Newtown Town Counsel William Lavery was expected to give his written opinion by Thursday or Friday about whether Tuesday night's emergency meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners was in fact a proper meeting, and it was anticipated that he wou
Newtown Town Counsel William Lavery was expected to give his written opinion by Thursday or Friday about whether Tuesday nightâs emergency meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners was in fact a proper meeting, and it was anticipated that he would rule against the commissioners on one or both of the matters taken up that night. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal asked for Mr Laveryâs opinion on Tuesday night, after he learned the emergency session of the police board took place. As an ex-officio member of the police board, he felt he should have been notified. Dr Harvey Wachsman was elected new chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday night. That meeting was asked for by board secretary Robert Hayes, and a handwritten note which few people apparently saw was placed on the Town Clerkâs board sometime Tuesday stating the session would occur.
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 The brawn of Botsford in the tug-of-war, the Republicansâ victory over their Democratic counterparts in softball, and Robert Witischenâs prize-winning appetite in the pie-eating contest were just some of the highlights for hundreds who attended the townwide picnic at Dickinson Memorial Park on the Fourth of July. A full round of events, capped by the fireworks display at sunset, occupied the many folks who found relaxing at a good old-fashioned picnic just the way to spend the 200th anniversary of the Independence of the United States.
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When Girl Scout Troop 103 realized that the Department of Environmental Protection had a Charter Oak seedling available for each of the 169 towns in Connecticut, they contacted First Selectman Rosenthal and offered to plant and care for the tree as a Bicentennial Service Project. The first selectmanâs office wrote to the DEP and requested and received the tree for Newtown. On July 4, 1976, the Charter Oak seedling planting took place at 10 am at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Martha Polstein, representing Girl Scout Troop 103, made the presentation of the tree, stating, âOn Independence Day we want to remember our Connecticut heritage and the important part the Charter Oak played in the history of the nation, as a symbol of manâs determination to be free.â
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Joanne Kemmerer of Hanover Road will appear on the WFSB-TV (Channel 3) morning program New England Journal Monday, July 12, at 9 am, to continue her campaign to alert the press and the American people of the infringement of freedom of the press which she expects to be taking place at the Olympic Games in Montreal. Mrs Kemmererâs letter outlining her objection to the International Olympic Committeeâs granting of a ban on Radio Free Europeâs coverage of the winter Olympic games at Innsbruck appeared in last weekâs Bee.
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Forty-three citizens on July 4, 1876, subscribed $105.50 to purchase a wooden âLiberty Poleâ to celebrate the founding of our nation and, as Harvey Hubbell, IV, noted in a ceremony on the evening of July 4, 1976, their celebration has itself grown into a monument, perhaps the best known symbol in Newtown: the flag pole on Main Street.
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In a special emergency meeting Wednesday, June 30, the Board of Education met to decide which teaching positions would be cut or eliminated in response to the recently adopted budget, which is nearly $700,000 below the Board of Ed request. The decisions of the board were not released until after the teachers affected had been notified.
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After a marathon meeting Wednesday between the Town of Newtown, officers of the Newtown Police Department union chapter of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and Peter Horne, assistant board agent for the State Board of Labor Relations, disputed language clauses in the contract between the town for 1975-77 were resolved and amendments agreed upon. First Selectman Jack Rosenthal and Selectman Frank DeLucia signed the memorandum of agreement, and Local 337 president Sgt Raymond Tompkins initialed it. The union will type up the agreed-upon wording for the amendments and add them to the contract, which is in effect until June 30, 1977.
JULY13, 1951
Bobbie McMahon, son of Mr and Mrs John McMahon of Sandy Hook, entered baseballâs hall of fame on Tuesday evening, when he pitched a no-hitter, working on the mound for SAC in the local teamâs initial game in the Roger Park Senior League in Danbury against the Golden Hills. The final score was 9-0. Bobbie struck out eight men, his own mates doing well at bat to pile up a comfortable lead. The entire SAC team was on its toes in the field, giving its pitcher excellent support. The line-up included: Capt Chris Underhill, 1b; Kenny Berglund, 2b; Marvin Shreders, ss; Ray Milot, 3b; Tommie Kearns, c; Andy Maye, lf; Dick Carmody, cf; Joe Hellauer, rf; Mike Trimpert, 2b; Joe Melycher, rf.
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Newtown will have its first opportunity of the season to see one of its own professional actresses in a leading role when Marion Randolph appears next week in The Curious Savage at the Putnam County Playhouse, Mahopac, N.Y. She will have the star part originally performed on Broadway by Lillian Gish.
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On Monday of last week, Miss Mary R. Lucas took over her duties as librarian of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, having accepted the post offered her by the local board of trustees some weeks earlier. Miss Lucas is a newcomer here but no stranger to this part of Connecticut, having been for some years past a frequent visitor in Roxbury and vicinity.
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Four Newtown enlistees in the United States Air Force were sworn into service in Danbury Monday morning and left Monday night from New Haven for Sampson Air Base, Geneva, N.Y. Three of the enlistees were former students at Hawley High School: David Hill, son of Mr and Mrs Arnold Hill, Brushy Hill Road; Frederick W. Benton, son of Mr and Mrs Frederick H. Benton, Hawleyville, who graduated in June, and Frederick James Pendergast, son of Mr and Mrs John Pendergast, Walnut Tree Hill, a graduate of St Peterâs Parochial School, Danbury, who had just completed his junior year at Hawley High School. Robert Lawrence Hayden, son of Mr and Mrs David Hayden, Botsford, was within two months of graduation from Henry Abbott Technical School, Danbury.
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The Ladies Auxiliary of the United Fire Company of Botsford held an election at the home of Mrs Thomas Goosman, Huntingtown Road, Friday night of last week when the following were voted into office: Mrs Thomas Goosman, president; Mrs Alfred W. Nelson, vice president; Miss Miriam Rasmussen, secretary; Mrs Charles R. Eaton, treasurer; Mrs Otto Heise and Mrs Paul Kostechko, co-chairmen of ways and means committee; Mrs Samuel Nezvesky, historian; Mrs Jerome Goosman, publicity; and Mrs Joseph Samperi, chairman, refreshment committee.
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The Newtown Toy Clinic, which refurbishes dolls and used toys for the delight of underprivileged children in Connecticut homes and orphanages, finds itself possessed of a number of dolls in excellent condition as the manufacturer made them, but lacking the clothing for presentation to a five-year-old tot. It will appreciate the help of some kind ladies in Newtown or surrounding communities who will dress a doll or two for the youngsters.
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Funeral services for Sergeant Earl M. Lockwood, Jr, son of Mr and Mrs Earl M. Lockwood of Sandy Hook, first and only known local casualty in the Korean war, were held from the Honan Funeral Home, Main Street, Newtown, this Thursday morning at 8:30, and in St Rose Church at 9 oâclock with a requiem high Mass.
JULY 9, 1926
The former Gibson homestead, Sandy Hook, owned by the estate of the late Edward C. Riley of Stamford, has been sold to the First Presbyterian Church. The property will be used for a girlsâ camp, the church taking immediate possession.
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The Sunrise Hotel had 150 guests over the weekend and was obliged to turn many away. Paul Tversky, the popular proprietor, is looking forward to a big year.
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Alfred Walker is out riding in a new Chevrolet touring car, bought of H.C. Carlson of the Liberty Garage.
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Eric Swenson, of Bridgeport, was the victim of a peculiar accident on Lake Zoar on Monday afternoon, when while in swimming he dislocated his shoulder in an attempt to climb into a boat. Mr Swenson was taken to the office of Dr Edward L. Kingman, who attended him and took him to the Danbury Hospital.
JULY 12, 1901
Palestine district had something of a contest at its annual school meeting, held a week ago Saturday night. More than 20 voters were present, which is unusual for that district. Several nominations were made for chairman, but declinations followed. Finally Mrs A.B. Goodsell was named, and she accepted the place.
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The New York and New Haven road is putting in a new bridge above Hawleyville on the Pond Brook to take the place of the iron culvert.
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Arthur Frink, clerk at the Drew house, Hawleyville, is enjoying the sights at the Pan-American Expo.
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Word has been received from the venerable P.H. Skidmore of his safe arrival in England. He did not suffer from sea sickness and is enjoying first rate health.