Joseph E. Borst Sr, the current minority member of the Newtown Board of Selectmen, was actively considering this week whether he would run in this fall's election as the Republican candidate for first selectmen. Mr Borst has been widely speculated upon in Republican - and Democratic - circles as a possible challenger to four-term incumbent Democrat Jack Rosenthal, who has already announced his intention to seek another two-year term this November.

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An ad hoc study committee of local and regional officials has endorsed a plan for improving traffic circulation at the Main Street flagpole intersection that includes a two-way West Street and traffic signalization at the pole. All members of the traffic committee agreed with signalization at the intersection to control traffic flow, except James Gies, warden of the Borough of Newtown. Mr Gies stressed that he and the Borough Board of Burgesses oppose placing traffic signals there on aesthetic grounds.

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Despite some eloquent pleas from a few citizens at a June 2 public hearing to retain it, the Charter Revision Commission is standing firm with its recommendation to replace the “old-fashioned town meeting” with an “advisory town meeting” with a non-binding vote. Commissioners clarified who was eligible to vote on a referendum by defining “electors’ as “all property owners eligible to vote at a town meeting, according to state statutes.”

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Many times during budget discussions this year, the cost of gasoline for school buses has been a topic of conversation. In comparing gasoline prices here with those in surrounding towns, the price is in the neighborhood of 20 cents a gallon lower elsewhere. A solution to the high cost is buying in bulk. What is being considered at the present time is the placement of two, 10,000-gallon gasoline tanks at the Old Town Garage on Church Hill Road.

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Mike Pastina, a custodian at Hawley School and a great favorite of the students there, was surprised Wednesday morning when he was presented with a flag in a little ceremony on the school’s front steps. Members of Brownie Troop 154 wanted the flag given to him in appreciation of Mr Pastina’s efforts in February to help them earn their flag patches.

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Police Chief Louis D. Marchese told the Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday night that the alarm ordinance the Legislative Council passed last July has created a lot of paper work for the Police Department. “This is a pretty late stage for me to become a bill collector,” said the chief, who handed three delinquent accounts over to the town attorney, as agreed by the board last month.

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The Town of Newtown will seek a $300,000 federally funded Small Cities Grant in order to provide rehabilitation of housing for people in the low-to-moderate income categories, the Board of Selectmen decided Wednesday night. The grants are available on a competitive basis to communities in the state with populations of less than 50,000, according to Grants Administrator Zita McMahon.

June 13, 1958

At the regular monthly meeting of the warden and board of burgesses of the Borough of Newtown held last Thursday evening, June 5, in the Edmond Town Hall, the board received the reports of the state police regarding the installation of a caution light at the intersection of Currituck Road and Main Street and the traffic speed on Main Street. These matters had been brought to the attention of the burgesses by several borough residents.

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A milestone, the Centennial match show of the Newtown Kennel Club, was held Thursday evening at Edmond Town Hall when 106 dogs were entered in the show, 100th in a series that goes back to April 10, 1947. A huge birthday cake marked the anniversary and exhibitors and spectators alike enjoyed the cake and a “Parade of Champions” in which 15 champions were announced and paraded around the ring.

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The old-fashioned barn dance held Saturday evening under the sponsorship of Troop 170, Newtown Boy Scouts, was a financial and social success. The large crowd enjoyed the square sets as well as waltzes and fox trots to music furnished by the Rhythm Rangers. After a lot of hard work, the town barn on the old Stefanko property was transformed into an excellent "dance hall," and added atmosphere was introduced by the Scouts with bales of hay loaned for the occasion by F. Byron Tomlinson.

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A luncheon meeting was held at Hawley Manor Inn on Saturday, when plans were discussed for a large conference on Civil Defense here in Newtown. The outcome was a meeting tentatively scheduled for the latter part of June designed to show the fireman’s role in Civil Defense.

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Mr and Mrs Wirt Wiley of Mount Pleasant Road returned last Thursday, June 5, from a 3,000 mile motor trip that took them to Minneapolis, Minn. During the journey they attended the meeting of the National Council of the YMCA in Chicago and visited friends in Rochester, N.Y., Milwaukee, Wisc. Minneapolis, and Rochester, Minn. They report the mid-western states east of the Mississippi River suffering seriously from lack rain, but in Minnesota the farm crops seemed in excellent condition.

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Friday, June 13, at 8 pm, the Newtown High School, the Music Department of the Newtown, Schools will present a Festival of Music. All music organizations in the local schools will participate. Parents and friends are invited to attend as guests of the music department. There will be no charge for this final concert of the year.

June 9, 1933

Through the courtesy of Miss Irene Comer of Bridgeport, a very pleasing dance recital was presented to a large audience at the Edmond Town hall theater on last Thursday evening for the benefit of the Newtown Girl Scouts. All of the work was very well done and the pupils showed a marked degree of careful training in their dancing.

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CHIEF TWO MOON BITTER OIL Originated by CHIEF TWO MOON MERIDA’S famous Indian herb specialist, CHIEF TWO MOON BITTER OIL is made with a very high grade white mineral oil in combination with extracts of Indian herbs and roots, leaves, balsams. This miracle medicine thoroughly lubricates, cleanses and revives the entire intestinal tract, removes all internal poison, thus relieving constipation, gastric condition, sick headache, biliousness, kidney and bladder troubles, etc. $2.00 a Large Bottle Sold by Morris & Shepard, Newtown; Corbett & Crowe, Sandy Hook.

Bear it in mind — and never forget it! “Adorable,” the new Fox film with Janet Gaynor and Henry Garat in the stellar roles, is certainly the most hauntingly romantic picture ever made. It has a story that fairly breathes happiness in every one of its details. Its music has all the qualities of refreshing accompaniment, with songs that are destined for tenancy on the lips of millions.

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Dr Corrigan and his husky Newtown Yankees gave a six to three defeat to the Nichols A.C. team at Pine Grove Park I Sandy Hook, Sunday afternoon, when the boys from Newtown gave an excellent exhibition of ball playing during the game that preceded the contest between the Sandy Hook Giants and the Redding team of the Intertown league. The Yankees are planning an active season, and Dr Corrigan is developing a group of diamond stars that will no doubt finish the season with an enviable record.

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The Library Group Conference for all public libraries of Fairfield County, held at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Friday, June 2, was a most successful affair. The day itself was perfect, the attendance large and the program, prepared by the State Library Commission, was unusually interesting.

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A dance will be given at St Rose’s, Thursday, June 25, with music by the well known Middletown orchestra, with Prof Gates acting as prompter. Prof Gates has a great reputation as a prompter, and a chance to hear him is worth more than the price of admission, to say nothing of the chance to dance to the music of a fine orchestra. Admission covers all at 40 cents.

June 12, 1908

At a session of the High school committee, Wednesday afternoon, Miss Mary E. Butler, of Worcester, Mass., graduate of Smith College of the class of 1908, was engaged as an assistant teacher in the High school, for the school year beginning September 8. Miss Butler came to Newtown on the train arriving here at 10:34, leaving on the 4:19 for Northampton, Mass.

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Our local aggregation of balltossers known as the Invincibles under the management of Mr Crowe, the druggist, were trimmed to a finish by their rivals, the Athletics, on a recent afternoon on the South End grounds. For four innings the Invincibles put up a good argument but it could easily be seen that it couldn't last.

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Frank A. Blackman has his Maxwell auto and his friends are enjoying some rides about town. Selectman Peck, Allison P. Smith and Charles G. Peck were taken out for a spin, Tuesday night, Mr Blackman handling the machine like a veteran.

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Postmaster General Meyer has announced the readjustment of salaries of Connecticut postmasters for the fiscal year of 1909. The Bee is gratified to note that the Newtown postmaster, W.M. Reynolds, is among the number to enjoy and increase. The postmaster of Newtown will be advanced from $1,300 to $1,400.

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A nobby and swell line of Shield bow ties for men, the largest assortment ever shown in the town, can be seen at the store of R.H. Beers & Co. They are dainty and dressy. Just what the well-dressed young men are looking for.