* * *

After several months of frustrated efforts to establish guidelines and assume financial control for senior center programs, eight of nine Commission on Aging members resigned en masse at a special meeting Saturday, April 3. A letter of resignation, dated April 5, was delivered to the town clerk’s office Wednesday, April 7. A copy of the letter was also delivered to First Selectman Jack Rosenthal who issued a written statement expressing his “deep regret” at the resignations.

* * *

Newtown High School was closed Monday, April 5, at 10 am because water pumps at the school had been struck by lightning and the school ran out of water. The pumps were replaced the same day and the school had water by 6 pm. If not for the blizzard that struck the area on Tuesday, April 6, the school would have reopened on time that day. Additionally, over the April 3-4 weekend, a pilot light for the pumping system exploded, causing minor damage.

* * *

Rep Mae S. Schmidle announces that there are no anticipated budget cuts to bring about the closing of Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown, this year. There have been rumors and rumblings for the past several sessions that one or more of the three major mental health facilities have been on the legislature’s “hit list.” Hospital staff and authorities in the area strongly disputed the concept of closing Fairfield Hills, based on, among other reasons, the fact that Fairfield Hills Hospital is the newest and most modern hospital and consistently rates the highest among the three facilities.

* * *

There was not much discourse by young anglers taking part in the Newtown Jaycees annual Fishing Derby last Saturday, but there was some serious fishing done. Every now and then there was an exclamation and you knew another of the 200 stocked trout in the Dickinson Park pool was hooked. No one, however, was able to land one of the three 22 to 24 inchers swimming about.

* * *

The transitory nature of the current school system has resulted in fears by some school bus owner-operators that the school system might move towards a private bus company for next year, however, school officials deny that any such move has been proposed or that there are such plans. Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed said that he hasn’t looked into the current bus system but said it appears to be working just fine.

* * *

Enumerators hired by the school system to count the town’s youth aged from infancy to 21 years old began taking a town wide census Monday, April 5. Each of the enumerators has performed the task each year for several years and each covers a school district. The figures are used to determine how much money the town will receive in state aid for the average daily membership of the school system, a state grant which varies according to the number of students enrolled in school in the town.

 

April 12, 1957

The Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers voted at their April 3 meeting to raise the adult admission price from 50 to 60 cents at the Town Hall theatre, effective May 1. The new price represents the second increase in the theatre admission since it opened in 1930. During the war the price was raised from the original 40 cents to 50 cents. Children’s tickets will remain at 25 cents.

* * *

The Grand Union Company will open its new super market at Queen Street and Route 6 in Newtown at 8:30 am on Wednesday, April 17, with a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:20 am. Town officials have been invited to take part in the opening ceremony. Newest market in the chain, the Newtown store will be the 36th Grand Union in Connecticut and the fourth to be opened this year, making this state the most rapidly growing area of the food chain’s operation.

* * *

A series of discussion meetings on various aspects of American foreign policy will be inaugurated this Sunday, April 14, at 8 pm in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall under the auspices of The League of Women Voters. John Scott, assistant to the publisher of Time magazine, will speak and lead a discussion on the Middle Eastern crisis.

* * *

Plans were recently completed by Congregation Adath Israel for a campaign to raise $10,000 to provide the synagogue in Huntingtown with new facilities. The temple improvements will include the construction of a basement for the present structure and the inclusion, for the first time, of heat and water facilities. Temple Adath Israel was constructed in 1916 after a handful of Jewish settlers in the Huntingtown district of Newtown determined to build their own house of worship.

* * *

THE HAWLEY MANOR SPECIAL. Choice of Soup or Juice. Our famous CLUB STEAK Potatoes — Salad — Vegetable. Choice of Ice Cream, Sherbert, or Jello. $2.75 ROUTE 25 NEWTOWN, CONN Phone GArden 6-4427. Member of Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

* * *

The Holstein-Friesian Association of America has announced the completion of the following official production records by registered Holstein cows: Josephine Posch Jolie Lass 2632797, a 12-year old, owned by R.C. and Mildred Rockwell, Newtown, milked twice daily for 365 days, produced a total of 14,621 pounds of milk and 579 pounds of butterfat.

 

April 8, 1932

In speaking of the dispute over the safety of the floor in the reception building at the Fairfield State Hospital, Superintendent Charles Jones, of the H. Wales Lines Co of Meriden, stated to a representative of The Bee, that the officials of the Lines Co never had any doubts in their minds as to the final action of the matter from the first. The report of the arbitrators is a complete vindication of the H. Wales Lines Co, and upholds the contention of the Lines Company that the floor is acceptable.

* * *

The New Ford V-8 and 4-cylinder cars will be shown locally for the first time tomorrow, Friday, 8, at the Liberty Garage. Announcement to this effect was made today by Henry G. Carlson, local Ford dealer. “In view of the fact that more than 8,000 Ford dealers must be supplied, we are particularly gratified to be able to state that the new Fords are to be available to us at this time,” Mr Carlson said. Invitations have been extended to city officials and other prominent in local professional and business life to attend a preview of the cars.

* * *

A large number of the general committee in charge of the proposed George Washington Bicentennial celebration met on Friday night at the Edmond Town hall. The sub-committee brought in the following plan and scope of the proposed celebration. The date of the celebration was fixed for July 1. That during the morning of the George Washington Bicentennial celebration each organization put on a float or act confined to the years 1732-1799. For the afternoon, a program including the children and young people of Newtown in a series of costumed tableaux and playlets, historical in nature. The committee were agreed that a suitable ending for the day would be a costume ball, starting with a reception in the Alexandria room, music, two or three special features by the young people of Newtown, followed by a grand march down to the gymnasium where old-fashioned dances would take place. At the time of the ball, a free movie to be going on in the auditorium, so that there will be something for everybody to attend.

* * *

John L. Burr, manager of the local store of the A&P Co, has leased a part of the store vacated by George Fatool in the Atchison block, and will open an ice cream parlor with restaurant and confectionery, etc, in about two weeks. Mr Burr has made a host of friends in the A&P store and it is believed he will make a real success in his new venture.

* * *

On the evening of April 16 the ladies of the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company will serve an old-fashioned, home-cooked turkey supper. As the Hawleyville ladies are famous for their suppers, it is suggested by the committee that everyone make their reservations early. This will also assist the committee in providing plenty of turkey for everyone.

* * *

The Community was greatly shocked and saddened, Saturday evening, when the news became current of the death of William H. Conger of Washington avenue. Conger, on his way home, was struck by an automobile operated by Albert Laborde of Oxford and thrown into the path of an automobile driven by his cousin John R. McMahon and dragged about 20 feet. Conger suffered a broken neck and other serious injuries, and was instantly killed. Dr Waldo F. Desmond of Sandy Hook was the first physician on the scene but Conger was beyond earthly aid.

 

April 12, 1907

A new line of Men’s grain-buckle plow shoes for the farmers. Prices $1.60 and $1.75. A line of heavy working shoes, better goods, $2 to $2.50, all solid leather clear through. If in need of anything in this line give us a call. My stock of men’s and ladies’ dress shoes and oxfords is complete. Some knobby patterns in paten colt and other shiny leathers, at rock-bottom prices. —Sandy Hook Shoe Store

* * *

Thomas O. Murphy of Botsford saw four fine deer in his lot just north of his house, one day last week. They seemed very tame. Mr and Mrs Murphy went out to look at them and got within a few rods of them before they became frightened and ran away.

* * *

By order of the library committee all books belonging to the Sandy Hook Free Public library are called in for inspection, repairs, etc, and none will be let out until public notice is given in The Bee. All takers of books are requested to make prompt return of all volumes taken in their names, next Saturday; and if any fines are due they should be paid at once. The traveling libraries are not included in this order.

* * *

TO THE EDITOR: Is it possible to have the responsible parties repair and regrade the road from Botsford Depot to Gray’s Plain school so that it will be fairly decent to drive over? The trucking of wood and ties over said road has simply ruined it for driving and it certainly needs about six inches of fill almost its entire length; the rocks and stones ought to be removed and the road rounded up, and it ought to be done now.

* * *

Last Sunday evening there occurred a fire at the home of J.M. Blackman of the Glen, which would surely have resulted in serious damage had it not been for the proverbial cool-headedness and sang-froid of Charles A. Peale, who succeeded in ejecting a burning sofa and curtain in the most approved and spectacular fire-fighting style. Miss Maud Blackman, while looking for the ever-famous hatpin, touched a match to the fringe and before it was realized the whole lounge was in flames. The next moment Mr Peale was seen to seize and embrace the burning sofa, rushing for the open as if he were abducting the beautiful princess of a fairy tale.