***

Mrs Elaine Bassi of Ridgefield, a fifth grade teacher at Sandy Hook School, is recuperating at her home following her frightening experience at LaGuardia Airport on Monday night, where she was one of the many victims of a bomb blast near the baggage area of the TWA terminal. Mrs Bassi was one of over 75 injured in the explosion and was treated at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens before being returned to home for a checkup at Danbury Hospital under the direction of her physician, Dr Michael Yoburn, on Wednesday.

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 Newtown Housing for the Elderly Inc. has chosen a Hartford-based construction firm to build its 40-unit housing facility, with groundbreaking seen for the spring of 1976. Alca Construction Company, a firm with extensive experience in constructing housing for the elderly, received the winning bid. NHE Inc. president Stan Main declined to release the amount of the bid, but said it was under the $860,000 loan the non-profit corporation is to receive from the Federal Farmer’s Home Administration. Alca’s bid covers construction and site work, and Mr Main said that with costs for amortization, hiring a clerk of the works, and other related expenses, total project cost will be $860,000.

***

Richard Viagrande, Lesher-Glendinning supervisor, said he spent a whole year researching land sales before he even went out into the field, and both he and Assessor Vivian Mayer agree that the big jump in property values in Newtown over the past ten years is the land. This will be reflected in the assessments of property resulting from the ten year revaluation, which will affect the October 1, 1975, Grand List. “The cost of land has increased more percentage-wise than buildings,” says Mr Viagrande, because the demand for land has increased more than the costs for materials. He says the average cost for a building lot in Newtown is around $22,000 now. Illustrating the inflated values, Mrs Mayer said last week that a lot assessed at $4,000 back in 1965 might have an assessment of $15,000 to $20,000 now based on sales experience.

***

There was no “gentleman’s agreement” made as far as District II Councilman James Severnak is concerned, and as a result he’ll challenge Robert H. Hall for the position of Legislative Council chairman next Tuesday when the 18-member body has its organizational meeting. At Mr Severnak’s home on December 16, 11 of the 12 Republican council members caucused and endorsed Mr Hall, former 8½ year town attorney, for the position. Mr Hall was endorsed by nine of the Republicans, with Mr Severnak receiving his own vote and that of fellow District II member James Knapp. However, with the exception of Mr Severnak, the Republicans, including Mr Knapp, agreed that night that they’d support the candidate who won the endorsement. District III council member Robert E. Smith was not present, and Jim Severnak said Tuesday, “He’s been working very hard to persuade other Republicans to vote with us.”

***

A photo contest sponsored by the City National Bank, Country Camera, and the Newtown Bicentennial Committee is open to all Newtown residents between January 1 and February 28. Prizes of three US Savings Bonds will be awarded: $100, $50, and $25. Two youth category prizes of $40 and $20 gift certificates from Country Camera will be awarded to 17-year-old or under contestants. The theme is “Our Connecticut Heritage” for black and white or colored photos.

***

Coach Bill Manfredonia and five years’ time have done much to further the wrestling program at Newtown High. The program that started with a handful of matmen several years ago has grown so in popularity as to attract some 85 wrestlers this season. After several weeks of rigorous training that figure has whittled down some to a present roster of 74.

***

Christmas holidays offer the traditional time for homecomings, and this year’s Christmas brought home one Newtown resident who has spent the last four years doing some traveling. He’s Naval Lt Peter Thompson, son of Mrs Eleanor Thompson of Sandy Hook, and as he said when he came to pay a visit to The Bee, “It’s amazing, I just don’t know anyone anymore. There seems to be no one around Newtown my age.”

JANUARY 5, 1951

After completing their tour of the various roads to view the Christmas decorations, the judges acting for the Newtown Lions Club in the Chritmas decorations contest came to the conclusion that all of Newtown had put on its best holiday dress. It was noted that nearly every house in Newtown displayed a wreath or some other form of decoration. In the opinion of the judges the most outstanding decoration from both the standpoint of originality and artistic treatment was that of Commander and Mrs Warner W. Bayley on Mt Pleasant. The prime feature of the display was the application of copper in fashioning the wreath which made the decoration effective both by day and by night. This was accordingly given the award for the most original and artistic.

***

A large number of friends of Lee W. Glover, second assistant chief of the Newtown Volunteer Fire Company, gathered at the Hillandale Inn, Newtown-Danbury Road, to honor him at a farewell dinner. Mr Glover will enter the service January 22. Judge John F. Holian served as toastmaster and a roast beef dinner was served. During the evening, James Crick, who, with John McCarthy, Jr, sponsored the party, in behalf of all present, presented him with a purse.

***

Four graduates of Newtown High School now taking university courses held a reunion at the home of Don James in the Gray’s Plain District New Year’s Day afternoon. They were: Gordon T. Williams, Newtown High School class of 1947, now a junior at the University of Bridgeport, studying mechanical engineering; Jack Cochran, 1947, senior in political science, University of Bridgeport; Harry E. Lake, Jr, a junior in business administration at University of Connecticut; and Don James, 1947, a junior majoring in English at the Oklahoma A and M College.

***

For the 53rd year, Thomas F. Brew of Dayton Street, Sandy Hook, erected prior to the Christmas season the stable and manger scene that is placed each year before the altar in St Rose Church. The creche was built with large trees forming a bower, with domestic animals in the stable, a statue of the Infant Jesus in the crib, and statues of Mary and Joseph, the Magi and shepherds appropriately placed.

***

Announcement has been made by William H. Knox, chief of the constable contingent of Newtown’s Civil Defense Organization under Comdr Warner W. Bayley, local C.D. director, that there will be a meeting of all those men interested in Police Auxiliary work this Friday night.

***

A portable “iron lung” to be placed at Ridgefield Barracks of the Connecticut State Police and available for free emergency use by all residents of Fairfield County is the object of a drive beginning in Newtown next Monday by members of the American Legion “40 and 8” Club, Voiture 163, of Fairfield County.

***

A large group, 26 in all, gathered at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Wednesday evening, January 3, for the study of The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx in 1848 and still the bible of the Communist organizations all over the world. The leader was James B. Forbes and the historian and biographer, Miss Ann McCann, who sketched the background and conditions in Europe at the time the Manifesto was written. Others present were John Angel, Comdr and Mrs W.W. Bayley, William Burry, Mr and Mrs William Foote, Mrs James C. Forbes, Col C. Sidney Haight, Miss Laura Hiss, Morris Izen, Mr and Mrs F. Willard Johnson, Mrs Fridolf Jacobson, Miss Maude Kenny, Miss Caroline McCann, Addison M. Metcalf, Mrs Bradley Randall, Bradley Randall, Jr, Mr and Mrs Robert Raynolds and their daughters, Barbara and Ann, Charles A. Reed, Jr, and Mrs Mortimer Smith.

 

JANUARY 1, 1926

The Hawleyville Fire Company gave a Christmas tree party Wednesday night, at their hall, presenting the children with candy and fruit. Dancing followed, and the evening was one of great enjoyment.

***

Mr Burr of Danbury has rented the Troy building at Sandy Hook and will open a meat market there shortly after the first of the year. Mr Burr has rented an apartment in the Keane house.

***

Miss Fannie S. Beers of Queen Street passed her 92nd birthday quietly and pleasantly at her home on Sunday, December 27. She enjoyed cards and flowers sent her by loving friends in honor of the occasion. She is able to read the daily paper and The Bee without the aid of glasses and enjoys calls from her numerous friends.

JANUARY 4, 1901

Selectman L.C. Morris, who was burned out of house and home last week, has rented the Annex and will take possession soon.

 

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These officers have been elected by the Congregational Sunday School: assistant superintendent, Mrs Henry A. Smith; secretary and treasurer, Miss Edna Mott; librarian, Miss Emily Lovell; book distributor, John Carlson. The superintendent will be chosen at the annual church meeting.

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Enjoyable closing exercises were held at the Flat Swamp School, of which Miss Emma L. Ferry is teacher, last week, Friday, December 21. A number of visitors were present who listened to the appropriate exercises for the occasion.

***

Mrs Bernard Kelly has just received a widow’s pension.

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Curtis Glover entertained quite a number of boys at his home in the Street on Monday night, and at 11:30 they attended the special midnight service in Trinity Church.

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Representatives Edward Taylor and W.J. Brew leave next week to enter upon their legislative duties at Hartford.