* * *

Newtown’s Legislative Council, on the recommendation of its parks and recreation subcommittee, headed by Dr Bryson Filbert, took no action Wednesday on the proposal of the Parks and Recreation Commission for a $5,600 special appropriation to repair tennis courts at Dickinson Memorial Town Park — in effect killing the funding request. Parks and Recreation commissioners sought the money because of a favorable price quote it had received for the work.

* * *

In the wake of several lawsuits generated by the September 10 accident in which four Newtown teenagers died and two were injured, one nagging question remains unsolved. Did the two Bethel police officers in an unmarked police cruiser chasing the 1978 El Camino with its six occupants at high speeds along Old Hawleyville Road in Bethel ease up their pursuit as the pickup raced along Route 302 and into Newtown? Or, as several eyewitnesses have testified, was the cruiser “right on his tail” when the pickup crashed on Hattertown Road? Bethel Police Commission chairman George O’Keefe said he was counting heavily on the accident reconstruction to indicate the distance between the two vehicles.

* * *

The Newtown Board of Education, at its January 4 meeting, voted to accept the contract which the Newtown teachers ratified before Christmas vacation. The settlement, which is the first in many years that did not end up in binding arbitration, calls for a seven percent raise the first year with a 1.5 percent increment, making a total of 8.5 percent. The second and third year call for an eight percent increase including increment and fringe benefits.

* * *

Hiram Lodge, AF & AM, held its annual installation of officers December 29 at the lodge on Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook. Raymond Burr succeeded George Wheeler as master. The Masons contribute to several charitable organizations, including the Masonic Home and Hospital in Wallingford and Ashlar of Newtown, a Masonic convalescent home.

* * *

Newtown’s Board of Fire Commissioners is starting 1983 with a new system of checks and balances over expenditures for the town’s five volunteer fire departments. The board voted December 27 to set up a procedure whereby all purchase orders for spending out of the $179,623 fie department budget will have to be approved at the monthly meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners, except in the case of emergencies.

* * *

A slower rate of home price appreciation and declining mortgage interest rates combined in November to bring sales of existing single family homes to the highest annual rate since August 1981, according to Jack Carlson, chief economist and executive vice president of the National Association of Realtors. “The median selling price of an existing home in November was $68,200 — only 3.5 percent above the level a year earlier,” Mr Carlson said.

January 10, 1958

Selectman Edward Coleman warns that any motorists caught speeding on the town’s back roads or on any Newtown roads will “have the book thrown at them,” and be given severe penalties. The warning was prompted by the report of a local woman that she was forced off Boggs Hill Road on Saturday by two cars, driven by youths, racing each other.

* * *

Statewide attention was focused last Thursday on the opening of the Connecticut Turnpike, the 129-mile high-speed super highway that extends from Greenwich to Killingly, the state’s biggest and most ambitious engineering project of all time and one of the longest stretches of urban-suburban highway anywhere.

* * *

The excellent ice-skating of last week end was halted Tuesday afternoon with the winter season’s second substantial snowfall. Despite the heavy fall of snow that drifted quite a bit in the wind, all of Newtown’s black-top roads were open by 7 am First Selectman Edward J. Coleman reports.

* * *

The recently formed Afternoon Guild of St John’s Episcopal Church, Sandy Hook, held its first formal meeting on Monday, January 6 in the guild rooms. Their constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers elected were: president, Mrs Louis A. Brown; secretary, Mrs Bruce R. Robinson; treasurer, Mrs Eugene H. Klase; program chairman, Mrs Walter Schoonmaker; membe-at-large, Mrs T. Reginald Walker.

* * *

Any residents of the town of Newtown wishing to be placed on the list of those available for jury duty in the various courts in Fairfield County are asked to notify The First Selectman’s office at the Edmond Town Hall of their willingness to serve. They should do so promptly.

* * *

THE YARDSTICK Featuring REMNANTS At The LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES Cottons — Woolens — Quilted Cottons — Slipcover Goods and Others. 2 Mi. North of Monument on Hanover Road Newtown Tel GA 6-2802 Hours: 9:30 to 7:30 Tues. thru Sat. Sun.: 3 to 6. Closed Mon. We measure quality by the yard.

 

January 6, 1933

Miss Louise Nichols was the hostess at a Christmas party at her home on Mt Pleasant, Thursday afternoon, when she entertained the members of the Melody Club, which consists of her pupils. The afternoon was spent playing games, including fortunes, pin the tail on the donkey, Japanese rolling game, lotto, grab bag, “What Have I Heard?” and many others. Delightful refreshments consisting of sandwiches, cakes, cookies, candy and punch were served.

* * *

Mr and Mrs Stanley Northrop of Berkshire district entertained four generations of the Northrop family at New Year’s dinner. Those present were Moses Thorpe, Mr and Mrs Turney Northrop and Mr and Mrs Charles Bond and three children, and Mr and Mrs Elliott Northrop and two sons of Bridgeport.

* * *

Judge H. M. Greenman was formally sworn in Monday night as probate judge for the fall term, the ceremony taking place in his office. He was also elected in November for the unexpired term of the late Judge Oscar Pitzschler.

* * *

Morris & Shepard have made very pleasing changes in their store (the General Store) interior. The old counters have been built over and modernized and the store has been departmentized in up-to-date fashion. Frank Platt of Brookfield Center was in charge of the carpenter work. The firm is to be congratulate on the splendid improvements made.

* * *

Rev R.C. Thomas, pastor of the Newtown and South Britain Methodist churches, and the Mill Plain Community church, will be in these churches next Sunday at the usual hours of worship, to preach, after an absence of several Sundays, owing to his being in the Methodist hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. undergoing treatment. Mr Thomas comes home much improved in health.

* * *

It might sound paradoxical to hear it said that snow and ice make for dangerous driving conditions for motor vehicle operators and at the same time hear the statement that there was a decrease of 105 accidents in total and a decrease of nine fatalities for identical comparative calendar periods, a week of 1931 without snow and the same week of 1932 with much snow and ice. Nevertheless, that is the Connecticut experience, says a bulletin of the Department of Motor Vehicles, recently.

January 10, 1908

One day last week, Earle C. Peck was taking the milk to Stepney, when on the hill below Charles Bedat’s, a part of the harness gave way, causing the horse to run down the hill. While turning into Emmons, it turned the sleigh over, throwing Earle into the snow. Clearing itself from the sleigh the horse started for home. Fortunately no one was hurt, only a bad shake up. The damage consisted of about four cans of milk spilled and a broken harness.

* * *

One day last week a man was observed wading around in the water opposite the Botsford railroad station. Constable Conger took the man in charge and on examination it was found he had a bad scalp wound. By direction of Selectman Peck he was brought to the lock-up and Dr Kiernan sent for. The man claimed to be working for God, but it is believed escaped from some institution in New York state.

* * *

L.B. Parsons, a noted clock maker from New Haven, is stopping at Mrs Callahan’s in Sandy Hook. He is canvassing the town repairing clocks. Mr Parsons is well known in Newtown as a successful worker at his business.

* * *

The skating rink in the Niantic mill opens to-night (Thursday) under the management of Messrs Sanford and Blackman. It promises to make a first class rink and the young folks are expecting a lot for fun.

* * *

A distressing accident was that which befell little Daisy Morrow, daughter of Mr and Mrs Paul Morrow, Saturday morning. The child fell down on its face, when it was seized in the back of the head by the bull dog owned by P.F. Crowe and dragged about the lot. Dr Wales, who was in Huntingtown at the home of Frank Gilbert, was sent for and dressed the wound. Fortunately the face of the child was not disfigured. By direction of Mr Crowe, Martin Keane shot the dog at once.