November 17, 1995

Even the library trustees and friends were holding their breath Wednesday night as the count on each machine was announced for the referendum vote on the $4.1 million renovation and 22,000 square foot expansion of the Cyrenius. H. Booth Library. The project passed by a substantial 16 percent margin. The final tally: 1,872 to 1,351.

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Utility crews from as far away as Ohio and Quebec worked in Newtown this week to restore electricity to customers who lost power in last Saturday night’s storm. Nearly half of Newtown found itself in the dark when winds gusting up to 65 miles per hour roared through the state, knocking down trees and power lines and leaving 180,000 homes and businesses without power on Sunday... Newtown Public Works Director Fred Hurley said employees were called in Saturday night and Sunday to clear roads which were blocked by fallen trees... By Tuesday afternoon, electricity had been restored, at least temporarily, to all but six customers.

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The Board of Education and school administrators came to the Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the proposed high school and Hawley School construction/renovation projects and to explain why the cost estimate has escalated from about $20 million to $32 million... School board chairman Herb Rosenthal explained the original $18.9 million estimate for the high school was prepared by a different architect... When Kaestle Boos eventually was chosen as the high school architect, a new design was prepared and was based on new student enrollment projections... This increased the size of the addition from 60,000 square feet to 73,000 and required increased parking and other site improvements... Engineer studies also showed that more than $3.5 million would also be needed for a new roof and replacement or upgrades of the building’s plumbing, ventilation, heating and electrical systems.

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Newtown Crushes Weston, Takes Big Step Towards WCC Title Game: Newtown High School was guilty last year of looking past Weston towards a divisional matchup with Masuk and when the reality of present day had come clearly into focus, the Trojans had escaped from Newtown with a 10-7 victory which all but knocked the Indians out of the CIAC Class L playoffs. Last weekend, though, the Indians kept the blinders on and rolled to a 35-14 victory. “We learned our lesson from last year,” said coach Bob Zito.

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The Board of Education agreed Tuesday to help plan a regional magnet school. School Superintendent John Reed is accepting the names of people who would like to serve on the planning task force. The regional educational service center, Education Connection, has received a $30,000 state grant to get planning underway. Even though the district will help create a proposal to open a magnet school, it will not be obligated to send children to such a school if it opens.

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Dual-Lite, a division of GS Building Systems Corporation (GSBS) will move from its Newtown location to Cheshire, November 17. All of the 95 Newtown employees in administration were offered the opportunity to relocate to the new facility and most have accepted. The four or five people who are in charge of closing down the small warehouse operation will lose their jobs. Many employees who have enjoyed working in their hometown are not looking forward to commuting 45 minutes or more to the new facility.

November 13, 1970

The second annual Newtown Policeman’s Benevolent Ball will take place this Saturday night, November 14, beginning at 8 pm. It will be in the cafeteria of the Newtown High School on Route 34 in Sandy Hook. Dancing will be to the music of the Bob Gregg combo of Danbury. Tickets for the Ball are $10 and include a delicious buffet and set up. If liquor is desired, bring your own bottle.

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The normal routine of a school day was interrupted Friday morning, November 8, at Newtown High School, first by a sit-in demonstration during the activities period at 9:14 am, and then by a bomb scare at 11, which resulted in dismissal for the day. The sit-in, which was staged by a small group of students, took place in the main lobby. The reason given by the students for the sit-in was to protest the school rules on smoking and suspension. The smoking rule states that no student is permitted to smoke on or near school grounds or in the building. Just what the objections to the suspension rules are have never been clearly stated.

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The Boyle property on Boggs Hill Road, which was under consideration as the site for an elementary school has been sold to a “combine” of as yet unidentified people. Ennis McQuail, attorney for the estate of Mary Nammack Boyle, notified the School Site Committee on Wednesday evening. The Committee in turn notified Otto Heise, who had, with his son, offered a most generous donation toward the purchase of the site. Mr Heise was most disappointed at the news, since his concern at the length of time taken in finding a site had prompted his offer. The search for a site must start again.

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Mr and Mrs Edward Venti of 109 South Main Street have announced the opening of their new boarding kennel, Canine 21 Kennels for Dogs and Cats, at the same address. The new facility will be launched with two days of open house festivities on November 14 and 15. Canine 21 Kennels features modern sanitation facilities and a complete kitchen for catering to special diets, as well as day-to-day food preparation.

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Plans have been announced for the construction expected to start in January 1971 on a new shopping complex on Church Hill Road between Interstate 84 and Commerce Road. The development of this site, which is currently vacant, will provide an attractive asset to the Town of Newtown at one of its major arteries. “Church Hill Green”... is expected to contain a nationally known department store, a supermarket, a bank, a Friendly’s Ice Cream Shop, and several smaller retail stores.

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At its special meeting Monday, November 9, the Board of Finance voted unanimously to recommend to a town meeting a traffic light at the Dodgingtown Fire House and, not without a few “fireworks,” elected Jack Rosenthal as its vice chairman by a vote of 3-2. First Selectman Timothy Treadwell quoted the top price of $7,100 for the 24-hour control light plus “trips” to allow the light to be turned to red on three sides away from the fire house. A town meeting, date not yet set, will be asked to vote on an appropriation not to exceed this amount.

November 9, 1945

The State Board of Education at its meeting in Hartford on Wednesday, approved the joint petition of Newtown, Woodbury and Southbury for the formation of a regional high school district. Following approval of the petition by the State Board of Education, routine calls for a joint meeting of the boards of education of the towns concerned to determine how many representatives each town is allowed to have on the regional school board... Members of the Newtown board of education are well aware of the responsibility and longtime significance involved in the choice of individuals to represent the town on the regional board... particularly so at the time of forming a new district... there are at the outset jobs of choosing location, picking a site and buying the property.

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Last Sunday afternoon from 1 until 4 o’clock, Mr and Mrs William Hunter, who for the past eleven years have presided over the destinies of Hawley Manor, gave a farewell reception and delicious buffet luncheon to over 200 of their friends and neighbors. The affair also served as a welcome to Mr and Mrs William Bowen and three of their children. Mr and Mrs Bowen, who come here from Larchmont, N.Y. have purchased the Manor and will take possession next Tuesday.

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There has been a constant flow of visitors through Cyrenius H. Booth Library since the opening last week Thursday of the fourth annual exhibit there of work by local artists. The exhibit has been arranged in cooperation with American Artists Professional League, and the exhibits will remain in place until the closing hour of the library Saturday evening. More than 30 artists have contributed to the exhibit.

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Coach DeGroat called in for eighty-five tickets for the Yale-Brown football game on Saturday. This is the annual game to which Yale invites its schoolchildren guests to come to The Bowl. Two buses will be on hand at 11:30 to take them. Reverend Paul Lind will accompany Coach DeGroat to help conduct the trip.

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The Ernest C. Marcioch real estate agency reports the sale by Mary M. Greenman of Newtown, to Frederick and Alexandria Wyatt of Bridgeport a large building site of over four acres in South Central District. Mr Wyatt is associated with the Bridgeport Brass Company and is planning to build a home on the property at a later time.

October 29, 1920

The falling rain did not prevent a good-sized crowd from gathering at the republican rally at the Town Hall, Wednesday night, fully half of those present being women. The stage front was adorned with flags... McClymon’s orchestra furnished goo music throughout the evening. William C. Johnson, the presiding officer, opened the meeting, urging every republican to vote the straight republican ticket.

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There will be a democratic rally at the Town hall on Friday night. The speakers will be Hon Rollin U. Tyler of Haddam, democratic candidate for governor, Don C. Seitz, business manager of the New York World, Mrs Josepha Whitney of New Haven, John W.. Treadwell, candidate for state senator, and Harry J. Platt, democratic candidate for Congress.

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NOTICE! My Bus will leave Sandy Hook Post Office every morning for Bridgeport at 8:30. Return from Bridgeport leaving at Bridgeport station, 3 P.m. Will leave Sandy Hook on Saturday at 12:15. Danbury Fair week will run from Sandy Hook Post Office to Fair grounds every two hours. George French.

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Best butter, 55c. best cheese 35c. pure lard 26c. tomato soup 11c can, Campbell’s beans 2 for 25c, good coffee, 25c lb, Oolong and Ceylon teas 45c lb, Gold Medal, Pillsbury and Hecker’s flour $1.95 bag. Sweet potatoes 5c lb. At Davey’s Sandy Hook.

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Just received a lot of Rubber-Roid roofing. The 1775 blend of coffee, graham flour in bulk, choice prunes. Ask to see one of our No. 7 $1 brooms. If your [sic] looking for quality, we’ve got it. H.G. Warner & Co.

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A meeting of the Town School Committee will be held on Monday night. Mr Garrison, an agent of the State Board of Education, has been invited to be present. The Board has sent an appeal to the State Board of Education to provide a supervisor for the local schools.

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