If Citizen Band radio operators get a lot of abuse for filling the airwaves with a lot of inane chatter, there are times when a conscientious operator can serve a very important function. According to Mrs Barbara Kloss of Poncono Road, just such an instance occurred Saturday, April 1, in Newtown. That morning a patient of Fairfield Hills Hospital was critically injured when he apparently threw himself in front of a tractor-trailer which was driving south on South Main Street, just past Ricky’s Shopping Center. The shaken driver of the truck needed help and it came — in the form of a Newtown CB base operator. Mrs Kloss has a CB unit in her car, and told The Bee the driver called, “I need a base, emergency!” “A woman came on, and calmed him down, talked to him,” Mrs Kloss recalled. The CB base operator also alerted the police and ambulance, then came on the air to assure the driver that help was on the way. Mrs Kloss wasn’t exactly sure whether the woman’s handle was “Wendy” or “Windy,” but said that the woman did a terrific job. “She should get some credit,” she told us.

***

It’s that time of year once more. The buds will shortly come out for spring’s awakening, flowers will be blooming on the roads and hillsides — and the trash strewn along the roads during the winter months is divested of its covering of snow or slush for its own unwelcome blooming. It’s also nearly time for the annual “Clean Up Newtown Week,” designated for April 22–29 by the Newtown Beautification Committee.

***

The Cyrenius H. Booth Library Board of Trustees is proceeding with plans for an expansion of the town’s library. The timetable has been altered, however, and a special appropriation will not be requested of the town this month. Anne T. Gushee, trustees’ president, announced this week that the Avon architectural firm of Moore and Salsburg had advised the library building committee March 30 that “it felt that it would be best for all parties concerned if the library selected another architectural firm to prepare construction documents for the project.”

***

The Newtown Congregational Church, at a special meeting on Sunday, April 9, reaffirmed its decision to go ahead with plans to consolidate its sanctuary, offices, religious education classrooms, and adjunct facilities on the 10.3 acre former Nettleton property, at the corner of West Street and Castle Hill Road.

***

A large tank truck came to Newtown on Wednesday morning and when it left two hours later there were over 3,500 new residents of Taunton Pond. This annual stocking of the lake is sponsored completely by the Newtown Fish and Game Club at a seasonal cost of $5,500. This price includes two more loads of fish which will come during the remainder of 1978.

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The Watertown Construction Company began work March 31 on Newtown’s new community center, a 7,500-square-foot building that will house the day care center and a multi-use center to be used by the senior citizens and other groups.

***

The Legislative Council has decided to add a total of $7,450 to the Board of Selectmen recommended budgets for the General Government and Health and Welfare portions of the 1978–79 budget. The new total is $870,947.23 for 31 accounts. For 20 of them, the council followed the BofS recommendations exactly. To nine, they added money, the largest amount being $11,896 to the Children’s Adventure Center, a completely refundable account. Two accounts were reduced, one by $12,656.

APRIL 17, 1953

The first in the series of district meetings being held by the Town Development Committee on the subject of zoning took place last Thursday evening in the Hawleyville Fire House. About 60 residents of the Land’s End and Lake George districts attended, a number of whom took part in the evening’s discussion.

***

Mrs Edmund F. Dinkler retired Saturday, April 4, from her position in charge of the dry goods department of Warner’s Brick Store, Sandy Hook, after a number of years’ service. Her many friends throughout town extend her their best wishes. Her successor in Warner’s dry goods department is Mrs Pearl Tilson of Sandy Hook.

***

Students of Newtown High School will present a talent show in the new school cafeteria on Friday evening, April 24, at 8 o’clock for the benefit of the music department and the Athletic Association. The show was successfully presented for the entire student body at an assembly program in March.

***

Officers of the Charles Howard Peck, Sr and Jr Post 308, Veterans of Foreign Wars, elected last Friday evening, April 10, include Joseph Hanlon, commander; John D. Wood, senior vice commander; Benjamin Ferris, junior vice commander; Hubert Carey, quartermaster and adjutant; M. Joseph O’Brien, chaplain; and Al Liskin, trustee.

***

Many people availed themselves of the opportunity to view Newtown High School on Tuesday night prior to the PTA meeting held in the cafeteria at 8:15. Mrs Clause Magnuson presiding. First on the program was Mr Hawthorne of the H.B. Motion Picture Company who demonstrated an opaque projector and answered many questions from the audience about differences in size, price, and versatility of the various models available. At the conclusion, there was some discussion about possible purchase of such a projector by the PTA as a gift to the elementary school.

***

The Young People’s Club of the Congregational Church held a progressive supper on Sunday evening. After a short worship service and business meeting, the young people started off in cars driven by the Rev Paul A Cullens, Russell Mansfield, and Charles Botsford. Appetizers were served at the home of Patricia Daniels, soup was served by Mariam Janzer, salad by Evelyn Weber, main course by Ellen Slusalei, and dessert by Leonard Manz. The evening ended with entertainment at the home of Preston McCain on Sugar Street.

***

The Newtown Auxiliary of Children’s Services of Connecticut met on Monday at the home of Mrs Russell Strasburger, Mount Pleasant, with Mrs Harry Greenman, chairman presiding.

APRIL 13, 1928

Richard Arndt is driving a new pair of horses, bought of Hamilton of Bridgeport.

***

At the Democratic caucus at the Town Hall, Tuesday evening, for the purpose of electing delegates to the Democratic State convention, John J. Northrop was elected chairman and Oscar Pitzschier clerk. The delegates elected were: Thomas F. Holian, Herbert S. Clark, Oscar Pitzschler, and Harry Bradley.

***

Mrs Youngquist has sold her farm in Taunton to Daniel S. Quintard of New York.

***

The boys of Dr Gesner’s class raised $9 by their cake and candy sale at Morris & Shepards, last Saturday.

***

As Thomas Cavanaugh, driver for the Newtown Coal and Grain Company, was passing the property of Paul Pierce in Hanover last Thursday afternoon, he quickly notified the Newtown Central, and the fire siren blew the alarm for a fire outside the Borough limits about 4:15 pm Thursday last. Among the first to respond were Adolph Carlson, member of the Newtown Hook and Ladder Co., and Martin McGrath, mechanic at the Liberty Garage.

APRIL 17, 1903

J.H. Blackman has had a cow quite sick. Dr R.S. Todd has prescribed for the animal, which is better.

***

Miss Ethel Wales of Monroe, teacher in the Gray’s Plains school, was confined at home by illness last week. Miss Edith Wales, a sister, had charge of the school in her absence.

***

Thomas Bailey of Great Ring has his new barn completed. William Jordan did the work.

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The Palestine school library has recently been enlarged by the addition of 20 new books. There are now some 125 volumes in the library.

***

Master Earle and Stuart Narramore are the happy owners of a pony and cart, bought by their father in the Park City. The lads have been enjoying their Easter vacation driving around town.

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The Academy school, Miss Briscoe teacher, is closed for a week’s vacation.

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Selectman Levi C. Morris has placed a telephone in his store, No. 264-21.

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Last Friday Homer E. Conger went trouting and brought home 17 fine trout, ten of which weighed over half a pound each.