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THE WAY WE WERE

AUGUST 30, 1974

One year after the Charter Revision Commission began its labors, its members

ended their work at their meeting on August 27 at Edmond Town Hall. Five of

the nine commission members met to discuss and act on final changes in the

proposed revisions as a result of their own public hearing, and the

suggestions the Board of Selectmen made after their hearing last week. The

selectmen met in executive session last Thursday to suggest changes. With the

adoption of the final draft by the commission on Tuesday evening, the

selectmen plan to look over the proposed charter changes at their meeting on

September 3. At that meeting the selectmen will act on what questions will be

actually placed on the ballot.

Following consultation with a local realtor on land availability, the Public

Building Committee Monday night decided to search for at least a ten-acre

parcel of land in an industrial corridor running along Route 25 for location

of a new town garage and maintenance facility. The search comes in the wake of

the disapproval by the Planning & Zoning Commission on August 16 of the town's

special exception request to place the proposed garage in a residential area,

on land owned by the town off Philo Curtis Road, Sandy Hook. The commission

based its disapproval on the adverse effect it felt the facility would have on

the residential area.

The public hearing conducted by the Planning & Zoning Commission for nearly

nine hours last Friday evening and Saturday morning, August 23-24, can best be

summed up in one word: incredible. The hearing, on William H. Johnson's

application for a special exception, in accordance with the Newtown zoning

regulations, for Eagle Hill, a therapy and treatment center for alcoholics,

went from 8 pm to 4:50 am. Apart from the very lengthy presentations of both

the proponents and organized opponents, the hearing was marked by strong

defense, and opposition to the plan, attacks on P&Z because of the length of

the hearing, and a considerable dose of emotionalism. Mr Johnson's case was

coordinated by Attorney C. Harold Schwartz of Goldstein & Peck, Bridgeport,

the same counsel who represented the applicant in the first public hearing on

Eagle Hill in April, 1972. Planning & Zoning approved the application then but

a group of area residents won a court reversal of the decision because the 2-1

vote had not been by a majority of the five-member commission.

For the past several Tuesdays, members of the town road crew have been

picketing the Town Hall after their working hours to show protest over

negotiations which have failed to produce a contract for the members of the

crew who recently unionized. This past Tuesday was no exception, only this

time picketers marched in front of the Town Hall in the evening hours so they

could express their grievances to people who entered the building to attend

meetings or go to the movies. Jack Butler, president of the union, spoke

Tuesday night in protest over recent statements which were made by Road

Superintendent Edward Napier and First Selectman Frank DeLucia in regards to

the hiring of a new man at $4.02 an hour.

Wednesday night the rains came down in spades and by the time the deluge was

over, the highway department and residents had more than their share of woes

by having to cope with bad road washouts. Hardest hit was Pootatuck Park, with

at least eight roads so badly washed out that they were rendered impassable.

According to Road Superintendent Edward Napier, at least two-thirds of the

park was isolated because of the washouts. Dispatched to the park the first

thing on Thursday morning were 14 trucks, a bulldozer, two front-end loaders

and a grader along with 27 men. It was hoped that the park roads would all be

opened and passable by Thursday night, but Mr Napier expected the repair work

would take two to three days.

The Republican and Democratic Town Committees will meet on the softball field

on Labor Day afternoon to dispute the title of softball champions of Newtown.

At least five members from each Town Committee are required to play at all

times. Ed Sullivan, manager/coach of the Republicans, says that he has 16

possible players signed up. Sutherland Denlinger is in charge of the

Democratic team roster.

With its first goal of $3,500 by September 1 almost within reach, the Newtown

Tennis Association thanks all those who have contributed so generously so far

to the fund raising campaign for tennis court number five. The $3,500 will

enable the association to place a down payment for the court's construction.

NTA's goal now is to raise an additional $4,500 to finance the full cost of

the court.

Frank C. Tomaino, the Newtown High School mathematics teacher who has been

director of Newtown's adult education program for the past two years, has

announced he is resigning that position to focus his attention on his regular

teaching duties.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1949

With the return of Coach Harold S. DeGroat on Wednesday from Moss Lake Camp

where he has been vacationing, practice for the night football game proceeds

this Thursday under his direction. The team has been practicing with temporary

coach Tom Conway during Mr DeGroat's absence.

The hearing on the petition of the Regional Board of Education to restrain the

town of Newtown from interference with construction of the regional high

school was opened on Monday in Hartford before Superior Court Judge Howard W.

Alcorn, and late that afternoon was recessed until this Friday. During the

morning session Attorney Alan K. Smith, Hartford bond counsel, testified that

no bond issue could be sold while any litigation was threatened or pending

against the Regional Board. He testified that the vote of the Newtown town

meeting of June 24 constituted such a threat. That vote instructed the Board

of Selectmen to take any legal means to prevent the Regional Board from

building the regional high school. The Regional Board at this time, however,

seeks a temporary injunction, since a permanent injunction cannot be issued

until the regular court term. Attorney Smith testified that a temporary

injunction would not serve the purpose.

A special town meeting will be held this Friday evening, September 2, at the

Edmond Town Hall at 8 o'clock. The meeting has been called by the Board of

Selectmen pursuant to a petition presented to them. The purpose of the meeting

is "to authorize and empower the Newtown Ambulance association, Incorporated,

to construct and equip an addition to the Newtown Firehouse for the purpose of

housing and maintaining the ambulance..."

Beginning on Tuesday, September 12, the Newtown Bowling League will open its

1949-50 season with four teams meeting in competition at the bowling alleys in

the Edmond Town Hall at 7 and 9 o'clock. This year's league of 80 men is

comprised of 16 teams which are equally matched in number of players,

experience and skill. Players for each team were selected on the basis of

their last year's averages in order that the groups might have the same, or

nearly the same, total averages.

For the second time within the year a local group will stage a fashion show

with Melissa Carpenter's Country Casuals of Brookfield Center. The event to be

held on Thursday afternoon, September 8, will be backed by the League of Women

Voters under the direction of Mrs Karl Knaur of Main Street. Under the

direction of Mrs Frederick Herring, the following local women have been

selected to model Country Casuals: Mrs Ellis Gladwin, Mrs Harold Steck, Mrs

Charles Cavanaugh, Mrs Morton Baker, Mrs William Oakley, Mrs Bayard Hoppin,

Miss Patricia Smith, Miss Judy Brewer, Miss Betsy Jayne Ingels, Mrs Mortimer

Smith and Mrs Robert Clark.

Title was passed, Tuesday afternoon at the office of Attorney John F. Holian,

on a piece of land of some eight acres, off Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, which

has been purchased by the SACs from Harold Bassett for use as an athletic

field for the club. The acquisition of this land will mean a great deal to the

SACs, who are eager to develop a baseball diamond and other athletic

facilities on the property.

AUGUST 29, 1924

The Old Orchards Tea Room on Mt Pleasant has been enjoying a remarkably fine

business during August, which is bound to continue through the early fall.

At the Republican caucus at the Town Hall Wednesday night, Senator Philo T.

Platt was chosen chairman and Allison P. Smith, clerk. The following delegates

were elected to the several conventions: State, Sen Philo T. Platt, Levi C.

Morris, Newton M. Curtis, Edith M. Coger. Congressional, Arthur T. Nettleton,

Frank H. Platt, R.J. Brophy, Mrs M.D. Beers. Senatorial, Rodney P. Shepard,

Allison P. Smith, Mrs Ernest Hawley, Miss Adaline Hurd.