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The Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission agreed Monday to have regulations drafted which would allow four new types of housing in the town that are called for in the updated Town Plan of Development adopted by the P&Z last November. The following would be permitted: Existing two-story homes could be converted into two dwelling units; Subdivisions with two-family homes would be permitted; Zones would be set up for Multiple Family dwellings; Cluster or open space sub-divisions would be allowed.

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If a bill passed Wednesday by the State House of Representatives is approved by the Senate, persons under 20 will not be allowed to drink or carry alcoholic beverages in their cars by October 1. The bill to raise Connecticut’s drinking age from 18 to 20 was passed by a vote of 84 to 59, said State Rep Mae Schmidle, a member of the General Laws subcommittee.

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Mark V. Oppenheimer, who owns the Victorian structure at 50 Main Street with his partner, Stephen Wippermann, was notified this week that the house has definitely been selected for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places as of February 11. The well-known structure, formerly known as the Glover or Budd House, is an example of Second Empire architecture which came to this country around the mid-nineteenth century from France. The steeply pitched Mansard roof is one of the immediately noticeable characteristics of such a style.

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After 11 years of coaching wrestling and teaching social studies at Newtown High School, William (Bill) Manfredonia has certainly left an indelible mark on his athletes and students. Manfredonia was one of 20 coaches voted “outstanding” in their respective sports by peers [at the Connecticut High School Coaches Association’s recognition dinner Tuesday night].

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Design Development for Timothy B. Treadwell Park continues next Tuesday night, April 6, with a special meeting between the Parks and Recreation Commission and Technical Planning Associates of New Haven. On March 9 the commission decided to plan for the future by laying large enough pipes in its irrigation system to supply water for a swimming pool at Timothy B. Treadwell Park. Irrigation has been a top priority for phase 2, primarily to maintain the soccer and baseball fields completed last year in phase 1.

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The Newtown Summer Festival officially launched its 1982 season with the fund-raising Casino Night which took place at the Fireside Inn on March 27. Approximately 300 guests attended the event which offered a buffet dinner, dancing and games. Casino Night is just the first of several events included in the summer festival activities.

 

April 5, 1957

Six shovels bit into the earth in unison during the Sunday, March 31 ground-braking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the addition to the Congregational Church School in Newtown. More than 150 persons attended the brief ceremony. Children of the Church School lined up along an outline of the new building’s future outside and took turns taking an active part in the ground-breaking as shovels were passed around.

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Vo-ag boys of Newtown High School, under the direction of Vincent Gaffney, have on several occasions during the past three weeks, given some valuable assistance in moving pine trees and planting maple trees at the Dickinson Memorial Park. Their work is much appreciated by members of the Newtown Park Commission.

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A decision has been reached by the Board of Zoning Commissioners of the Borough of Newtown, to deny the application of C. Walter Bounty for a change of zoning classification from residential to business on a piece of vacant land which he owns on the south side of Church Hill Road. A public hearing on Mr Bounty’s application was held on Tuesday evening, March 25, at the Edmond Town Hall, when it was explained that the prospective purchasers of the property intended to build seven stores and a supermarket, to be occupied by the A&P on the property.

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Less than a half hour after the 32-ton Lorain crane he was operating turned over, Alfred Capozziello, Jr was back at work making preliminary repairs to the machine which is owned by his father and used in Cappy’s sand and gravel pit near Dead Man’s Curve on Route 25. When the crane started to go, Capozziello was thrown back in the cab. He tried to fight for control, but after the clamshell bucket hit the cab and the cable whistle by the cab, he jumped out to safety.

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The Grand Union Company is taking the classroom directly to the trainee in preparing personnel for its new supermarket soon to open in Newtown. The “Classroom” is a mammoth trailer drawn by a specially adapted automobile. Inside is all of the equipment required to teach the skills needed by supermarket personnel. Within its 32-foot length and eight-foot width are cash registers, blackboards, motion picture and slide film projection equipment, and desks.

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Last Saturday morning some boys who had volunteered during the Thursday meeting landed at SAC Park bright and early for a work project. One crew gathered up three truckloads of field branches and litter from the field banks and raked the grass and leaves into piles. The first pickup baseball game of the season got under way as soon as the chores were finished. The game was somewhat complicated by four pet dogs who all wanted to play in the infield.

 

April 1, 1932

This next week will mark the Fourth Anniversary in the Apron Shoppe, so ably conducted by Mrs John L. Burr. This growing concern are now selling to Gift shops, Tea rooms, and the better department stores. They are designing new models all the time, keeping up with the styles. They have grown from one operator to 14 operators and one presser.

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The double house adjoining the Cyrenius H. Booth Memorial library was sold at auction on Saturday afternoon to Vincent Sullivan, building contractor, of Sugar street. M.F. Crowe, of North Main street, real estate dealer, was in charge of the disposition of the property which was sold for $25. Mr Sullivan bid the house off for Rodney P. Shepard it is said.

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McCormick-Deering FARM MACHINERY! Tractors, Cream Separators and Milkers. Barn Equipment and Unadilla Silos. Parsell Bros, Southbury Conn. HARDWARE AND DAIRY SUPPLIES. Steve Paproski of Sugar Street has just bought a new 10-20 McCormick-Deering Tractor from Parsell Brothers in Southbury who have just unloaded several car loads of farm machinery, including tractors, plows, haying machinery, spreaders, etc.

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A new industry for Newtown is in the process of organization, to be called the Newtown Food Packing Co, Inc. Subscriptions for a limited amount of stock are being solicited with good success. The concern will manufacture marmalades, jams, pepper hash and other relishes. The gentlemen at the head of the enterprise are William A. Upham, the tea ball expert, and an authority in the food packing business, William B. Banigan, and Frank G. Metcalf, who with Mr Banigan will take charge of the manufacturing. The factory will be located in Mr Upham’s large building at Hawleyville.

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Miss Beulah Louise Henry, a noted inventor, gave a luncheon party to some friends at the popular Maryland Tea room on Tuesday afternoon. Miss Henry is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs W.R. Henry of New York City. Her father is an eminent lawyer. The Park Central Views says, “Miss Henry is not the type that would be selected as a foremost inventor, but more than 40 patents are to her credit. The list is topped with ‘Radio Rose’ a life size doll with a seven tube radio receiving and transmitting set.”

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On Saturday evening, April 2, the Sandy Hook Baseball Club will give their annual dance at St Rose’s Casino, Newtown, at 8 o’clock. “Walt” Nichols and his famous “Five Pennies,” and orchestra noted far and wide for its fitness of rhythm and variety of melody, will render the music.

 

April 5, 1907

TRINITY PARISH NOTES: The celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection was begun at 6 o’clock in the morning, when 25 persons were present to receive the Holy Communion. At the 11 o’clock service there was a very large congregation, the largest in many years, except at the Consecration of Bishop Johnson. The large and well-trained choir rendered excellent music.

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Eight directors of the Newtown Agricultural Fair Co. and a dozen other citizens of Newtown gathered at the Fair grounds, Saturday afternoon, when the property of the Fair Co., consisting of the buildings on the grounds and their contents, were auctioned off. The property was knocked down to Henry G. Curtis at $2, he being the holder of the mortgage of $1,075.

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Assistant Postmaster Frank A. Blackman is driving a handsome six-year-old stepper, bought of James Leavy of Sandy Hook. William Sherman has bought a pair of horses of Pliney Squires of New Milford and a pair of six-year-old steers of parties in Southford.

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The members of the Newtown Fire Co will assemble for drill about 6 pm, Saturday. The church bell will sound, and it will be seen how soon the trip to the hose house, return to hydrant, make connections, preparations to attack an imaginary fire. The fire laddies are expected to be on hand.

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ST JOHN’S CHURCH: There was a large attendance at each service and the church was beautiful and fragrant with flowers. Tables of potted plants: Daffodils, tulips, roses, begonias, geraniums, lilies, etc, were tastefully arranged in the choir-space; and of cut-flowers, Easter lilies graced the altar, and carnations the pulpit. The first service consisted of morning prayer, Holy Communion and sermon; with prompt and efficient choir service.