* * *

Patrolman Gary Wheeler pulls up in his blue Newtown police cruiser and tells the 12 people hanging out at the Hawley Road bridge they have five minutes to leave. After recurring complaints from neighbors, the first selectman instructed the Police Department to put up signs which restrict parking between 8 pm and 7 am. Hawley Road has been a favorite summer hangout among town adolescents for years.

* * *

The more educated a community becomes concerning household hazardous wastes the more it sees a need for a state-guided collection day to correctly dispose of those wastes. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal met with Department of Environmental Protection officials on July 31 to discuss the possibility of the town’s sponsoring a collection day. The cost of such a day varies with the amount of people contributing wastes.

* * *

One of the major Summer Festival events — the annual Block Party — is scheduled for Sunday, August 4, at the Queen Street Shopping Center. Headlining the entertainment portion of the program will be Newtown guitar players Mark Chernoff and Jim Williams, and a local jazz band. The Rocking Roosters Square Dance club will present a demonstration during the block party.

 

August 5, 1960

Newtown’s Post Office is getting ready for a move within a month into separate quarters in a brand new building on Queen Street, a building that is now nearing completion. Workmen are now busy on finishing the interior, winding up their tasks in installing the lighting, flooring, plumbing, and interior finishes. The operation will be on one floor, promoting efficiency and ease of mail handling.

* * *

Last Saturday’s storm caused practically no damage to town roads, which were in condition to withstand the heavy rains and wines; fortunately, because the town road crew is on vacation. However, the torrential downpour washed away quite a bit of sand abutting the dam at the Dickinson Memorial Park.

* * *

A tax rate of 1.5 mills on the grand list of the Borough was voted at the Borough meeting held Tuesday evening in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. An innovation in Borough finances is the inclusion in the budget of an item of $1,000 as capital reserve for non-recurring expenses. The budget also provides increases in salary of $50 each for the tax collector and clerk, raising the former to $350 and the latter to $200.

* * *

The Jaycee Wives of Newtown recently held a benefit movie for the Fresh Air Fund children visiting in the Newtown area. Proceeds from the benefit were used to buy candy and gifts for the children which were presented to them upon their departure for home. The Jaycee Wives plan to hold a picnic for the second group of children which will arrive in August.

August 2, 1935

The young ladies who have volunteered to be waitresses at the Tercentenary banquet on August 22, met at the Hawley Manor last Thursday evening and talked over the plans for serving. The also rehearsed a special song about Newtown and arranged other matters pertaining to the banquet.

* * *

So far this season, 26 more Connecticut trees are the victims of Dutch elm disease. All of the new cases have been discovered in Fairfield county or in Old Lyme. Of the 200,000 elms inspected in the last 30 days, about 1,000 trees are in a condition to bear watching.

* * *

Grace Moore, honored by the Society of Arts and Sciences for “conspicuous achievement in raising the standard of cinema entertainment” acclaimed in every corner of the world for the glory of her God-given voice, the beautiful star of “One Night of Love” is now presented at the Edmond Theatre in “Love Me Forever,” a dramatic musical worthy of her inspired talents. Never has a voice as thrilling as Grace Moore’s been heard on the screen.

* * *

A real treat is awaiting those who visit the latest addition to the antique exhibit at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, which begins on this Friday afternoon at 2 pm. Many lovely old hand-made quilts, crocheted bed spreads, hand embroidered articles, old dolls, samplers, candlesticks, etc make an arresting exhibit.

 

August 5, 1910

Hughes & Chapman, the well-known monument dealers of Bridgeport, have just placed in the Berkshire cemetery a very handsome monument to the memory of the late H. Augustus Peck. They have also placed a monument in the same cemetery for Jennie R. Briscoe, for the latter’s grandparents, Mr and Mrs Charles Warner.

* * *

Michael Kilbride, who has been haying since June 20, completed the task of haying for the season, Thursday, on the land of Ex-Representative J.F. Keating at Pole Bridge. Michael Haugh has been his faithful assistant through the long ordeal. Mr Kilbride now tells his friends he will leave soon for Botsford Station in search of the much needed rest and recreation.

* * *

The house of Frank H. Mitchell on Mile Hill was struck by lightning in the shower of Saturday. A brick or two was displaced on the chimney and the strong odor of sulphur was noticed in the parlor at the time the crash came. The house of Thomas C. Keane was struck by lightning in the storm of Tuesday morning. The lightning passed down through the house, tearing off plaster in one or two rooms and some for the siding. The occupants of the house were not injured.

* * *

Oscar Pitzschler, the genial barber, has entirely renovated the barbershop. The walls have been painted and papered by that well known local artist, W.A. Canfield, while new lights, new tables and new chairs adorn the room.