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Two of Newtown’s devoted residents were honored Wednesday by the town’s Legislative Council for their many years of outstanding contributions to the community. Paul S. Smith of Currituck Road and William W. Holcombe of Taunton District will receive plaques in recognition of their community service, as a result of a resolution proposed by council member Melissa Pilchard. As the local paper’s editor, Mr Smith was “very influential” in the town’s development, Mrs Pilchard said. W.W. Holcombe, said Mrs Pilchard, in addition to his more than a quarter-century on the finance board, used to run town meetings.

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Richard S. Baldelli of The Boulevard has been returned to a second one year stint as chief of the all-volunteer Newtown Ambulance Corps for 1982, indicating his thrust as head of the corps will be to continue improving the emergency medical services the ambulance responders offer the town. As chief, Mr Baldelli’s job is to oversee the operational end of the service.

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Police say Newtown High School or the Italian American Club property on Route 34 would be better sites for the annual July 4 fireworks than Dickinson Memorial Park on Elm Drive. The chief said several more personnel were required to handle the crowds in the park during the fireworks than at high school football games, for example. Near the park, several residents complain every year about people parking on their property or blocking driveways.

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There will be a new lineup to provide the Town of Newtown with legal counsel starting in January when Democratic First Selectman Jack Rosenthal and other officials elected in November take their new terms of office. Wednesday, the first selectman said he will recommend to the new Board of Selectmen next month that it appoint Attorneys Raymond J. Doyle, Jr, 52, and Raymond T. Connor, 33, as the new town attorneys. Both men are Democrats.

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The first employee in the history of the Botsford Post Office to be so honored received the US Postal Service’s Superior Achievement Service Award Tuesday. Mrs Mary Maye, a 20-year employee who works as a distribution and window clerk, received the award after being recommended for it by Botsford Postmaster Clement A. Koscavage.

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Town hall employees could join the growing ranks of union workers if enough of them decide to combine forces and join the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). In response to requests from town employees, Peter Thor, staff representative for Connecticut Council 4 of AFSCME, met with the interested workers. According to some town employees at the meeting, one reason to consider joining the union is what some term an “injustice” in the merit pay system.

 

December 7, 1956

The Chamber officials are particularly pleased to announce that arrangements have been made directly with Santa Claus at the North Pole for a visit to Newtown. In fact, he will be here on three different days, December 13, 14, and 15, when his sack will be loaded with candy canes for all of the children, and he will gladly receive their letters in which he knows will be listed their particular Christmas wants.

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As part of a program initiated by Governor A.A. Ribicoff to establish realistic speed limits for Connecticut’s 3,000-mile highway system, revised posted speed limits, in general permitting faster travel, have been announced by the governor for Route 6. The announcement said: “The governor feels that realistic speed limits will encourage respect for and compliance with the law and motor vehicles regulations.”

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A fire of undetermined origin destroyed the five-room house on Pocono Pond Road, Hawleyville, owned by Benjamin L. Heyman of Newtown and New York City, early Tuesday morning. Pat Gallo, a route deliveryman for the Rider Dairy Company of Danbury, discovered the blaze at about 6 am. The house was a mass of flames when the Hawleyville and Newtown Hook and Ladder Company firemen reached the scene.

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M. Frederic Rees, past chairman of the Educational Planning Committee, told guests and members of the Newtown Young Republican Club at a non-partisan meeting at the Hawley Manor Inn last Friday evening that a “Junior high school is needed to maintain the educational program best needed to meet the needs of our children.” It is estimated, said Mr Rees, that in 1965 there will be 5,100 homes in Newtown with an enrollment in the schools of 1,200 plus in grades one through six, and 1,070 plus in the high school.

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Expert Tells How To Pick An Ideal Christmas Tree — Advises Selection Of One That Keeps Needles — Make your selection early to get a fresh-cut Christmas tree, says Robert A. Bartlett of the Bartlett Tree Experts. If a tree is fresh, needles don’t shower down when the butt is bounced hard on the ground. Next rub a finger across the butt. If it’s sticky, the tree is fresh.

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Much excitement and thrills will be in store for basketball fans when the famous All American Red Heads women’s basketball team invades Newtown next Wednesday, December 12, to take on the Newtown AC men’s basketball team. Headed by their six-foot five-inch center Jackie Warge and six-foot Nellie “Peaches” Marlow, playmaker of the team, the Red Heads, Amazons of the Ozarks, will be out after the AC’s scalps.

December 4, 1931

THE HAWLEY SCHOOL, On January 13, 1932, Captain Stanley Osborne, celebrated explorer, soldier, and journalist, will give a lecture on travels through Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. His talk will be accompanied by many illustrations. Some of his topics will be “Glimpses of Kangaroo Land,” “The Lure of Maoriland,” and “Two Years in the Jungles of New Guinea.” Everybody that will be able should attend this interesting talk.

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The department of agriculture of the Hawley school has as part of its equipment a fairly complete set of tools. These tools are used to teach students how to do those jobs which a farmer should be able to do. As this is not a class I manual training, cabinetwork and other fine carpenter work is not a part of the instruction. Usually each student, before graduating, takes part in building a small building of some kind.

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Three well-known and prominent young men connected with the H. Wales Line company, went out hunting the other day and found that the Newtown woods harbor many things beside game. While walking among some tall trees, they suddenly discovered a bee tree and decided at once to bring the honey home. Several of the boys on the construction job where they are employed wondered at the many swollen parts on their friends’ faces. The boys just tell them that they were calling on a certain queen and received rather a warm welcome.

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The H. Wales Line co, are making good progress on the several buildings comprised in their contract at the Fairfield State Hospital. Building No 18, the general hospital, is 412 feet long and 224 feet in width. The workmen are setting the first floor forms now. On building No 21, the Nurses’ home, the brick work is completed up to the second story. The five staff houses, which are really two family houses, are 74x23 feet. The brick work is up to the second floor. About 250 men are now employed by the Lines Co.

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A sad tragedy occurred in Walkers Farm District on the evening of Thanksgiving day, when Angelo Di Viesta, 62, resident of the district for the past five years, accidentally fell into the well on the property of his son, Pasquale. Di Viesta, with his wife and the members of his son’s family had enjoyed the Thanksgiving day meal with guests, and after dinner, which was served late during the afternoon, took a walk about the property. When the elderly man did not return within reasonable time, the members of the family became alarmed. Darkness had fallen and as no trace of the missing man was found, the search continued until daybreak, when Mr Di Viesta’s cap was found near the well on the property.

The selectmen have appointed Morris D. Beers as constable to fill a vacancy. Mr Beers has had 15 years experience as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Pease and is a capable officer. His son, Preston Beers, has been a constable for several years.

 

December 7, 1906

At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Newtown Agricultural Fair Co, Saturday, to consider the question of winding up the affairs of the company, just 17 votes were lacking of the necessary 150 votes required. Only four votes were cast against the proposition to go out of business. It was voted to keep the ballot box open until Saturday of this week.

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TRINITY PARISH NOTES: The annual sale of Christmas cards, home-made candies and fancy articles, under the auspices of the Junior Auxiliary, will take place in the small Guild room Friday, December 14, beginning at 3 pm. An attractive line of Christmas cards is always offered at this sale and this year will be no exception. At the same time and place the ladies will have a sale of cake, crullers and biscuit.

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Allison P. Smith has bought of Arthur L. Peck the triangular piece of land, known as the Little Orchard, and located at the junction of Queen street and the highway running east, between the residences of H.H. Peck and A.P. Smith. Although there are no trees now standing on the plot, it was originally filled with apple trees.

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The thermometer registered at zero at the residence of William H. Prindle, Tuesday morning. Six inches of frost was encountered by the men of Contractor Beckwith’s gang as they began to wield the pick and shovel, Wednesday morning. If the weather holds fair the pipe line will be completed as far as the residence of Selectman Hermon H. Peck by Saturday night.

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CRISIS OF GIRLHOOD Miss Emma Cole Says that Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound has Saved Her Life and Made Her Well How many lives of beautiful young girls have been sacrificed just as they were ripening into womanhood! How many irregularities or displacements have been developed at this important period, resulting in years of suffering! A mother should come to her child’s aid at this critical time and remember that Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound will prepare the system for the coming change and start this trying period in a young girl’s life without pain or irregularities.