Newtown joggers and physical fitness buffs will soon get the opportunity to work out in style at the new Stefanko Park in Sandy Hook. On Monday night, August 11, the Newtown Rotary Club broke ground for a park course-exercise trail. The course will consist of three loops, and will have 20 exercise areas stationed along the trails.

***

Once more residents of the area surrounding the planned 304-acre subdivision, “Old Farm Hill,” on hillside property between Old Green Road and Echo Valley-Hanover Roads, were out in force for discussions between the Planning and Zoning Commission and the developer of the anticipated fall resubmittal of the plans.

***

Work is set to begin in a week or so on the much debated septic system at the former Ruwet-Sibley building on Main Street. After months of negotiating an acceptable system with the Conservation Commission, the town is ready to begin work on the project, according to William Gilbert, Town Engineer. The building is being converted by the town for municipal use.

***

This week the Parks and Recreation Commission received a proposal which may be the solution to its water supply problem. Barbara Kasbarian, acting director of Parks and Recreation, and Town Engineer William Gilbert presented  a proposal to the commission for a shallow water well providing 100 to 200 gallons per minute.

***

The Republican Town Committee accepted the Democratic Town committee’s challenge to meet upon the field of honor in a slow pitch softball game Tuesday night at Dickinson Memorial Town Park, and when the dust had settled, the Democrats were holding the short end of a 9-1 score.

***

Police Officer Llewellyn Rowe has more peace of mind these days while patrolling in his car because a nine-month-old German Shepard named “Thor” rides “shotgun.” “It’s better than having another officer along,” he said. “He can hear better and alert me quicker than any human.” Thor has been on the job for a week.

***

Newtown and other area volunteer and paid ambulance EMT have increased their ability to offer emergency care in the field, after completing a 100 hour course at Danbury Hospital in April. Three of Newtown’s Ambulance Corps’ 36 members took the two-month long course and earned the designation of Emergency Medical Technical Intravenous. Chief Driver Richard Baldelli, Barbara Huntington and Stuart Smith are the first of the local volunteer ambulance corpsmen to advance beyond the EMT status.

August 19, 1955

 Newtown was plagued by both hot and cold wires last Saturday, August 13, as Newtown felt the fringe of Hurricane Connie. Falling branches played havoc with the power circuits of the Housatonic Public Service Company, with the result that the entire town was affected at some time during the day, starting at about 6:30 am.

***

Selectman Anthony Amaral and Edward E. Knapp are seeking a patriotic citizen who will volunteer his services as custodian of the flag on Newtown’s flagpole, and accept the responsibility for raising and lowering the flag each day. The job calls for a knowledge of flag decorum and willingness to accept comments from bystanders and criticism from those who think they can do better.

***

 More than a score of members of the town planning, steering and district leaders gathered in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall on Monday night, August 15, to arrange to present to the voters and residents of Newtown the advantages of town planning.

***

 Newtown Hook and Ladder Company News: At the fireman’s parade in Woodbury, Wednesday, August 10, the company won the award for the best uniform shirts in line of march. The ancient equipment received honorable mention. 25 members along with the company mascot, Jacques Mayes, Jr, took part in the parade.

***

Mrs William A. Sanford of Hartford was guest during Newtown’s 250th anniversary celebration on August 6 of her brother, James A. Peck, and Mrs Peck of Hanover Road. Mrs Sanford recalled being a participant in the 1905 parade as a member of the Newtown High School.

***

A low base bid of $336,000 for construction of the new elementary school at Sandy Hook was announced by The Elementary Building Committee following the opening of bids last Thursday night, August 11, at the town clerk’s office.

***

The annual clambake of the Newtown Rotary Club will be held this Saturday, August 20, at the home of William K. Daniells, president of the club, on Botsford Hill Road. Activities are scheduled to begin at 12 noon and will include badminton, volley ball, horse shoe pitching and bridge. Reservations may be made by calling any member of the committee at a cost of $3.00 per person.

August 15, 1930

  CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OUTING AT LAKESIDE. A Shlendid and Enjoyable Event. The Chamber of Commerce summer outing at Lakeside was a most enjoyable success, about 40 being in attendance. Through the courtesy of Messrs Soule and Roberts the company were given full use of the club house owned by these gentlemen. In the late afternoon, the first arrivals enjoyed a boat ride down Lake Zoar, Capt Metcalf being at the throttle of the ship.

***

 Trinity Guild’s supper and sale, so long anticipated by many, proved to be a greater success than the most optimistic dreamed. The newly decorated parish rooms were enhanced in beauty by the lovely curtains hung in all the windows, which lent a golden glow over the scene. Needless to say, the supper was exceptionally fine and the ladies of Trinity have made a name for their suppers.

To Be Held In the Library at Three O’clock, DST, on Thursday, August 21, for the Purchase of New Books. This is a reminder that the White Elephant sale is next week. One herd of elephants has reached the library and we want more to come. Look over your goods and chattels and send along for the sale whatever you do not need as the more we have to sell the more books we will have.

***

Alfred Boyson, while haying on the Roach property near the depot, fell backwards from a load of hay, Thursday afternoon, spraining his shoulder and cracking a rib. A rope he was tightening up to hold the load broke, letting him over backwards.

***

A patron who stood viewing the attractive meat market in the Warner store the other day, burst into rhyme much to the amusement of the astonished and skillful meat carver. The would be poet said:

When standing in your meat shop,

With knife in hand you slash the steaks

And how you make the ham flop!…

The recitation caused Billie Hayes to faint away, while Georgie Clark at once drank three bottles of ginger pop. The clerks of the Brick store are to unite and present the budding poet with three of Brother Warner’s very best cigars…

***

The annual fair and carnival for the benefit of St Rose’s church, will be held at St Rose’s Casino, on August 15, 16, 22 and 23. The affair, this year, promises to surpass anything held in previous years.

August 18, 1905

A serious accident took place near Carmody’s bridge, Sandy Hook, Saturday morning, when Miss Mamie Kelly of Matteawan, N.Y., was thrown from a carriage and had her collar bone broken. The accident was caused by the horse becoming frightened at an automobile.

***

The comedy, “Maidens all Forlorn,” had a bright and capable presentation at the hands of a company of talented Newtown Young people at the Town hall, Saturday evening. The audience was enthusiastic and generously applauded throughout. The leading part was taken by Miss Agnes Platt, whose fine voice led in the singing.

***

Austin Conger, John Keane and John Pelham killed rattlesnake near C.F. Conger’s home at Botsford, last week, which was about three feet long and had six rattles. There were also 15 little young rattlesnakes with it mother, which they killed.

***

Richard Shepard of Dodgingtown, who had the misfortune, recently, to slip from his store stoop, badly bruising his hip, is not able to be about on crutches.

***

The splendid success of Newtown’s Bi-Centennial celebration is due primarially to the fact that in the closing days of preparation before August 5 all our citizens were heartily united in the effort to promote the success of the Bi-Centennial. While in the early months of the year the executive committee were somewhat discouraged by the apparent lack of interest, the splendid and substantial finish of the celebration, rejoiced the heart of every member of the executive committee.

***

THE NEWTOWN BEE is not only the largest, but the most widely circulated of any country weekly paper in Connecticut, if not in New England, circulating 4400 copies and is a credit to the Messrs Smith, Editor Allison P., Business Manager Arthur J. and General Agent Henry M., its publishers.