The Newtown Ambulance Corps has a new chief driver, James M. Mooney, as of January 1, a determined veteran state police lieutenant who looks to tightening up discipline, improving business procedures in the all-volunteer corps, and implementing an ambitious, three-year plan to provide round-the-clock staffing of the ambulance headquarters to provide quicker response time to emergencies.

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Newtown Selectman Jack Rosenthal, submitting to the traditional end of the year interview, sounded a somber theme on the next to the last day of 1980 as he looked ahead to the new year — but it’s not because he’s pessimistic by nature. The town’s three-term chief executive foresees possible reduction in town staff, no new programs and possible cutbacks in existing programs because of the state of the economy.

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With made-for-the-holidays snowflakes falling about their ears, members of the Newtown High School Singers and Brass Ensemble were out December 23 for their traditional holiday music visit, stopping at The Bee as well as schools and Edmond Town Hall, bringing a welcome pause and instant holiday mood every place they stopped.

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The spirit of Christmas was all around us on Monday, December 22, when the seniors gave a party for the children from the Adventure Center. The chorus sang holiday songs with the children, and Santa came to visit with gifts for the children made by the seniors at the center.

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Applications are still being accepted for the Outstanding Young Man and Outstanding Young Woman award being presented by the Newtown Jaycees and Jaycee Wives in January. The annual award pays tribute to a man and woman between the ages of 18 ad 40 who have shown exceptional achievement in one or all of the following areas: family, church, community, or nation.

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Newtown High’s wrestling squad came away with two wins in three matches at Tuesday’s quad meet with New Canaan, Derby and Trumbull held here in town. The wins boost Newtown’s record to 4-2.

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The Youth Group at the Newtown Bible Baptist Church presented a play entitled “Michael’s Christmas” at a special holiday ceremony at the church on Sunday, December 21. The play was written, produced and performed entirely by youth group members.

January 6, 1956

As a direct result of the interest shown by townspeople in the town’s first adult education program last fall, the Newtown Adult Education Council will expand its program for the next semester, starting January 24, according to Mrs Sydney Dobbs, chairman.

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A souvenir of Newtown’s gala 250th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, August 6, 1955, which will be treasured by all who are fortunate enough to secure copies of the limited edition, was mailed last weekend to individual contributors of time, effort or money to the celebration, with the compliments of the anniversary committee.

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 Connecticut Blue Cross proudly announced in a recent bulletin the first quadruple tonsillectomy that it ever heard of — involving four children of Mr and Mrs Richard F. Gretsch of Mount Pleasant Road in Newtown. Taking part in the assembly-line operations at Danbury Hospital were Barbara Jean, nine; Carol Ann, eight; Richard, Jr, six; and Stacy, five.

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The work of Paul Webb of Newtown, creator of the famous “mountain boys” and other hillbilly characters, will be shown by the Society of Illustrators at the Illustrators’ residence, 128 East 63rd Street, New York City. The show includes 50 cartoons in full color and the Webb characters in ceramic.

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The Community Birthday Calendar, put out by the Newtown Fellowcraft Club, is now in the hands of the local people who were foresighted enough to order one in advance. The picture on the calendar this year is of The SAC Pony Baseball Team which won eight of its ten games last season.

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It was a festive evening for 80 young people of high school age who attended the annual holiday invitation dance last Friday night, December 30, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. The regular dancing was interspersed with several Paul Jones and lucky number dances.

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Listings of Newtown and Sandy Hook businesses in the Dun and Bradstreet Reference Book increased from 98 in November, 1952, to 137 in November, 1955, according to George H. Locke, district manager of the New Haven office of Dun and Bradstreet. This was the largest percentage increase of the several towns cited by the executive.

January 2, 1931

A sad event on Christmas morning was the death of Archibald C. McArthur, of Hawleyville section who passed away while attempting to crank his car. In an effort to get his car started, he overstrained his heart and dropped to the ground.

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A group of young people left early Monday morning, for the annual trip to New Hampshire for winter sports.

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Herbert Coger, popular meat cutter at the store of Morris & Shepard, fell at his home and fractured two ribs. E.H. Treadwell of Danbury is substituting for Mr Coger at the Morris & Shepard store.

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A friend of the editor, a popular real estate dealer, received a present of an electric clock. He set the “durn” thing a-going and to his astonishment it ran backwards. Not being able to set it right be sought the expert advice of J.J. Keane, who soon straightened him out. According to a neighbor, the real estate man was so interested in the clock that he got up at midnight to see if it was percolating all right.

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John C. Beers of the Borough had rather an unfortunate accident on Christmas day. He was playing with his nephews and in some way wrenched the ligaments of his leg so that he will have to be very careful for several weeks.

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George M. Stuart, who has been a valued member of the Newtown Savings Bank staff for 19 years, has tendered his resignation to take effect, January 1, in order to give his full time and attention to the Leonard Insurance Agency, of which he is proprietor.

January 5, 1906

The main topic of conversation in Taunton district just now is the deplorable state of affairs in our school. During all of the pleasant weather and while the large boys have plenty of time it is a shame that our schoolhouse doors are closed. A teacher is expected, this week, from Bridgeport, and it is hoped that for the rest of the year our school may be prospered and our children taught.

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A memorial window has just been placed in Trinity church to perpetuate the memory of Joseph Ferris, who was quite prominent in this church a century ago. He was born in 1751 and was a farmer in Palestine district. The subject of the window is “the Resurrection Morning,” showing the angel sitting by the open tomb at the visit of the two Marys.

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J.H. Peck of Obtuse has had a new wind mill erected near his barn for pumping water for the stock, and is now putting up a large tank in his barn.

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J.A. Turner of Hawleyville has his mill building nearly completed and is now putting in the machinery. Mr Turner has moved his family into the tenement over the mill.

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The old Shepaug engine house at Hawleyville is now being torn down by the Consolidated railroad company and William E. Hawley is taking down an old tobacco barn which stood north of his stock barn.

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A largely attended meeting was held at the office of W.A. Leonard, Monday night, to consider the question of a formation of a Water Company to supply Newtown Street and vicinity. Levi C. Morris was chosen chairman.