

N.Y.

Gov Meskill signed into law Tuesday a bill which lowers the age of majority

from 21 to 18 in Connecticut. Now persons who have reached the age of 18 will

be able to enter valid contracts, marry without parental permission, sue or be

sued, own and register motor vehicles, and hold full driving licenses.

Former Newtown resident Barbara Baxter Dunn, the Connecticut commissioner of

consumer protection, was in town last Thursday evening to address a meeting of

the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs Dunn also is now spending considerable time in

Washington, D.C., because she was appointed by President Nixon to serve as

chairman of the Committee on the Health Services Industry. Mrs Dunn, who

served in the state legislature from 1967 to 1971, is the daughter of Mr and

Mrs William Baxter of Newtown.

MAY 9, 1947

A crowd more than filled the Alexandria Room last Friday evening, forcing some

people to stand, when a vote was taken on a request by the Board of Selectmen

for a $10,000 appropriation for roadwork. The request had been approved by the

Board of Finance, then brought to the town meeting for a vote, where it was

soundly defeated, 133 to 72. People who spoke against the expenditure said the

town did not have a proper plan for town roadwork. Alvin Conger said the

original $20,000 appropriation had been spent in the following manner: $10,750

for payroll, $3,246 for repairs, $1,330 for gas and oil, $727 for sand and

gravel, $1,572 for hired equipment, and $7,474 for snow removal. Judge Paul

Cavanaugh said he opposed the $10,000 expenditure because, with a weekly

payroll of $400, the town would need $9,200 for payroll alone to complete the

fiscal year, leaving only $800 for other items. ( The Bee learned from the

first selectman that the town road crew has not reported for work this week).

Only a few more than 50 people showed up for Saturday night's public meeting

which was called to hear and act upon the progress report of the Board of

Education concerning the proposed addition and alterations to Hawley School. A

permanent building committee was named and will include Arthur Carmody, Walter

Collet, Walter Glover, John Holian and Ben Smith. Those at the meeting also

agreed that H.H. Cutler, chairman of the Board of Finance; Caroll F. Johnson,

superintendent of schools, and Carl LeGrow, principal of Hawley School, should

be named to serve on the committee in an advisory capacity.

Funeral services were held this week for Edmund Clark Platt, prominent

Hawleyville lumber dealer and former postmaster of Hawleyville, at his home on

Mt Pleasant Road. Mr Platt, who was 81, established his lumber business in

Hawleyville 53 years ago (1894) and had operated it continuously since that

time. The funeral was attended by town officials, representatives from civic

organizations and the lumber industry and by many friends. Mr Platt was a

member of Trinity Episcopal Church and Hiram Lodge, A.F. and A.M. of Sandy

Hook. He was past president of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce and a member of

the Men's Literary and Social Club for many years.

Dr Russell H. Strasburger suffered a sprained knee and ankle earlier this week

when he was kicked by a cow that he was treating. His leg is in a cast and he

is confined to his home which is no pleasure for him and considerable of a

handicap in his professional duties.

Mrs Bradley Randall will take the part of Mama and Zaner Faust will play Uncle

Chris in the Town Players' production of I Remember Mama at the Edmond Town

Hall theater on May 21 and 22. Those who make a practice of coming to Town

Players offerings usually make up a party and dine leisurely at one of the

local hostelries and then go on to the theater, a plan which makes a very

satisfactory evening of entertainment. Reservations may be made by calling the

Flagpole Fountain, Newtown 181.