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An internal investigation into a complaint by alcoholism patients at Fairfield Hills Hospital “failed to produce any substantial evidence that staff were drinking while on duty,” according to Superintendent Dr E. John Scales. He said it was a serious violation that could have resulted in dismissal if it had been proven.

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“If they felt they had to reduce the budget, I am grateful for the sensitivity the committee showed in the course it chose to follow.” This was the reaction of Superintendent John Reed to the proposal made by the Education Committee of the Legislative Council, which resulted in a cut of $50,000 in next year’s budget. Dr Reed said he was “heartened by the education subcommittee’s unanimous feeling that the budget was an honest and fair one.”

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Police apprehended a 29-year-old Fairfield Hills employee allegedly trying to burglarize the Colonial Bank on Route 25 early Friday morning, March 18. Police said they saw Dexter Dean, who gave his address as Box W, Fairfield Hills Hospital, Newtown, crouched down directly in front of the band at 3:56 am. When confronted, Mr Dean began to run and was stopped by officers at gunpoint.

* * *

Members of the Newtown High School Marching Band, for the fifth year, marched in the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. Members of the band were seen not only on New York local TV, but on CBS national news.

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During the course of the evening over 100 youngsters took advantage of various activities offered at the first Teen Night, held at Newtown Middle School last Friday. Because of the good response, another Teen Night has been tentatively scheduled for mid-April.

 

March 28, 1958

At the caucus of the legal voters of the borough of Newtown held last Friday evening, March 20, in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, William H. Walsh, Jr of Queen street was nominated for the office of warden to succeed Dr Russell F. Strasburger, who has held the position for the last four years.

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This week’s issue of The Bee reflects a step forward in the mechanical department. Type for the classified and real estate sections was set mechanically by Teletypesetter, using a brand new font of six-point Ideal News type. The change was made possible through the recent introduction of the new linecasting machine, which brings the total of such machines at work producing The Bee to six.

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The nationwide Church School Missionary Offering Poster Contest aroused an enthusiastic interest and full participation by all children in the eligible age groups at St John’s Church School, Sandy Hook. The children have been applying their creative and imaginative talents to prepare posters in two general areas of design: “Churches Are Needed Today Along Trails of the Old West,” and “A New Life in Christ For Young Japan.”

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Richard E. Ryder, Jr of West Hartford has accepted the call from the Newtown Congregational Church as its associated minister. Mr Ryder, who is a senior at Harvard Divinity School, will assume his duties in Newtown on July 1. In West Hartford, he was active in the work of the Broadview congregational Church, where he was president of the Pilgrim Fellowship.

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The second annual birthday party for the Girl Scouts of Newtown and Sandy Hook was given on Monday evening, March 17, by their sponsors, The Newtown Mothers Club, at the Congregational Church house. More than 120 Girl Scouts and their parents were present. Several tables of Scout crafts and a colorful stage presentation sparked the evening’s entertainment.

* * *

Thieves broke into the Village Texaco Station office around 3 am on Thursday, effecting an entrance by forcing the front door, according to State Police Officer Fagerholm of Ridgefield Barracks, who is investigating the case. Carl Oberg, proprietor of the station, reports that nothing was taken and the only damage done was to the credit card machine, which was dented.

 

March 24, 1933

The second annual pajama party of the 4-H SOS Club will be held at the Edmond Town hall gymnasium, this Friday evening. The first pajama party and dance sponsored by the club, last year, was a colorful affair and brought out a large attendance. There will be the usual grand march during the evening, when judges will be selected to judge the costumes and prized will be awarded to the winners in the various classes.

* * *

Former Representative Charles F. Conger, while in a fit of despondency, shot himself with a double barrel shot gun, Wednesday evening, at his cottage in Cold Spring. The shot tore an ugly wound in his left chest. Dr E.L. Kingman was summoned and after making him as comfortable as possible sent him to the Danbury hospital. Thursday morning Mr Conger was in a serious condition at the hospital.

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Hawley School Notes: The Hawley school pictures were retaken last Friday, as the first ones taken a few weeks ago did not turn out well. In the near future we will be entertained by a young man who can imitate a cornet and a saxophone with his lips and accompanies himself on the piano. There is a small entrance charge and the public is invited.

* * *

Little Janice Washburn while on the way home from school with some schoolmates, Friday, went on to Baxter’s land to take a look at the young lake formed in the cellar, where Mr Baxter started a house, last fall. In some way she fell in and went sailing around in the water, which in most places was over her head. Janice finally reached a spot where her feet touched bottom and she was pulled out by her companions. Fortunately no serious results followed, although it was a narrow escape. If this hazard is allowed to remain, it has been suggested that Mr Baxter should surround it with wire fencing, as the cellar hole cannot be covered up.

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Joseph A. Treadwell, State Commander of the American Legion and well known to many townspeople, will give a short address Tuesday, March 28, “Educational Night.” His subject will be “What the American Legion is doing for the disabled Veterans.” This should prove of interest to our local ex-service men and they as well as others, are invited to attend the Lecture’s program.

* * *

Major Arthur C.T. Beers of Taunton District has received, from the War Department, a medal of the Order of the Purple Heart, for Military Merit during the World War. Major Beers served 18 months in France with the 102nd infantry of the 26th Division, otherwise known as the Yankee Division. This division was engaged in many major offensives. He also served five months with the Connecticut National Guard in 1916, being stationed at Nogales, Arizona during the Mexican trouble.

 

March 27, 1908

The trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank have declared a dividend of two per cent on all deposits without discrimination for the past six months payable April 1. This dividend at the rate of four per cent per annum, makes the 105th semi-annual dividend paid since the bank commenced business September 15, 1855.

* * *

George Baker has sold out his grocery business at Hawleyville to Stanley Blackman, who will take possession next Monday, March 30. Mr Blackman will occupy a part of the brick house in Hawleyville.

* * *

Daniel Keane of Dayton Street bought a barn of Mrs Payne and started to remove it to his place. “When you get ready I will come over and help you,” said Edward Taylor. Having laid walls for the present residences of J.M. Blackman and Benjamin Corning when a young man he was right on his job, and got so much interested that he worked on day after day till the wall was completed and the barn sat true as a die on the new foundations. Not every man would turn his hand back to wall laying at 70 years. But Mr Taylor’s long tramps hunting and fishing have made him limber and athletic.

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Mrs James Brown lost a pocket-book between the Newtown station and the residence of F.H. McCarthy, one night last week. The next morning Master Leonard Wright found the pocket-book and returned it to Mrs Brown, for which he was suitably rewarded.

* * *

Henry Madigan, while loading milk boxes, Tuesday, in a milk car, was buried under a pile of loaded boxes of milk, as a result of a car being shunted in onto the siding and colliding with the car he was in. A gash over one eye, a badly bruised knee and several cracked ribs are among the injuries he sustained.