Following a lengthy discussion Wednesday night on whether to appropriate funds so the town could hire an architect to prepare plans for renovating the town-owned Ruwet-Sibley building at 3 Main Street, the Legislative Council members tabled any action until their next meeting on May 2. The tabling action came after Councilman Jim Knapp said he planned to ask at the next meeting for an appropriation to study the Congregational Church House next door to town hall for expansion of town office space. The Public Building Committee is estimating a $550,000 cost to renovate 8,000 square feet in the 17,700-square-foot two-story Ruwet-Sibley building, purchased by town meeting action in December for $390,000.

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During their weeks of budget work the Board of Selectmen kept one eye on the increase in the grand list, which will net 5.4 percent more in taxes in 1979-80 without a mill rate increase. The selectmen presented the Legislative Council a $4,356,339 budget, just 3.2 per cent more than last year’s. The council added $102,709 to that figure in its recommendation to the April 24 budget meeting.

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Al Morris, who helps run the Newtown Scouts monthly paper drive, remarked that the 4,000 pounds of paper dropped off last weekend at the trailer in the Grand Union parking lot was a “very positive sign,” in spite of the fact that the paper drive didn’t take place on the usual second weekend.

***

Five little bundles of fur are alive this week and back with their mother, thanks to care provided by Newtown Animal Welfare Society Inc volunteer Linda Bowen. Ms Bowen provided round-the-clock care of the Labrador-mix pups for nearly three weeks after their mother became critically ill when they were only three days old.

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Plans for additional recreational facilities have been drawn up by the Parks and Recreation Department which feature picnic and play areas, swimming, and nature trails. The plans, presented to the Park and Recreation Commission at its meeting last Thursday night, will be submitted now to Northeast Utilities for further review. NU owns the property sought by the town, and has recently indicated that it will be willing to lease it for recreational use.

***

Monday night, at a special meeting, the Board of Selectmen appointed Theodore Whippie of Winslow Road to serve as an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Commission, replacing Richard Acey.

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The Newtown girls tennis team evened their record at 1-1 by blanking Brookfield last Thursday, April 12, at the Bobcats’ courts. Amy Barrows upped her personal record to 2-0 by downing Brookfield’s C. Englert 6-3, 6-2. Pam Leavitt defeated D. Englert (B) 6-1-63.

APRIL 23, 1954

Warning is given elsewhere in this issue of The Bee of a special town meeting to be held next Friday evening, April 30, at 8 o’clock in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium for the purpose of taking action in regard to the acceptance of certain roads in new housing developments by the town, and to act upon a resolution calling for a policy of not further accepting new town roads except where “clearly in the public interest.” The call, issued by the Board of Selectmen of Newtown, is made in response to a petition signed by 132 persons, purporting to be “inhabitants of the Town of Newtown qualified to vote in Town Meetings”, which claims that the care and maintenance of 162.9 miles of town roads is not adequate. The petition then proposes a resolution curtailing the further acceptance of roads “until our present obligations have been adequately fulfilled.”

***

At the annual Borough caucus held Monday evening in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, Dr Russell F. Strasburger was nominated as warden for his second one-year term. A complete slate of candidates, prepared on a nonpartisan basis, was presented by Comdr Warner Bayley and was unanimously accepted.

***

Town residents can expect to see a plane skimming the treetops of some wooded areas in Newtown laying down a trail of fine spray, in the next month or so. The only individuals who need be alarmed by the incident will be the gypsy moths, which have been located in several points in town by the US Department of Agriculture.

***

The Borough of Newtown and the State Highway Department have undertaken a program of control of the Dutch elm disease in elm trees along its streets, according to Mrs Norman Fedde, chairman of the borough’s tree commission. Spraying was done by a state crew last week along state highways. Sanford Mead, Newtown tree expert, was to spray the elms on borough streets this week.

***

If Newtown suffers an epidemic of knotted, mutilated and burned handkerchiefs, torn playing cards, spliced clothesline and squashed canaries, it will be the fault of John Mulholland. For Newtown turned out in force Wednesday night to see the world-famous magician, and incidentally, a Hanover District neighbor, put on a superb performance in Edmond Town Hall theatre under the sponsorship of the Newtown League of Women Voters. Some amateurs may attempt to duplicate what they saw before their eyes, no matter how impossible. Obviously, a magician operates on the insecure premise that nothing is impossible and then spends an evening proving it.

***

The Newtown Fish and Game Club, property owners around Taunton Lake and their guests will share in the privilege of resuming fishing in the lake under an agreement made by the Newtown Water Company last week. The lake has been closed to all fishing since last summer, when the water company took action to maintain the purity of the lake as the source of water for the borough.

***

Mrs Sydney Dobbs was named to head the slate of officers proposed this week by the nominating committee of the Newtown Parent Teachers Association for the annual election, scheduled for the May meeting.

APRIL 19, 1929

William D. Parker, the popular proprietor of the Parker House, has just had built in front of his hotel an attractive circular stone flower bed. Mr Parker expects to fill the bed with various flowers, and undoubtedly will add much to the attractiveness of this popular hotel.

***

A hearing on the bill to establish a town court in Newtown was held on Tuesday by the judiciary committee in the legislature at Hartford.

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Raymond Tallmadge, employed on the new Edmond Town Hall, fell and sustained a fracture of the ankle. Dr W.F. Desmond placed the limb in a cast and took him to Danbury Hospital.

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In spite of the stormy weather, St Rose’s Casino was filled to capacity Tuesday night at the presentation of “The Whole Town’s Talking” by St Rose’s Players in the three-act side splitting farce, a royalty play, given by arrangement with Longmans, Green & Company of New York City.

***

Miss Margaret Ryan, who for several years has been connected with the Upham Food Products, Inc of Hawleyville, has resigned her position and has accepted a position at the local office of the SNE Telephone Company.

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On Thursday evening, April 25, the members of the Men’s Club will stage a mock trial at the firemen’s hall in Hawleyville, the tickets being 35 and 50 cents.

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Dr Thomas Davis of Hopewell District is making extensive alterations on his house, which include a porch, both in front and rear.

 

APRIL 22, 1904

Austin B. Blakeman will install a Tirrell gas machine in his residence at Botsford.

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A.D. Fairchild has a fine new stepper, bought of Edgar T. Andrews of Bethel.

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F.W. Platt of Hopewell had a horse, wagon, and harness stolen from his barn last week. Thursday night the burglar was tracked as far as Brewster, N.Y. but no further trace could be found of them.

***

Last week Wednesday evening there was a social dance at the home of Albert Platt. Beck and Ferry furnished the music.

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The democratic caucus to nominate delegates to the state convention to be held in Hartford May 5 and 6, took place on Saturday evening, but was not largely attended.

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Machinery has arrived at the Borden Creamery for driving a well.

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A serious forest fire was averted Sunday afternoon, in Dodgingtown, by prompt and hard work. It started in the woods of Ernest Ferry and had burned over a half acre when discovered.

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Thomas Jackson of Mt Pleasant has moved to Obtuse, into the north half of Thomas Bristol’s tenement house, and is working for William Hawley.