The Town of Newtown is still in the black budgetwise on the three big projects, the Newtown High School roof repairs, construction of the day care-multiuse building, and the now occupied new town garage. These glad tidings were presented to the Legislative Council Wednesday night by Joseph Borst, chairman of the Public Building Committee, in a status report requested by the council.

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Bob and Mae Schmidle of Echo Valley Road employed a rather unusual investigatory technique last week to try to learn some information about the thief or thieves who broke into their home Thursday, August 31. Ed and Lorraine Warren of Monroe, the renowned ghosthunting husband and wife team, visited the Schmidle home last Thursday and Mrs Warren used her clairvoyance to try to determine who had broken in, and what had happened. The Schmidles, of course, aren’t relying on physic powers to try to determine who broke into their place. Detective Harry Noroian of the Newtown Police Department is heading the investigation, and was present during a part of Mrs Warren’s effort. Det Noroian told The Bee, “I don’t know if it can be helpful…I don’t have any experience in working with these kind of people.” Still, like any good investigator, he hedged bets. “Anything I hear here, it’ll sink in and maybe I’ll use it later.”

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Would noncontinuing work on the high school roof cause any problems when school started in September? It was a question everyone had to wait out, and when the first day of school came, the answer did also. The roof work was going to cause some problems. Right now they are in the cafeteria. Work is going on up above the students and teachers during the lunch hour but doubles as a site for homerooms and study halls. While work goes on up above, it brings a shower of a fine dust into the room below. As a result the cafeteria stopped serving hot lunches and is curtailing the program to some degree by providing wrapped sandwiches and other foods which don’t have to be in the open.

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The Sirois family of Surrey Trail, Sandy Hook, with their neighbors, the Cavalieres, the Colons, the Pisellis, Paccadolmis, and Monroes, spent a busy week before Labor Day and the onset of school, organizing a front-yard carnival at the Sirois’ for the benefit of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, a campaign spearheaded annually by comedian Jerry Lewis.

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Newtown residents can soon expect to find out about their neighbors, and how they feel on various issues. A census which began last month is nearing completion. It is a Title VI CETA project which is intended to supply the town with information needed for funding applications on various town projects. Jim Maher, project coordinator, said, however, all the homes they intended to contact might not be reached because he is leaving on September 18 and another CETA worker has already left. “We both got other jobs,” he explained. CETA programs are designed to encourage participants to develop marketable skills with which they could obtain full-time work. CETA stands for the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, and in addition to supplying federal funds for public service positions, it also provides money for projects such as the census which have a specified, limited duration.

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Saving Our American Resources (SOAR) is a project undertaken by six Newtown scouting troops, who announce that another in their series of paper and magazine drives will take place this weekend.

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A line of march with some 75 entrants followed Grand Marshal Bill Walker Monday in the crowning event of the Newtown Summer Festival — the 1978 Labor Day Parade. Thousands lined the route down Main Street to Glover Avenue and Queen Street to enjoy a parade larger than the one in 1977 by ten marching units. Chief judge Alan Martin along with fellow judges Barbara Phillips, Fran Barrett, Bonni Raynor, Jim Larin, and Jim Severnak carefully scanned the units as they marched by the reviewing stand on Queen Street.

SEPTEMBER 11, 1953

As the doors of the Newtown schools opened Wednesday morning, September 9, for the beginning of the school year, a record high number of youngsters from kindergarten through the 12th grade trooped to their classes. A near perfect attendance of 360 was reported at the high school, with only a handfill known to be absent, while Hawley School reported 521 present out of last week’s reported registration of 593.

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The Rev Walter R. Conroy, pastor of St Rose Church, began a vacation of several weeks duration Wednesday with the good wishes of his parish and the town. This Friday morning he will sail from New York City on the Andrea Doria for Naples, Italy, on a pilgrimage which will take him to Rome and the Vatican, and Jerusalem in the Holy Land. He is expected back in mid-October.

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The Southern New England Telephone Company is completing plans for its Open House program to be held Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25, at the new Newtown telephone building on Queen Street to which the public is invited, Thomas H. Tuohy, the company’s local manager, stated this week. “We’re anxious to meet our friends and show them how their telephone company serves the community,” Mr Tuohy explained. “Each night from 7 to 9 our employees will act as guides for tours of the building.” The Open House is particualrly significant because of the recent conversion to dial operation in this area, Mr Tuohy said.

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A large red, white and black swastika flag, the emblem of Nazi Germany, was flying from the top of the Newtown flagpole early Monday morning, Labor Day. Whoever raised Hitler’s favorite flag pulled down the American flag and left it lying at the base of the pole. First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson has requested information which may lead to the identification of the flag raiser, and has promised to pay a $25 reward to the person giving such information when the Nazi follower is caught.

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Chief and Mrs William McKenzie of Queen Street gave a lobster party in their garden for a group of their friends last Thursday evening.

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The Robert Macombers of Church Hill Road have a riding horse now named Roxie which they recently bought. Bob Macomber has been busy putting up a corral and the children are enjoying riding their new pet.

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Sandra Christie, daughter of Mr and Mrs Arthur Christie of Wendover Road, was given a surprise “Sweet 16” birthday party by AllieLou Burdett at the Christie home on Saturday evening, September 5. Among those present were Chrissy Mayer, Patricia Daniells, Peter Unhill, Steven Jones, James Curtis, Terry Johnson, Mariam Janzer, Linda Walsh, Carol Janson, Preston McCain, and Charles Nash.

SEPTEMBER 7, 1928

E.J. Cullen of Bridgeport has purchased a 12-acre tract of land located in Newtown from C.C. May, also of Bridgeport.

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Sandy Hook defeated Southbury, Sunday, at Southbury, by the score of 9 to 7. Hampton and Conger were the battery for Sandy Hook.

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A very large congregation assembled at St John’s Sunday morning to participate in the service and in the ceremony attending the unveiling and dedication of the bronze tablet erected by loving hands in memory of a faithful rector of the parish, Rev Otis Olney Wright, who served the parish from May 16, 1891, to October 1, 1912.

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Mr and Mrs Alfred Pinkham of New York arrived in town Tuesday and took possession of their new home, the former F.H. Hopkins place.

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Everything is in readiness for the dance to be given Friday evening, September 7, at St Rose’s Casino, under the auspices of the Minstrel Club. There will be good music, a good floor, and a good time for those present.

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William Brew of Waterville was in town Saturday, attending the funeral of Registrar of Voters Thomas F. Bradley.

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Paul Stevens is driving a Chrysler sedan, bought in Bridgeport.

SEPTEMBER 11, 1903

The parochial schools opened Tuesday, one room at St Patrick’s and two at St Mary’s building, Sandy Hook. The latter school has been closed for two years.

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F.E. Burwell, the hustling painter, has a force of six or seven men at work on the Upper Rubber factory building.

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Leon Bouquenez of Botsford has just purchased a saw of western parties for sawing cord wood, which he has connected with the power at his mill.

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Dr W.C. Wile is erecting a small brick building near his house for use as a laboratory, where one of his proprietary preparations will be prepared.

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The high school opened Tuesday morning, with Ross Jewell as principal and Miss S. Elizabeth Goodwin assistant. Just 54 pupils presented themselves, four more than were seats.

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Herbert Flansburgh has joined the Shore Acres Company for the theatrical season, making their first appearance at Scranton, Penn.

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Miss Josephine E. Lynch left on Monday for Waterbury, where she is to begin work as teacher in the public schools.

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The Men’s Club had a very pleasant meeting Tuesday night, at the home of Carlos D. Stillson in Hattertown. The perfect moonlight made the drive a delight.