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Newtownâs oddly-constituted Board of Selectmen, with a Democratic first selectmen and two Republicans, has had a number of pitched battles in the six months it has been in operation, but none have been as bitter as Tuesday nightâs session. Last week, the two Republicans, Thomas Goosman and Frank DeLucia, refused to approve an application to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a change of zone from residential to industrial relative to placing a garage on the site. The selectmen contended then that they didnât have enough information on costs for drainage work and road improvements on the site, with Mr DeLucia estimating costs could amount to $100,000 for site preparation. This week, at a special meeting, First Selectman Jack Rosenthal had engineers Gene Orlowski and John Olshesky, the highway superintendent, present. Mr Orlowski estimated that drainage for the location on the northern end of the landfill would cost $6,800, including labor. Mr Olshesky presented revised figures for installing gravel and two coats of oil to improve the present haul road for truck traffic. For the 2,400 feet or road, he estimated costs of $8,380. But neither Mr DeLucia nor Mr Goosman were convinced, and Mr DeLucia declined to abandon his $100,000 estimate, primarily because of his contention that a hard-topped road would be necessary to handle the townâs vehicles.
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Members and chiefs of all five volunteer fire companies in Newtown and the Board of Police Commissioners paid tribute to a 32-year veteran of Newtown Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 when Tommy Anderson was honored at a farewell dinner at the Yankee Drover on June 17.
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According to Dr Harvey Wachsman, chairman of the town-wide July 4 old-fashioned picnic and family day, the word is âgoâ for the festivities, and everyone in Newtown is invited to come and stay for the day and evening. Officially, the day will begin at high noon with a flag raising ceremony presented by Newtown Girl Scouts, and from then on the park will be filled with all sorts of activities with which to wile away the hours until sundown when the day will end with a fireworks display.
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It may not be the Sistine Chapel, but Allan Costerâs attic has valuable drawings on the walls, and heâd like to have them removed to a place where they will be cared for, namely Ohio State University, if the school is willing to replace the attic walls. James Thurber owned Mr Costerâs green house on Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, from 1931-34 and is believed to have used the attic room to write the classic books, like âThe Seal in the Bedroom,â which established his reputation as a humorist. Mr Coster accidentally found some of Thurberâs sketches, including one of a seal, on the attic walls when he tore away some of the wallpaper a year and a half ago. Now, says the retired engineer, he and his wife are finding their home is too large for them and they want to make sure the drawings are in the proper hands before they go. Ohio State University, Thurberâs alma mater, has a large collection of Thurber manuscripts and memorabilia. Professor Lewis Branscomb, teacher of Thurber studies, says he would like to have the sketches, but he doesnât have the funds to pay for replacement of the attic walls. The job is expected to cost between $8,000 and $9,000.
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About 75 people spent five hours in the undercroft of Trinity Episcopal Church on a steamy June 23 to confront the problem of housing shortages in Newtown and in the world. A conference on âHousing, Choices and Alternatives for the Communityâ was organized and convened by the Rev David Simpson, executive director of the Danbury Area Association of Religious Communities. ARC is a group of members of a number of churches and other religious organizations which join together to tackle social problems cooperatively.
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Lynn Caulkins, a fourth grader at Middle Gate School, has had a story published in the United Illuminating magazine in an article entitled âUI Children and their Four-Legged Friends.â
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The Newtown Camp Fire Girlsâ first annual Fly-Up ceremonial fire burned brightly at Town Park Friday, June 18, as seven third-grade Blue Birds were accepted into the Grade 4-5-6 Adventurer program before parents, friends and other followers of WoHeLo. Led by Dawn Timko, Diane Carolla, Kristine Ragan, and Donna Forshaw of the Chien-Chin Adventurers, who bore lighted torches to ignite the ritualistic bonfire of work-Health-Love, the Blue Birds were accepted into the older program after the seven crafts were explained by their older sisters.
JUNE 29, 1951
An innovation in the commencement exercises of Newtown High School was well received by a large audience of parents, relatives, and friends of high school students last Thursday night in Edmond Town Hall, when the 36 graduating seniors were the prime actors. The class of 1951, with its class advisor, Miss Kathleen Dolan, had prepared this yearâs program for a chronological presentation of American history, titled âThe Growth of Freedom.â
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The new ambulance purchased by the Newtown Ambulance Association with funds contributed this spring by Newtown residents will be delivered by the Metropolitan Body Company, Long Island City, N.Y., this week and will be on display in front of Edmond Town Hall beginning at 11 oâclock this Sunday morning, according to an announcement by Henry J. McCarthy, publicity chairman for the association.
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The Senior Choir of the Newtown Congregational Church enjoyed an all-day outing on Saturday, June 16, when its members were the guests of Mr and Mrs B.C. Edgerton at their waterfront home on Lake Zoar.
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There was an informal gathering of 18 ladies at the home of Mrs Thomas Goosman, Huntingtown Road, Friday night, June 22, preparatory to organizing a ladies auxiliary to the United Fire Company of Botsford. Methods of fund raising were discussed and Mrs Albert W. Rasmussen and Mrs Alfred W. Nelson were appointed a committee to study the organization form of other fire company auxiliaries as patterns for the proposed new auxiliary.
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The Sandy Hook Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps won first place in competition sponsored by Our Lady of Sorrowâs Drum Corps of Hartford, and received a beautiful trophy. Johnny Waddell, our twirling major, received second prize and so added another medal to his fast growing collection.
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Edmund E. Neary gave his final report as retiring president of the Rotary Club of Newtown at the clubâs meeting held in the Parker House Monday night, preparatory to turning his gavel over to Miles Harris, incoming president.
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The Womenâs Federation of the Newtown Congregational Church held its annual picnic outing at the home of Mrs Nathaniel Wagner of Morning Star Farm, Taunton District, last Thursday. Members and guests especially enjoyed a musical program provided by the hostess and Mrs Felix Baridon who played a number of two-piano selections.
JUNE 25, 1926
The residence of A.T. Nettleton is resplendent in a new dress of paint. A.B. Nichols has the work in charge.
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John Ronan, gardener for Mrs W.H. Kiernan, picked peas from his garden on Wednesday, and rather carries off the honors for early peas.
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H.G. Warner moved to his new residence in Sandy Hook, Tuesday.
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Miss Mary Hawley has added a new Pierce-Arrow sedan to her fleet of cars.
JUNE 28, 1901
The Sandy Hook school district held its annual meeting Saturday night, there being a large attendance. A resolution was offered that a district committee be appointed consisting of Thomas J. Bradley, George F. Taylor, and I.W. Gordon. A motion was offered that the resolution be tabled but it was defeated by a vote of 31 to 20.
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Mrs Julia and Lillian Dikeman of Newtown and Mr and Mrs Oscar Dikeman and daughter of New York are enjoying the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, N.Y., this week.
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The soda fountain at S.C. Bull & Companyâs store is proving a popular feature these days, and with the pure fruit syrups and an expert artist like Mr Gobiel to mix the drinks, is bound to be a source of profit to the proprietor.
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The annual school meeting in Zoar district was held Saturday evening, June 15. The following officers were elected: John F. Keating, committee; Thomas Finnell, clerk; and Patrick Keating, treasurer.