* * *

Twelve years ago when students and faculty complained to the school administration that they were uncomfortable and cold, and that the classrooms were stuffy with little or no ventilation, the school set out to find the answer. It finally discovered the source of the problem last week when workers found a collapsed air duct and three heating ventilation and air conditioning systems at the school that had malfunctioned.

* * *

The Board of Burgesses voted Monday night to allow engineer Ken Pudeler of Greenbriar Lane, Newtown, to come up with a proposal on how the board might proceed in their efforts to alleviate the traffic problem which exists near the Edmond Town Hall. Should the burgesses accept Mr Pudeler’s proposal, the estimated cost of the study phase would be $1,000. The burgesses then decided to sit tight until the proposal was received although they had considered adding several more streetlights in the Edmond Town Hall section of Main Street.

* * *

Beat the February blues by planning to attend the Summer Festival Casino Night Saturday, March 27. Tickets for the evening will include a deluxe buffet dinner, dancing, and open bar as well as gambling. Music and entertainment will be provided by Binn Jones of WLAD. At the end of the evening winners will have a chance to spend their chips when donated prizes are auctioned off.

* * *

The staff at the Booth Library is excited about the library’s most recent acquisition — a $6,000 Bell and Howell microfiche reader/printer. The unveiling took place this week as Friends’ president Pat McShea and library head Dennis Clarke enthusiastically pointed out the advantages of the system, a system which allows an entire issue of Newsweek to be printed on an index card-size negative.

* * *

A misunderstanding about just who has the final say in the daily operation of the senior citizen’s minibus has been cleared up after a discussion with Nick Kovarco, director of transportation for the American Red Cross in Danbury. “No one in Newtown has any authority over the operation of the bus. The bus is controlled from this office,” Mr Kovarco said. Mrs Fast, senior center director, told the Bee that she is well aware that she has no control over the buses.

* * *

Two straight victories after an upset loss last week have assured Newtown of a playoff spot in the Western Connecticut Conference Basketball Tournament which gets underway Tuesday, March 2. The Indians are two time defending league champions, and they will probably face Masuk in the first semifinal game.

 

March 1, 1957

The new sign board located on the triangle at the traffic light at the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road is being used to announce items of town activities. Made by the shop students and Athletic Association officers of Newtown High School, the board is posted with announcements of high school events, adult education and adult recreation.

* * *

It has been decided by the board of selectmen to engage a second full-time constable for Newtown. It will be his assignment to patrol the town during the hours between 5 pm and 2 am. Public opinion has mounted in recent months, favoring more compete police protection for the town than Constable Hiram Hanlon, acting as one individual, is able to provide.

* * *

Reactions to a resolution to purchase the Aiken property for $40,350, by the Town of Newtown, which will be brought up at a special town meeting, have been mixed among townspeople, but the issue seems to have stirred up more interest and debate than any town project in some time. This week, other letters have come into The Bee office, both pro and con on the subject.

* * *

Now that over 300 volumes have been donated for the school libraries it is evident that friends of the schools have thoughtfully selected books that students will enjoy. To bring the campaign to a successful close, the committee suggests that one book from each family brought to the schools where boxes are filling, will give great impetus to the project. Miss Mary Lucas, chairman of the committee, commends the quality of books now received, but states that 350 volumes fall short of the 2,500 desired goal.

* * *

When Dora May Simon of Cherry Street, Sandy Hook, was taking a walk with her mother, Mrs Maude Simon, and her pet dog, Jenny, this week in the woods back of St Rose Cemetery, near the Beechwood Development, they came across a beautiful patch of trailing arbutus full of buds. Can this mean that spring is really on its way, or does Old Man Winter still have another trick or two up his sleeves?

The Connecticut Supreme Court on Monday, in Hartford, ordered Pasquale Albanese, former owner of Pat’s Log Cabin, Route 25, Newtown, to pay damages of $10,000 to the Rev Dr Gordon D. Pierce and Mrs Pierce for injuries received in 1952 when a drunken patron of the bar crashed into their car. In a 4-1 vote, the State Supreme Court upheld the state law that makes a liquor seller responsible for actions of a drunk he has served.

 

February 26, 1932

WASHINGTON CELEBRATION AT TRINITY: The commemorative celebration of George Washington’s 200th birthday held under the auspices of the YPF of Trinity was a conspicuous success. The Guild room was filled with an appreciative congregation, representatives of our townspeople. Altogether, in spite of the epidemic of colds so prevalent in town, it was a fitting inauguration of the celebration of the Bi-centennial.

* * *

An autoist going to Bridgeport, Sunday night, killed a cat and dog belonging to W.F. Scott. The autoist was blameless as the dog chased the cat in front of the oncoming machine. The driver quickly applied his brakes and went back to express his regrets.

* * *

Chief Glover of the Newtown Hook & Ladder Co, was called with the pumper, Washington’s birthday, to the summer home of Mrs Marguerite Webb in Wheelertown, the former Patrick Brennan place, by a fire which broke out in the walls above the fireplace. Before the arrival of the firemen, neighbors broke into the walls on the first and second floors and with buckets of water partly extinguished the smoldering fire. But slight damage was done.

* * *

James B. Nichols, while leading a bull by a chain belonging to Selectman Blackman, had one shoulder badly strained, when the bull gave a sudden lunge and pulled the chain away from him. Mr Nichols has been off duty for a few days from the mail route.

* * *

William A. Upham returned on Sunday from a stay of 10 days in Chicago, Ill., called there by the illness of his mother with pneumonia. The Upham Food Products Co. are quite busy with orders for tea balls and are running full time at present.

* * *

Mrs Edith C. Parker attended the Elm City Kennel show, held in the New Haven Arena, last Saturday, February 20. The winnings of the show for Greyhound was won by “Mistress Smalley” being the one to carry off the best of Breed trophy. “Cupid” a handsome white greyhound, with black trimmings, won three first prizes, one special, winners and reserve winners. The two dogs carried off 12 ribbons between them.

 

March 1, 2007

At Michael Haugh’s, Saturday morning, the thermometer registered 20 degrees below zero. At the Brick store in Sandy Hook, the same morning, the bulb showed 16 degrees below zero. At Mrs Tucker’s the record read 18 degrees below. A poor night to sleep out by the hay stack, sure enough.

* * *

Taylor, Curtis & Co. have the Edison phonographs in three grades, with records of all the popular music. Extra values now in horse blankets, harnesses, whips, harness trimmings, etc. at Taylor, Curtis & Cos. The reliable Worcester corsets are praised by well dressed ladies everywhere. Sold by Taylor, Curtis & Cos.

* * *

FORECASTS OF SPRING FASHIONS. The short-sighted mortal who confidently predicted the downfall of the elbow sleeve is “put to confusion” as all except the tailor-made suits, have sleeves reaching just below the angle of the elbow. In fancy waists the sleeves are as short as ever. Let us hope that long gloves will be manufactured in larger numbers and at prices within the means of all feminines. In suits, the same general styles prevail — the plaited skirt, the box coat, a tight-fitting coat, the long coat and the Eton, plaited, braided with or without a vest, and in fact any attractive fancy trimming is admissible.

* * *

Wilson Barrett’s “Sign of the Cross,” is to be given as an impersonation Saturday evening, March 2, in the Town hall by the highly gifted young artist, Miss Gay Zenola Maclaren. The expenses are not large; and every Newtowner who attends will do a double good: first, himself enjoy a most rare treat; second, help in cataloguing the books of the Newtown Library, a very necessary and desirable piece of work.

* * *

About 4 am, Wednesday, Mrs M.J. Houlihan was awakened at the Grand Central hotel by a sound of some one rapping below. Raising a window she was astonished to hear a man say in tones polite and undisturbed: “Good morning, ma’am, the building down below is on fire.” After a few questions Mrs Houlihan ascertained from the man that the West Street lock-up was on fire. The fire was soon put out and the damage will be comparatively slight. The man who notified the Central house people of the fire was quartered in the lock-up, but fortunately the building was not locked as is generally the case when there are a number of tramps.