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WAY WE WERE FOR 11/14/97

NOVEMBER 17, 1972

The Newtown teachers' contract was unanimously approved by 75 voters who

attended a special town meeting Wednesday evening in the town hall gym. The

contract had required almost a year of negotiations, mediation, and

arbitration followed by more negotiations. It had been ratified by a close

vote of the teachers, 124 to 120, on October 18. The contract calls for an

overall salary increase of four and one half percent, including salaries and

increments. With the total benefit package included, the increase will amount

to five and a quarter percent. In a related action, the teachers this week

voted by secret ballot to elect the Newtown Federation of Teachers to

represent them. The NFT received 137 votes to 88 for the Education Association

of Newtown. Approximately 260 teachers were eligible to vote.

At a town meeting November 9 in the middle school auditorium, about 200

residents unanimously passed three resolutions regarding the Lake Lillinonah

and Lake Zoar Authorities and, by a vote of 104 to 70, approved the Community

Action Development Plan (CADP). The meeting approved funding for Lake

Lillinonah and the creation of the Lake Zoar Authority. Mae Schmidle, CADP

chairman, said the CADP plan is subject to revision, mandatory at the end of

two years, and before then when actual programs begin to be implemented. She

also stressed that money must be approved for these programs, of which there

are about 90, ten already in process by their respective boards. After an hour

and a half of debate, the five-year plan for the town was approved.

Fairfield Hills Hospital is establishing a hotline telephone to better serve

the community of Newtown. The new number should be used only in the event of

an emergency, when it is important to reach the hospital immediately. The

number will be answered by the hospital switchboard personnel who will put it

through to the hospital's security department. The hospital is getting a

second patrol car and funds for additional security personnel have been

promised by the governor's office, according to First Selectman Frank DeLucia.

Potentially serious incidents have occurred when patients walked away from the

hospital and entered the homes of nearby residents.

The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on December 1 to

consider an application of the Newtown Montessori Society Inc for a special

exception to allow the use of premises now owned by Louis and Jean Marshall.

The property is located at the northeasterly corner of Dodgingtown Road and

Taunton Hill Road. The Montessori Society wants to use it for a private

pre-school and kindergarten.

Following the withdrawal of the Old Rock Road Corporation's application for a

racetrack zone in Newtown, State Representatives Sarah Frances Curtis, Romeo

Petroni and Joseph Gormely have prepared legislation to protect the town from

any such track unless it is approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission and a

majority of the electors in a referendum. The bill will be introduced in the

January session of the state legislature. Under terms of the legislation, if

P&Z approves the track, a petition by 200 electors could force a referendum

and its results would be binding. If P&Z rejects the track, no referendum

could be held.

A new outdoor ice skating facility is just about ready for use, provided the

weather cooperates and provides the ice. The weeds and stumps have been

removed from the pond in the town park. In addition, the foundation has been

poured for an adjacent warming hut. Park Superintendent Arthur Bennett said it

probably will cost between $450 and $475 for the plywood, insulation and a gas

heater.

NOVEMBER 14, 1947

Some 250 people gathered in the gymnasium at Edmond Town Hall for a special

town meeting on Wednesday evening and decided, within 15 minutes, to retain

the present method of naming members of the Regional School Board by

appointment of the local board of education rather than by election at the

annual town meeting. This action was taken to comply with a new state law

which gives towns a choice in their method of naming the members of the board

of Regional School District No 3 which serves Newtown, Southbury, Woodbury and

Bethlehem. Similar meetings were held in the other towns; Woodbury chose to

retain the appointment method, while Southbury and Bethlehem opted to change

to the method of a town election.

The Board of Finance at its meeting Monday night made a transfer of funds to

cover the cost of retaining counsel to represent the town in action to be

brought against it by the Regional School Board. The board is taking legal

action because of the vote at a town meeting in Newtown in October to withdraw

from Regional High School District No 3. The cost of attorney fees will be

paid out of the town's contingency account.

More than two dozen organizations took part in the Armistice Day parade and

ceremonies in Newtown. A. Fenn Dickinson served as the parade marshal. There

was a full dress memorial service at the monument at the head of Main Street

and a brief flag-raising ceremony at the flagpole. The Raymond L. Pease Post

163, American Legion, under Commander Sylvester J. Burns made the

arrangements. Most town businesses were closed from 10:30 am to noon, some of

them for the full day, and the town offices were entirely closed. A large

number of townspeople attended the events. An excellent job of traffic control

was done by a detail of state police officers from the Ridgefield barracks.

A storm on Saturday, November 8, did a tremendous amount of damage to dirt

roads in town. There were many minor washouts and several instances of severe

damage. Further rain and high wind on Tuesday complicated the situation and

caused further damage to road surfaces.

Gone With The Wind is playing at the Edmond Town Hall Theatre this week. Clark

Gable and Vivien Leigh star. There will be one performance each evening at 8

pm. Coming attractions include Star Fair with Jeanne Crain and Dick Haymes (to

benefit the Parent-Teacher Association), and Son of the Thin Man with William

Powell and Myrna Loy.

"Save Wheat -- Save Meat -- Save the Peace" is the post-war slogan which is

being promoted by the Fairfield County Extension Service. Extension Educator

Miss Helen L. Clark said meatless Tuesdays should not cause the housewife any

headaches since there are several other protein foods which can be served in

the place of meat. By not serving meat on Tuesdays, Americans can give a big

boost to the present food conservation program. She suggests using dried peas

and beans, cheese or meat byproducts such as liver, kidney, brains,

sweetbreads, pigs feet, pigs knuckle, tripe, oxtails, tongue and heart.