A noise problem at the town’s multi use center on Riverside Road has apparently been corrected due to the installation of approximately 400 acoustical blocks on the ceiling and wall surfaces. During the past year the facility has been open, those using it have reported problems with excessive noise caused by sound bouncing around the room.

***

Establishing a fuel bank which would provide loans of up to $200 to families which incur problems paying a heating bill this winter won’t be done with town funds, the Legislative Council decided Wednesday night. Council members overwhelmingly defeated, by a 14-3 margin, a proposal by the Board of Selectmen that a $10,000 account be established for the fuel bank. The selectmen’s idea had been to provide loans so that people whose salaries exceed eligibility limits for federal or state assistance could get help. Payments would have been made directly to the vendor.

***

Three hours of public hearing last Thursday night wasn’t enough to dispose of one of the largest contemplated subdivisions ever proposed to the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission. Some 25 area residents, a number of whom questioned the impact of the development, showed up at the hearing on phase one of the “Old Farm Hill” subdivision. Thirty-four lots were proposed, with an eventual 71 additional lots contemplated for the 304 acres in the future by the owners Henry O’Neill of New Canaan and Madison Sayles of Norwalk. Nine lots approved in 1975 off Old Green Road, have already been developed.

***

Last Saturday morning the members of the police union here, Local 337 of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, voted unanimously not to accept the fact-finder’s recommendations for their proposed two-year contract with the town. The main reason for the rejection, according to union president Sgt David Lydem, is wages. The union, going into fact finding, was seeking a 7½ percent increase plus increments for each of the two years of the contract. The town’s offer was 5 per cent in the first year and 5½ the second.

***

Soon after the school year began, two art students of the high school, Susan Tilly and Meredith McNeal, formed an art club. They have invited guest artists to speak at the school and hope to arrange field trips to art exhibits and museums. The art club members are also looking for art work in and around the community.

***

Navy Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Paul K. Kellogg, son of Steven C. and Helen H. Kellogg of Bennetts Bridge Road, Sandy Hook, recently visited Sasebo, Japan. He is a crewmember aboard the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, operating from Yokosuka, Japan, as the flagship for the Commander, US Seventh Fleet.

***

The Town of Newtown will have a study made of its wage scale and merit pay increase system for nonunion town employees by an outside consultant in an effort to remain competitive with the Danbury labor market, as the result of the action taken Wednesday by the Legislative Council. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal termed such an update “vital,” noting that since the current plan was adopted in July, 1978, the area labor market and inflation rate “has just gone crazy.”

 

JANUARY 28, 1955

Three sheaves of grain, in recognition of its having earned the distinction of being an “ideal Grange,” were presented to Pohtatuck Grange Tuesday night for the State Grange by Bertram Mayhew of Danbury, subordinate deputy of Fairfield County Pomona Grange No 9. The occasion was Past Masters and Lecturers Night, held in Grange Hall, with Willis F. Arndt, master, presiding.

***

Gary Tomlinson, son of Mr and Mrs F. Byron Tomlinson of Currituck Road, had a party last Saturday afternoon in honor of his tenth birthday, to which all the members of his class in Hawley School were invited.

***

Newtown responded with a will to Wednesday evening’s Mothers March on Polio, contributing over $1,250 to the small army of workers who canvassed the town during the early hours. Nickels, dimes, dollars, bills of larger denominations and checks were dropped into the collection jars to help the Newtown March of Dimes toward what appears to be a record total. Last year’s Mothers March netted $967 and the March of Dimes total was over $2,500.

***

Five pieces of town-owned property, which the Board of Selectmen proposes to offer for sale, including the farmhouse at the Stefanko farm and the town garage, were appraised this week at a minimum figure of $32,350 by a committee of four Newtown real estate men. The appraisal was done as a volunteer service to set a minimum figure for the sale of the property. First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson said that the selectmen will call a special town meeting at which a resolution will be offered authorizing the selectmen to offer the properties for sale at prices not less than the minimum appraisals of the committee.

***

A group of adventuresome seniors gathered in the High School Cafeteria last Saturday night for a covered dish, come-as-you-are party. Laughter rang throughout the halls as each girl or boy arrived in a more hilarious outfit than the one worn by those who had arrived earlier. Mr and Mrs Walter Los and Miss Kay Dolan, class advisor, were chaperones for the evening.

***

State Highway Commissioner G. Albert Hill announced this week that the Danbury Expressway, planned to carry Routes US 6 and 7 through Danbury, will have its western terminus in the vicinity of Lake Avenue, Fairlawn Avenue, and Segar Street, on the western side of the city. He said that steps have been taken to secure for the state a parcel of property in the area. The location of the property is taken by many to indicate a line north of the business center of Danbury, and relief from the congestion which now results from traffic on Routes 6, 7 and 202 meeting in the center of the city.

***

The annual meeting of the Women’s Federation of the Newtown Congregational Church was held on Thursday afternoon, January 20, in the church house. Following a short devotional service led by Mrs William Foote, president, the annual reports of the treasurer and standing committee chairmen were presented.

JANUARY 24, 1930

The Glenbrook Tavern is now well under construction, being built by W.J. and R.J. Stanton opposite the Newtown Country Club. The tavern consists of 13 large airy rooms, sun porch, and large open porch.

***

Ezra J. Hall has been installing bathroom facilities and a septic tank in a cottage at Lakeside.

***

Carl Rasmussen is completing a very attractive bungalow on the site of the former Shepard store in Dodgingtown which he purchased.

***

Saturday’s town meeting at the Hawley High School auditorium on Saturday afternoon was attended by 150 voters in spite of the bad and slippery traveling and unpleasant weather. Town Clerk Oscar Pitzschler called the meeting to order at 2:15 pm, and after the reading of the warning, called for the nomination of moderator. Carlos D. Stillson was nominated and elected without opposition. The following votes were offered by George M. Stuart, seconded and passed: Voted – That we accept the recommendation of the Board of Finance for the purchase of fire apparatus equipment and for housing of same not exceeding in cost the sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars.

***

Wallace N. Mitchell, Willis Arndt, Mrs Lydia Glover, and Miss Ella Fairchild attended the installation of the offices of Housatonic Grange of Stratford Saturday evening.

 

JANUARY 27, 1905

The Consolidated road is now preparing to put two sidings and quite an extensive coal shed at Hobart’s. These sheds will also be placed so as to accommodate both the Highland and Berkshire roads. It is reported the pump station is to be moved from Hawleyville to the same place.

***

The prospects for raising tobacco another year seem to be brighter than for many years. The tobacco that has been sold this winter has netted the growers from 42 cents down, the highest prices that have been paid since the war.

***

The Egan Brothers have just completed quite a timber contract with the railroad company, to deliver 300 poles for the new coal sheds at Hobart’s.

***

William Costello had the misfortune one day last week, while working at H.G. Curtis & Son’s shop, to catch his forefinger in a machine, badly smashing it. Dr Kiernan was called and took the finger off at the first joint. The accident will lay him up for a short time.

***

No session of the Sandy Hook school was held Wednesday, owing to the blizzard. Principal T.J. Corbett sensibly concluded that it would be unwise to attempt to open the school, and stayed at home.