* * *

Don Taylor, job supervisor for the work currently under way at Treadwell Park off Philo Curtis Road, surveyed the damage done last weekend to a piece of playground equipment still under construction. According to Mr Taylor, the vandalism occurred sometime on Sunday, September 26, when someone smashed several flooring planks of the jungle gym, bending some of the aluminum supports in the process. The job supervisor estimates that the damage will cost about $700 to repair, including labor.

* * *

The Newtown Jaycee Women would like to remind parents and adults transporting children that the state’s new child restraint law takes effect today, October 1. The law requires that all child passengers one to four years old must be restrained by approved car seats or a regular vehicle lap belt in the rear seat only. Infants under one must be in a car seat. The state has set a fine of $25, plus a $3 administrative fee, for violations.

* * *

The Newtown Business and Professional Women’s Club announces the winner of its Woman of the Year award. The winner of the 1982 Woman of the Year Award is Sarah Mannix. Sarah, a lifetime resident of Newtown, who is the owner and operator of the Mannix Florist Shop on South Main Street. During her years in Newtown, she was the first owner/operator of a school bus and did this until her retirement. Sarah is also an active participant at town meetings and town projects, and feels it is a must to be a good citizen and “take part.”

* * *

As a result of a significant loophole in Connecticut’s current primary election laws, Newtown’s State Rep Mae Schmidle this week called for passage of legislation that would require uniform voting in all towns involved in district primaries. “Our current state laws regarding primary elections permit communities to open their polling places at any hour between 6 am and noon,” Rep Schmidle said.

* * *

Hugh Lavery became Newtown’s new town attorney by a 2-1 vote at a special Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, September 28. Mr Lavery was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Raymond Doyle, who held the position until he was appointed assistant state’s attorney. Mr Lavery, who practices law with Caldwell, Ehrsam, Kennedy and Lavery, is brother to William Lavery who was town attorney before he became a superior court judge in September 1981.

* * *

Because of the enforcement of the fire codes at Newtown High School, 50 students from each lunch shift, who would normally eat in the cafeteria, have had their lunch moved into the art room. Assistant principal Jack Lynch says the system has been working out well due to the cooperation of the pupils and teachers monitoring the room.

October 4, 1957

Over 500 members of Connecticut garden clubs gathered in Newtown this Wednesday for the annual meeting of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. Among the winners this year was the Garden Club of Newtown for its junior gardening program carried on last year at Sandy Hook School under the direction of its junior gardening chairman, Mrs William J. Mannix.

* * *

Two high jobs within days were the painting of the flagpole last week by Mr Haight of Haight Brothers of Milford and on Monday Alfred W. Nelson of the Botsford District went to the top of the steeple on the Newtown Congregational Church to apply a coat of paint. Both Mr Haight and Mr Nelson hoist themselves aloft on bos’n’s chairs, a narrow, backless bench whose stability depends not on the rigid support of legs, but on the hempen rigging and the whims of vagrant breezes.

* * *

Dedication ceremonies to mark the completion of the new Congregational Church House addition will be held Sunday at 3 pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony, the presentation of keys and an inspection of the building. Representatives of other Newtown churches and of neighboring Congregational Churches will attend the ceremony.

* * *

Pardon the plug, but this is National Newspaper Week, and we presume we should editorialize on the important role filled by the newspaper industry in this country. The weekly newspaper, by its very nature, is concerned with local news in the communities where its subscribers live. The Bee is happy to serve the area of Western Connecticut, which is roughly defined as within a 25 or 30-mile radius of Newtown. We are proud of our 7,000 circulation.

* * *

GALA OPEN HOUSE! Village Texaco Service Church Hill Road — Route 6 At Shopping Center FREE Potatoes, 10 lb bag US No 1 With Purchase of 7 Or More Gallons Of Gas FREE Balloons, Fire Chief Hats, Lollipops LOOK! FREE RIDES FOR THE KIDS, TOO! (Carl and Dick Oberg At the Wheel of the Fire Truck)

* * *

Homeowners with rhododendrons, laurel and azalea planted around their homes must remember these plants have had a hard summer. They are shallow-rooted plants and the dry weather has been especially difficult. Be sure these shrubs go into the winter with plenty of moisture even if you have to water them.

 

September 30, 1932

Alpheus Durgy has bought the old factory building of the New England Dry Milk Co, at Hawleyville of the Osborne, Barnes Co, and is taking it down. The Osborne Barnes Co bought it at auction on a tax claim of the town for $800 when it was sold at the sign post for $500. The Osborne, Barnes Company used the building for storing cement and other material during the building of the Danbury-Newtown state road.

* * *

William Leahy, who represented the Newtown Country Club in the New England Open Gold Championship held at the Rockledge Country Club, West Hartford, turned in scores of 81 and 85 on the first two days. Willie MacFarlane, former United States open champion, won the tournament in a play-off with Paul Runyan after they had tied at the end of the 72 holes.

* * *

Among new features to be presented at the Danbury Fair this year will be a Cat Show. This is a department in which about everyone is interested and has been placed on the 1932 program in response to many requests. Many breeds, and many beauties will find admirers and increase the pleasure of animal lovers.

* * *

W.C. Curtis, a well-known dog fancier, has just opened a kennel at Sandy Hook on the Berkshire road. Mr Curtis is a breeder of the famous Cocker Spaniels and will sell pedigreed stock from 10 weeks old up. It is the intention of Mr Curtis to enlarge the place and later board dogs.

* * *

The Fish Rock Clubhouse on the shore of Lake Zoar, owned by George Ohler, was destroyed by fire, Thursday night. Damage was estimated at $8,000. Origin of the blaze is unknown. A gentleman and his family quietly sleeping in a cottage 200 feet from the club house did not know it was burned until morning. People in Newtown thought the Fabric Fire Hose Co factory was burning. It made a great light against the sky.

* * *

Contractor Connors began work, Monday, on the dirt road improvement in Taunton district. Starting at the end of the improved road near Hughes’ corner the improvement will continue to a point near F.W. Andrews’ residence.

October 4, 1907

Roy A. Knabenshue, the most successful American aeronaut, will make flights from the Danbury Fair Grounds next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. He will bring his airship to the fair in his own special car, coming from Brocton, Mass., where he is exhibiting his machine this week.

* * *

A number of the scholars of the Middle district and South Center enjoyed a water melon feast at the home of Mr and Mrs Sanford Underhill, last week Thursday, which was much enjoyed by all. Harley T. Peck of this town secured the first prize of $10 for doing the best work, last year; in chemistry at Yale Scientific school.

* * *

James D. Christopher, who purchased a place in Dodgingtown about three weeks ago, while walking about his farm on Friday, September 20, picked up a toy balloon. Attached to it was an order for $10 in gold from the New York World. He wrote to their office in New York and they answered if he would send on the order he would get his money, which he did. Mr Christopher considers himself a lucky man to strike oil so quickly on his farm.

* * *

On Monday the town auditors, after an examination of the affairs of the town treasurer, refused to sign his report. The selectmen, the following day, brought Expert Accountant J. A. Morris to town, but Mr Northrop refused to let him have access to the books. Late in the day he relented and Wednesday was appointed but he asked for a day’s delay. On Thursday Mr Morris began his examination, and as we go to press, is at work on the books. If Mr Northrop had courted an open and searching examination at first, he would have saved himself the publicity the matter has now obtained.

* * *

Interesting Views as Set Forth by David C. Peck: It will be up to the voters at the next annual town meeting to dispose of that troublesome question, the working of the highways. That the present system of road working under the supervision of the selectmen and attendant contract which has been in use for a number of years has not proven a success goes without saying. We cling too much to the methods in use in our grandfathers’ time of working the roads in June, patching in September and letting the roads take care of themselves the rest of the year. It is evident we must have a change, that the time has come for the adoption of an improved system of working the highways, a system more in keeping with modern conditions.