Department of Transportation officials heard complaints all evening from speakers attending the Department of Environmental Protection public hearing on the application for the proposed reconstruction of Interstate 84. Only a New Milford truck driver and George Koch, former DOT official and now consultant for the Connecticut Construction Industries Association, spoke in favor of the project. Residents of Newtown and Southbury continually said they felt the proposed bridge to parallel the Rochambeau Bridge was unnecessary and that DOT officials should address themselves to the more pressing traffic problems in Waterbury and Hartford. Great concern was expressed for the environmental impact of the construction on the gorge at Pole Bridge Brook in Newtown.

***

The final monthly meeting of the year of the Newtown Woman’s Club took place on May 15 in the Yankee Drover Inn. A $1,000 check was presented to Mrs Joseph Maher of the Newtown Ambulance Association. The gift was earmarked for the purchase of a second ambulance. The Woman’s Club also donated $300 to the Newtown Scholarship Fund which was accepted by Mrs C. Harold Schwartz. Mrs Maher, in accepting the gift for the Ambulance Association, said, “We are just overwhelmed to receive this magnificent gift towards the purchase of a second ambulance. Never in our 34-year history has any organization or individual given such a generous gift.” Mrs Clarence E. Goss conducted the installation ceremony for the newly elected officers, who are: Mrs Walter Silva, president; Mrs Allison Loewenstine, vice president; Mrs Donald Lawrenson, secretary; Mrs Edward Osterman, corresponding secretary; and Mrs Thomas Cummings, treasurer.

***

On May 24, Saturday, Melissa Lockwood and Karen Pierwola of Newtown will be giving a jewelry and origami demonstration at the Showcase of Arts and Crafts Gallery, 213 Main Street, Danbury. Both girls have had training in art and have been accepted at Southern Connecticut State College where they will be working toward their BA degrees in art education.

***

Time Out For Sports, in cooperation with the Newtown Recreation Department, sponsored a kite-flying contest at the Middle School on Sunday, May 18. Winners in the seven to nine-year-old group were: John Curtis, highest; Jimmy Craven, second. Winners in the 10 to 12 group were: Tom Tourtellot, highest; Lisa Hartz, second. There was a tie for first place in the 13 to 15 year-olds between Shannon Verbonic and Marie Grammardi. In the homemade category, Kelly Morlock took first place for the largest and Billy Hartz ranked second. For the smallest homemade kite, Danny Greaves won and Dewi Tourtellot placed second.

***

First Selectman Frank DeLucia fired the opening salvo of his campaign to gain the Republican nomination for another two-year term in the job, and he chose a tough target – the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission. Planning & Zoning Chairman Philip J. Kopp announced last week that he also is seeking the GOP nod to run for the top municipal spot. Mr DeLucia said one of the “major planks” in his campaign platform will be a review of the planning functions of the town’s government. He said he will call for the appointment of a study committee to consider whether Planning & Zoning should be split into two commissions, whether a charter revision process should be started for this, and whether provision should be made in the charter for hiring a town planner.

***

Mrs Daphne Gibney of the Newtown Jaycee Wives has announced the coming of the “Talking Bicycle” to the four Newtown elementary schools May 27 through 30. The Bicycle Safety Program, sponsored by the Wives, is being coordinated by Sgt Robert Taylor of the Newtown Police.

***

At its May 14 meeting at the P.T. Barnum Restaurant in Bethel, the Newtown Lions Club made its 26th presentation of the annual Trull Award. This award is made each year to an outstanding Newtown High School junior in memory of George W. Trull, who was one of the founders of the Newtown Lions Club. This year’s winner, Debbie Pierson, accompanied her mother at the dinner, and was presented with the award by Alvah Cramer, principal of the high school.

MAY 26, 1950

At the regular meeting of the Newtown Board of Education held Tuesday evening, May 23, in the Hawley School, the board voted to employ a full-time superintendent to administer the Newtown schools. Superintendent Carroll Johnson was instructed to draw up a list of qualifications and to invite the placement offices of nearby colleges and universities to submit recommendations for this position.

***

At a meeting of the Men’s Literary and Social Club of Newtown Street, held last Thursday evening in the Parker House, election of officers was held, with Kenneth B. Smith being elected president, Milton F. Hull, vice president, and William Holcomb, secretary-treasurer. The meeting was a most interesting one, with Bertram A. Stroock of Buckeye Farm, Dodgingtown, the guest speaker. Mr Stroock spoke on the history of woolens. Host was Kenneth Smith; essayist, Rev Paul A. Cullens.

***

It is no flight of fancy by which Mr and Mrs Joseph A. Marin, Jr, of Hawleyville, surrounded by their feathered flocks of poultry, are raising a Palomino colt in their home. No, it’s all very real and the seven-day-old beauty stands right there in a pen in Mr Marin’s office, where the old roll top desk used to stand. It all happened on the night of the Junior Prom last week, and horse-wise authorities are at a loss to explain why the mother should have turned against her new-born daughter.

***

Miss Ethelyn Feli and Master Paul Feli, children of Mr and Mrs Paul Feli, recently celebrated their birthdays at a lawn party held at their home. Their guests enjoyed a peanut hunt, horseback riding, and home movies, and each received a surprise package at a “post office.”

***

Plans are complete for the third annual Field Day sponsored by the Fairfield County Farm Machinery Dealers Association to be held here in Newtown this Friday, May 26. The place is a convenient one, at the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road. Dealers throughout the county will be on hand with their latest models of farm equipment.

***

Two Brookfield 4-Hers, Miss Eleanor Liefeld and Miss Grace Pflomm, were named top winners at the annual county dress revue held in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall Saturday evening, May 20. These girls were selected to represent Fairfield County in the state dress revue to be held at the University of Connecticut during Farm and Home Week in August. State winners will receive an educational trip to the national Congress to be held in Chicago in December. Alternates chosen at Saturday’s revue were Miss Charlotte Giddings of Fairfield and Miss Marilyn Burr, also of Brookfield. Mrs Franklin Ferry of Brookfield and Mrs William Anderson of Danbury judged the 4-H spring rally that climaxed a year’s work in the clothing project.

***

A very successful first ladies day was held at the Newtown Country Club last Wednesday, May 17. The prize of the day was for putting, and three members, Mrs Joseph Hellauer, Mrs Frank Hubbell, and Mrs W. Cranston Brewer, tied for the lowest number of putts for 18 holes.

 

MAY 22, 1925

H.G. Warner, the popular Sandy Hook merchant, has been confined to his residence for a few days with a severe cold.

***

Lillis & Hurd, of the Sandy Hook Garage, are building an addition to their garage on the south side. The new place will be used for the housing of their taxi cars.

MAY 25, 1900

The adjourned Special Town Meeting, last Saturday, was not as largely attended as expected, owing no doubt to the heavy downpour of rain, but despite that fact about 100 turned out.