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Anyone angling for Housatonic River fish is advised to hold off eating them until the Department of Environmental Protection confirms that PCBs are on a downward trend. According to a study released by General Electric Company last week, the amount of PCBs in the Connecticut portion of the Housatonic River had declined dramatically. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection engineer Charles Fredette said this week after looking over the GE report, the department has “a lot of questions” about its methods which it plans to discuss with the company in the next couple of weeks.

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Merchants at the Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street sponsored the first annual Christmas Stroll here on the evening of December 16. A Christmas tree on top of the Newtown Hardware building was all lit up, entertainment was provided by various groups and individuals, and merchants provided free refreshments in their stores.

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Newtown High School sports fans can take heart in the fact that the school has a new scoreboard. The 13-year-old relic that used to loom above the gym floor is gone — and with it, the headaches it caused. The old scoreboard got to be very difficult in the last days. It was home to a family of glitches who knew the most infuriating times to perform their glitchy thing. These nights, though, Newtown’s gym glows with the red and green lights of a new Fair Play Scoreboard. The new scoreboard was presented to the school by The Newtown Bee.

 

December 26, 1958

Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer had a day off Saturday, when Santa Claus dispensed with his sleigh and came to Newtown by helicopter, to visit with Newtown youngsters and take orders for Christmas gifts. Santa was greeted when he landed behind Edmond Town Hall by First Selectman Edward J. Coleman, who presented him with a key to the town. From three to six o’clock, Santa toured the town, visiting the various stores.

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More than $1,200 will be turned over to the Danbury Hospital Progress Fund as a result of recent efforts by the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company. This generous donation by the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company is very gratifying to hospital officials. It is expected to arouse similar effort by other fire companies in Newtown and surrounding towns to help the hospital by raising needed money for its Progress Fund.

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Newtown alumni will have their chance to match their skill on the basketball floor on Friday, January 2. Former Captain Bob Rayn and Sarah Jackson have been nominated by the coaches to head the alumni in the two games. Both groups will probably be made up of many former greats — some from the more recent teams, and some from quite a ways back.

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A variety show entitled, “Christmas Around the World” was presented for the patients at Fairfield Hills Hospital by the class of student nurses presently taking their psychiatric affiliation at the hospital, on Tuesday evening, December 23, in the auditorium of Plymouth Hall. The program included vocal solos, song and dance routines, several chorus numbers and skits representing the various cultures of the world.

 

December 22, 1933

Folks are still talking about the fine time at the Hallowe’en Party of the Newtown Country Club, and now comes hot news from the Board of Governors that a Gala Yuletide Supper and Dance will be held at the club house on Friday evening, December 29. The same Mad Hatters’ orchestra will play for dancing and a big surprise is in store for everyone in the form of a floor show — and it will be a real one. An appetizing supper of tomato soup, scalloped oysters, Idaho baked potatoes, cold slaw, celery, olives, apple and cocoanut custard, pie, cheese, and coffee will be served at 6:30 by Mrs Mercer. Supper and dance tickets, $1.

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Rev Paul A. Cullens certainly provided the citizens of Newtown a most enjoyable musical treat in bringing the far-famed and prize winning Mendelssohn male chorus of Waterbury to Newtown for a concert of Christmas melodies. It was too bad the night was celebrated for a downpour of rain and a thick fog prevented a larger audience.

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The United States Postal department has placed Frank A. Blackman on the pension list, after an honorable term of service as rural carrier on Route 16 from the Newtown Postoffice. When Mr Blackman began covering the 30 miles daily on his route he used horses. Mr Blackman has had some interesting and strenuous experiences during these 32 years and if he should set them all down they would fill a book.

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D.N. Popovitch has been doing some remarkable work in improving his farm in Taunton. He has torn out the stone walls inwhat enclosed four fields and now has one large meadow of 20 acres. What was formerly a field of tangled brush he has now turned into a fine pasture lot. Mr Popovitch has also built two small lakes on his place.

December 25, 1908

Eugene Northrop is riding out in a new runabout buggy, purchased of Danbury parties. O.E. Morgan lost his faithful family horse, last week, and has purchased a fine new stepper of Redding parties to take its place.

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H.M. Greenman of Cold Springs farm received a consignment of Rhode Island Red chickens which he will use in one of his breeding yards for 1909. His brooder and incubator house is also completed, so he will start the new year in shape to handle about 600 chicks a month.

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The Christmas service of the Congregational Sunday school, Tuesday night, brought out an audience which filled the body of the house, and all the available seats in the gallery. The children were given a large part in the order of service, and a great deal of interest was manifested in the exercises.

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The horse belonging to Joseph Brenner was found, Sunday, in Southbury, by Patrick Gannon. The Southbury citizen had bought the outfit of a stranger for $15, and on Mr Gannon’s demand was turned over to the rightful owner. The horse had been driven to Newtown on Sunday and spotted by a small boy. The horse was driven to Danbury by Mr Brenner some two weeks ago and while he was in the store of McLean Brothers, the stepper disappeared.