January 25, 1985

The Parks and Recreation Department had to call Oberg’s Texaco for a tow truck at Dickinson Park on Friday, January 18, after a town jeep cracked through the ice in the pool. Bob Martin was driving the jeep, plowing snow off the surface so it could be used for ice skating, when the two left tires broke through the ice. Workers measured the ice at eight inches thick before driving the jeep on the ice.

* * *

The Supreme Court ruled on January 15 that teachers may now search students suspected of breaking the law or school rules without a court-approved warrant. Superintendent of Schools John Reed said, “It is a significant restoration of the concept of local parenti — as in the first part of the century when the teacher stood in place of the parents. During the 60s,” the superintendent said, “there was a redefinition of authority, and a lot was taken away from the schools.”

* * *

Traffic lights, medians, and parking restrictions are among the improvements listed in the State Department of Transportation’s two latest schemes to upgrade safety at the flagpole intersection. Neither scheme includes moving the Newtown Congregational Church, a plan considered last year as a way of aligning both sides of west Street with Church Hill Road.

* * *

During the 1982-83 school year , a committee investigated the space requirements for the school system. In reporting their findings, they noted a serious shortage of instructional space at Newtown High School. The proposed school budget contains provisions for six portable classrooms. The purchase of six portables has been included for a total of $340,000. According to business manager Joseph Galanti, the purchase of the classrooms is slightly less than 50 percent reimbursable.

January 29, 1960

The Board of Selectmen has announced the appointment of a Charter Commission for the Town of Newtown. The commission will be directed to draft a proposed charter for the town of Newtown and make its final report to the Board of Selectmen including the proposed charter not later than January 20, 1961.

* * *

Mrs Harmon Yaffa is taking over the Surrey Shop in the Shopping Center on Queen Street with an open house on Saturday, celebrating her new ownership. It is Mrs Yaffa’s plan to handle exclusive items in lamps, china, glassware and silver, offering a wide selection of unusual gifts as well as greeting cards and stationery.

* * *

The following children were guests of Captain “C” Whiskers last Thursday afternoon on WNHC-TV’s popular “Popeye Theater” which is telecast Monday through Friday from 6 to 6:30 pm. Clark Taylor of Barnabus Road; Kurt Varga of Old Hawleyville Road; Alexander Hamilton of Currituck Road; Chucky Rudolph of Head of Meadow Road; Glen Titus of Great Hill Road; Chucky Luf of Castle Hill Road; and Mike Holmes of Mount Pleasant.

A 4-H Town Committee was formed at an organizational meeting held Monday evening at the Hawley Manor Inn. The committee has been formed to help meet the existing need, and will assist in recruiting leaders and awakening a wider community interest in the 4-H program.

January 25, 1935

No more closely-knit artistic unit exists than the Slaviansky Russian Chorus founded by Dmitry Alexandrovitch Agreneff in 1858. It is this chorus which is coming to the Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday evening, January 29, direct from a concert in New York City. The present director and conductor is Mme Margarita Agreneva Slaviansky, the youngest daughter of Dmitry Alexandrovitch Agreneff. Tickets at 50 cents and 75 cents may be obtained for the concert at the box office in the hall.

* * *

Certificates of incorporation of two firms have been filed with the Secretary of State in Hartford. One is Morris & Shepard, Inc, with an authorized capital stock of $50,000. The other firm is R.H. Holcomb, Inc, with authorized capital stock of $50,000.

* * *

The few pupils who were able to get to Hawley school on Thursday morning were dismissed and school was closed for the day, because of the heavy snow and bad traveling. The talk by Arthur Cone, which was to be given in the afternoon, had to be postponed.

* * *

Everett Waterbury, of the local Boy Scout troop, was severely cut by a piece of ice while at Camp Pomeraug Friday evening. He was taken to the office of Dr Desmond where several sutures were taken to close a wound in his lower lip and mouth. At present he has recovered from this most unusual type of wound.

January 28, 1910

H.M. Greenman has just purchased a New Holland grist mill and saw table for use on his Cold Spring farm. He purchased it of E.S. Fairchild & Son of Nichols.

* * *

The boys of the Newtown High school will present the Shylock story from the Merchant of Venice in the Town hall, Newtown, on Saturday evening of this week. The boys are putting forth their best efforts to make the entertainment a success. The costumes will be such as will illustrate some of the peculiarities of the dress of the Elizabethan period.

* * *

Patrons on rural routes: On and after February 15, carriers will not collect loose coins in rural mail boxes. Patrons must use stamps or put change in an envelope or wrap it securely in a piece of paper.

* * *

Henry B. Read, who has charge of the Philo Clark farm, had the misfortune to lose one of his horses, last Thursday night. When Mr Read left the horse about 11 o’clock he was all right and when he went out to the barn in the morning he found the horse with one of the back legs broken just above the knee. Mr Read got Patrick Gannon, who put an end to the horse’s suffering with his rifle.