* * *

Action was pending this week in Hartford in the state Senate on a bill which would extend hunting to Sundays, making hunting seven days a week permissible during the fall hunting season. The measure could have direct impact on Newtown since the town is the location of two large state forests. But state representative Mae Schmidle said this week she is hearing growing opposition to the bill, and said she would seek to defeat or modify the measure if it reaches the House.

* * *

A long-standing sex-discrimination suit against the Police Department was settled out of court last week when a US District Court judge ordered the town’s insurance company to pay Paige Gillies $3,000 and ordered police to actively recruit women into the department. In June 1974, Ms Gillies complained to the Connecticut Commission of Human Rights that the Newtown police department’s hiring practices discriminated against women.

* * *

The Historic District Study Committee announced that a public hearing on the proposed Main Street Historic District has been set for Tuesday, May 24, 8 pm, in the Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall. After three years of study, the historic district is strongly urging the establishment of an historic district to insure that the town’s attractive and historic Main Street be preserved and protected from any possible “Unsightly intrusions” in the future.

* * *

If Southbury artist David Merrill has his way, he will be remembered in Newtown as the artist who painted the magnificent mural on the Edmond Town Hall staircase. According to Mr Merrill’s tentative design, a mural depicting scenes of Newtown would cover the left side of the stairway between the first and second floors. Sixty-two scenes have been incorporated into the preliminary sketch which covers a 333 square foot area.

* * *

After several weeks of the Newtown Country Club’s looking like one big water hole, the season finally got underway last weekend with an opening scramble. The ever-popular team of Joe Daly, Bob Woodies, George Lawson and John Stashinsky were the winners with a low gross of 64. NCC members would like to thank Joe Kocet, grounds superintendent, and his crew for getting the course into such fine playing condition after weeks and weeks of rain.

* * *

Tommy Maxwell, 7, of Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook, was on his porch and noticed a balloon hanging in a nearby tree about ten feet up in the air. After he got a long stick and freed it, Tommy discovered the balloon had traveled all the way to Connecticut from Wayne, New Jersey. The Woodrow Wilson School in Wayne is offering $10 to the person from the farthest distance who returns an attached card to the school.

 

May 9, 1958

A sign of spring is the work currently underway in Dickinson Memorial Park. Last week the large crane of Edgerton and Sons hoisted a bucket high into the air alongside the flagpole so the pole could be painted. Flowers and shrubs are now in bloom and the park appearance is generally perking up.

* * *

Newtown High’s baseball has been hard hit by the weather this season. Playing three games with but two days of outdoor practice has given little chance to develop the weak spots in the infield or to give the players a chance to get their batting eyes to clear the bases once in a while.

* * *

Recently the Board of Selectmen was requested to hold a town meeting to adopt the Building Code of the State of Connecticut. First Selectman Edward J. Cole points out that according to law, it is necessary to have copies of the building code in the Town Clerk’s Office for 30 days. In order to adopt a proper building code for the town of Newtown, he said, the Selectmen have been studying this very carefully and have appointed a committee to go into all phases of a Building Code.

* * *

At the regular monthly meeting Wednesday night of the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, annual elections were held. Duly elected and appointed to office were Morris Beers, replacing Peter Feli as chief; assistant chief, William Skelton; chief engineer, Andy Sedor; first engineer, Frank Varga; second engineer, Fred Seman, Jr; third engineer, Howard Taylor; president, Robert Ryan; vice president, Fred Scholtz; treasurer, George Dolan; secretary, George Bucknam.

* * *

A petition bearing 259 certified names was filed with Town Clerk Herbert H. Cutler this Thursday morning, calling for a referendum on the proposed new junior high school. The Board of Finance, depending on the outcome of the referendum, is recommending an appropriation of $1,100,000 for the construction of the building without gymnasium or auditorium, an additional $110,000 to be added if the auditorium is to be included and a further $170,000 if the gymnasium is to be constructed.

* * *

This week’s issue of The Bee reaches subscribers on schedule, in spite of a broken gear on the press which impeded production considerably on Wednesday. Several members of the staff worked into the wee small hours of the morning to overcome the delay. Much appreciation is due them for their loss of sleep.

 

May 5, 1933

The work of installing the new telephone switchboard at the Fairfield State Hospital has been completed and the cut-in took place on Monday, with the Fairfield Hospital exchange in full operation. The dial system is in use there. It was a pleasure for The Bee to receive the first message from the hospital over the new system from Dr Walker, the assistant superintendent.

* * *

John C. Beers of Queen street and E. Burton Beers put in a time at fishing, Saturday afternoon, catching 10 of the shining beauties. One trout caught by John C. Beers weighed an even pound. It was a dandy.

* * *

The embargo on the importation of dairy cattle into Connecticut from other states has been raised, effective Monday, Charles L. Johnson, Commissioner on Domestic Animals, announce Sunday. The embargo, effective April 1, was declared in an effort to assist the dairymen of the state, and after a 30-days trial it was found that the embargo made no material change in the situation. Mr Johnson issued the following statement, “The purpose of the embargo was to assist in reducing the surplus of milk in this state. After a 30-days trial, and investigation of the facts, we have found that no abnormal surplus exists in Connecticut.”

* * *

Hawley High Agricultural Class Wins Cup At Annual Vocational Agricultural Contest: At the annual vocational agricultural contest held at the Connecticut State College, April 28, the Newtown Animal Husbandry team won a beautiful 18 inch loving cup. Francis Bresson was second high boy in his division and James Otoshavett ninth in a field of 48 boys in the Animal Husbandry contest. Plans are being made by Mr Baxter and members of the Vocational Agricultural Class of Newtown High School to display the cup so that local people may have an opportunity to view it.

* * *

About 80 attended the spring meeting of the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers, Inc, held in Newtown on Thursday last. The members first assembled at the Fairfield State Hospital in the early afternoon. The Fairfield State Hospital is situated on an elevated site of 800 acres on which the state has erected in Colonial style at a cost of approximately $10,000,000 (sic) the first unit of 21 buildings. Plans in preparation contemplate 70 buildings on this property ultimately.

* * *

The New Ford V-8 IS HERE! See It To-Day at Our Showrooms. Liberty Garage. 112-inch wheelbase. Smooth-running, V-type eight cylinder engine; 75 horsepower. 80 miles per hour. Straddle mounted rear-axle driving pinion. Safe, reliable four-wheel mechanical brakes, fully enclosed. Twenty-degree slanting windshield. Rustless steel headlamps. All Deluxe cars are equipped with two matched tone horns, cowl lamps and two rear lamps.

 

May 8, 1908

James McKeon of Bridgeport, who works for Frederick Wildman of Botsford, carting logs and timber, had the misfortune, one day last week, to have his load overturn. Mr McKeon was thrown to the ground, breaking his left arm and badly bruising him. He was taken to Bridgeport and had the arm set.

* * *

If any of the ladies wish to get pointers on making cake they had better call and see Walter S. Bradley of Half Way River. Your correspondent stopped at his house, last Thursday, and was treated to some of his cake and it was certainly fine and the ladies would have to work hard to beat it.

* * *

A large audience greeted Rev Alexander Steele, the new pastor, at the Congregational church, at his first service, Sunday morning. He delivered a very helpful and interesting sermon from the text, Matt. 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

* * *

Ross Jewell, for four years principal of the Newtown High school, has been elected to the position of instructor in English in Syracuse University. Mr Jewell’s friends here will be pleased to hear of this offer to him, as it is in the line of work which he has made a special study. His work at Newtown High as principal was very successful, putting the school on a solid foundation in the early years of its life and his work there will long have its influence.

* * *

The annual borough election passed off quietly. Twenty votes only were polled, but all the machinery of the election law was set a going. At the business meeting it was voted to lay a tax of two and eight tenths mills. The following officers were elected: Clerk, Charles F. Beardsley; Warden, David C. Peck; Senior Burgess, Arthur T. Nettleton; Burgesses, Frank J. Gale, Robert H. Beers, William J. Beecher, Eli B. Beer, Cornelius B. Taylor; Pound Keeper, William B. Glover, Assessors, Levi C. Morris, Allison P. Smith.