* * *

An undisclosed number of reluctant patients were moved from Fairfield Hills Hospital Wednesday and Thursday of this week in anticipation of a threatened job action by the union if dissatisfied with the state's contract offer. Even while the bus and private and officials cars were transporting the patients, many of whom claimed they had nowhere to go, state and union officials were meeting to discuss the results of an independent fact finder's report.

* * *

A four-member committee was formed by the Newtown Republican Town Committee to consider ways of opposing the legislative redistricting plan approved by the state's General Assembly July 31. Harvey Hubbell IV, the Republican registrar of voters, said the Committee for Rational Reapportionment favors a plan which would adhere to town lines more than the Assembly-adopted plan.

* * *

On behalf of the Newtown Junior Women's Club, Sue Lausten presented four winter ambulance jackets to the Newtown Ambulance Association. The Newtown Ambulance Association is now conducting its 1981 annual fund drive and is seeking much needed donations which will be used for costly maintenance of equipment and facilities.

* * *

Newtown's Planning and Zoning Commission will be asked to determine whether the town should consider buying a 32 acre tract of land from the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, the Board of Selectmen decided Monday night. The property primarily consists of the 25 acre Morgan Pond and is located off Castle Meadow Road. The land is part of more than 700 acres of property, mostly watershed land, which BHS owns in Newtown.

* * *

Now that the adult fiction collection has been weeded, Library Director Dennis Clarke is looking for ways to add new books to the collection at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. At a trustee's executive board meeting this week, Mr Clarke proposed that a rental plan could be considered which could add 300 new books to the adult fiction collection. The plan allows for an additional number of books to be selected monthly which could include extra copies of current best sellers.

* * *

Dawn Roman of Newtown has achieved the Omega Award, the highest award a Senior Girl Scout can receive in the Southwestern Connecticut Girl Scout Council and was presented with a silver plate at the annual council dinner meeting held in Westport. She also received a pewter mug for completing 11 years of scouting. To achieve the Omega Award, a Senior Scout must be a member of at least one planning committee for a community, area, or council-sponsored Girl Scout event, and must complete at least 75 hours of service in planning and carrying out Girl Scout events or activities within her troop and community or Council.

August 17, 1956

An excellent exhibit opened at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library last week end, with the library staff holding an informal reception for the artist on Sunday afternoon. Townspeople and out-of-town friends turned out in force to greet Rea Irvin, the artist, that afternoon. It seemed to be a spontaneous gesture of admiration for both the artist and his work, delightful drawings, cartoons and magazine covers that have been appearing regularly for more than a quarter of the century in The New Yorker.

* * *

Cochran House, the new admission and intensive treatment unit at Fairfield State Hospital, received its first patients on Tuesday, August 14. During the day 173 patients, 86 women and 87 men, were moved from their old quarters in Shelton House into the new building. Along with its patient population, 12 staff doctors, 85 members of the nursing staff, the X-ray department, psychology department and kitchen staff are now occupying their new rooms and various facilities in the building.

* * *

Archery enthusiasts who would like to identify themselves with an up-and-coming club are invited to attend a meeting of the Granite Ledge Archery Club when it meets next Thursday, August 23, at 7:30 pm in the borough office of the Edmond Town Hall. The group is presently using a 14-target course on Currituck Road, most of the course being on the property of F. Byron Tomlinson and a portion of it on the property of Timothy Reardon.

* * *

At the request of the Board of Assessors, the Board of Selectmen has called a special town meeting for Monday, August 27, at 8 pm in Edmond Town Hall to act upon the proposal that the annual filing of real estate tax lists be eliminated. Voters will also be asked to adopt and ordinance requiring property owners who plan new construction, remodeling or improvements to file a notice with the assessors outlining the nature and extent of the work to be undertaken.

* * *

A delegation of doctors from Bellevue Hospital, New York City, visited Fairfield State Hospital last week to explain new techniques of electric shock treatment. Dr Reiter has developed a new electro-shock treatment unit capable of many variations which he demonstrated to members of the Newtown hospital staff.

* * *

The success of the Teen Canteens held bi-monthly in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall during the late spring months, has resulted in the formation of a permanent organization and engaging the services of Millard Goodsell of Mt Pleasant as director of the Canteens which will again be held starting in October.

August 14, 1931

Newtown figured once more in the police news in the sensational hold-up, early Sunday morning, of the Mt Pleasant Service Station, owned by Freeman S. Allen, and leased and managed by Edgar A. Cummings of New Milford. Fred Root, 29 years old, who fired the shot wounding Cummings, was arrested in Sandy Hook, within three hours after the shooting. James Peters, 21, and Delphis Young, 24, were arrested in Torrington after Root had finally broken down under questioning by state police and Newtown officials and revealed the names of his companions. Cummings is in the Danbury hospital with the bullet fired by Root lodged in his body, just under the heart. X-ray pictures show the position of the bullet and the course it took.

* * *

John O. Pitzschler has moved his barber shop and pool room from the Taylor building to the Troy block in Sandy Hook, where Earl Collins will be associated with him. They will have a two-chair shop, and will give the public prompt and satisfactory service. Mr Pitzschler is an active worker in St John's church, and his associate, Mr Collins, is a popular young man in Sandy Hook.

* * *

The Mary E. Hawley Portrait Fund Committee met on Tuesday evening to carry to completion its work begun last September. It takes great pleasure in announcing that the fund will be completed, next week when the final returns come in and it also wishes again to thank the donors and the collectors for their fine cooperation with it. The art committee, as was announced last fall, chose Frederick Lester Sexton to paint the portrait. Miss Hawley's portrait, a token of appreciation from the citizens of Newtown, given by about 1,270 contributors, many of them children, will be hung in the Memorial room of the Edmond Town hall.

* * *

The Litchfield County Hunt club will give a horse show on Labor Day, September 7, on Stephen Budd's lot on the Boulevard, which promises to be a notable success. Mr Budd says they are already assured of 87 entries and there will be 15 classes. Two special classes are being arranged, one for farmers' horses.

* * *

Sandy Hook took the final league game from Redding, Sunday, at Redding, by coming through with a ninth inning rally to win the game four to two. It was a fast well played game, both pitchers working nicely and although Sandy Hook had men in position to score several times McMahon tightened in the pinches and kept them from hitting when hits meant runs.

* * *

The Newtown Country Club will give on Monday night, August 24, a hot dog roast. Every member of the Club will want to be present at that time for the hot dog roasts are becoming famous. There will be other goodies, too, and Judge Hampton and his helpers are out to make this the biggest thing of them all.

 

August 17, 1906

Mrs Arthur D. Fairchild had an unusual experience the other day. Hearing one of her hens making a great noise she ran out to find a large hen in the water. Getting a pair of rubber boots, she waded out and got hold of the hen, but was unable to lift it out. After tugging a while she secured the hen and as she did so a large snapping turtle came up in the water beside her. Wading ashore she called her husband to bring a gun, and he shot the turtle. It weighed over eight pounds and was an ugly looking customer.

* * *

Charles Surrell of Zoar has leased the blacksmith shop at Hawleyville, formerly run by the late William Baldwin, and opened the shop for business, last Monday. Mr Surrell is an experienced and skillful workman and all work entrusted to him will be sure of being done in the best workmanlike manner.

* * *

James Hunnihan and Joseph Reitz of Zoar killed a rattlesnake, one day last week, which had 18 rattles. He was a big fellow. Henry Cartwright has recently killed two more in the same locality.

* * *

Miss Grace Osborne gave a very pleasant salamagundi party to a few friends on Friday afternoon. The first prize, a jewel case, fell to Miss Helen Allen; the second, a box of writing paper, to Miss Marguerite Beecher, while Miss Loretta Hayes carried off the consolation prize, a bottle of catsup. After the contest was finished, cake and ice cream were served.

* * *

The whist party for the benefit of Hiram lodge, F&AM, at the Newtown Inn, Saturday, was a pleasant social event and was attended by about 80 people. Something over $40 was netted for the building fund of Hiram lodge. Great credit is due Mr and Mrs W.A. Leonard, to whose thoughtful generosity the benefit is due. Light refreshments were dispensed.