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Fishermen still are warned not to eat fish caught in Lakes Lillinonah and Zoar, although a recently issued report by the Department of Environmental Protection shows that the PCB level in Housatonic fish has dropped since 1979. While fish from the Housatonic normally are not sold commercially, they sometimes are consumed by individuals.

* * *

Average retail gasoline prices rose 2.6 cents since March 22, according to an April 26 survey done for the Office of Policy and Management’s Energy Division. The current state average is $1.278, up about a penny from last summer’s average price of $1.269.

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In a town ceremony at The Flagpole on May 1, in recognition of the State of Connecticut’s 350th anniversary, First Selectman Jack Rosenthal hearkened back to the State’s 300th anniversary celebration by reading from a speech given on that occasion by Governor Wilbur Cross. 350 balloons were released by representatives of the town’s elementary schools, St Rose School, and the Newtown Middle School.

 

May 6, 1960

Civil Defense personnel are still hard at work in CD Headquarters at the Edmond Town Hall bringing some order out of chaos, after Tuesday’s mock nuclear attack which crippled the state. Ross M.G. Philips, Civil Defense Director, reported the alert as an “overwhelming success.” “There were no calls into the town switchboard, not an auto was moving, not a pedestrian walking anywhere,” said Mr Philips.

* * *

EXCHANGED BY MISTAKE at AFS dinner Saturday, April 30, black cashmere coat. Will the party who has coat with buttons please contact Newtown GArden 6-4286 to make exchange for your own coat.

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Opening day for the Newtown Little League is this Saturday, May 7, when Charles W. Terrell, Jr, First Selectman, will be present at the Little League field at the Italian Community Center in the Berkshire District of Sandy Hook to throw out the first ball. The ceremonies start at 10 am, and opening day will be a double header.

* * *

With the opening of the Dickinson Memorial Park scheduled for the end of May, the Newtown Park Commission is looking for someone to operate a refreshment stand in the park this summer. Fourteen junipers, purchased with money donated by the Garden Club of Newtown and the Horticulture Club of Newtown, will be planted next week along the new steps leading from the parking area to the beach. New sand will be put on the beach and a sample of the swimming pond has been sent to the state health laboratory to be tested.

May 3, 1935

At a meeting held at Sunrise Farm, the Federal Transient Camp in Botsford, on Monday the directors discussed the possibility of bringing the men now housed at Drew Hotel in Bridgeport to Newtown, where the surroundings would be much better for them. The thought in mind is that the men could be employed in building the state park in The Glen.

* * *

William Hunter of the Hawley Manor has built an attractive glassed-in dining room on the south side of his home. The work is expected to be completed by May 15, which will mark the first year for the capable management of Mr and Mrs Hunter at the Manor.

* * *

Those boys who are remaining after Scout meetings to learn boxing from Mr Hillhouse are making fine progress. Here is a most unusual opportunity. Mr Hillhouse, an experienced boxer and what is more, an experienced teacher, is giving his time and even supplying boxing gloves for any boy who wishes to learn.

* * *

The State’s Tercentenary Celebration got off to a flying start with the exceptionally fine exercises held in Bushnell Memorial Hall, Hartford, last Friday noon. At the same time Newtown recognized the start of the celebration throughout the state by ringing the church bells, blowing the fire siren and factory whistles. A number of flags were also flown throughout the day.

 

May 6, 1910

B.D. Beardsley of Mile Hill has just had completed at his place a large new cow barn, just south of his other barn. C.E. Beeman had the contract. Mr Beeman also has the contract for building a new barn for Van Hayes at his place in Sandy Hook and will begin work there in a few days.

* * *

W.W. Wakeley has bought the Fair ground building of C.B. Taylor, and is to move it to a position facing the highway, east of The Bee office, where he will establish an up-to-date garage. He will have one of the largest garages in this part of the state, and proposes to make it the most complete.

* * *

The Newtown Savings Bank formally opened its doors for business, Thursday morning, in its handsome new home, one of the best appointed and most complete Savings bank buildings for its size in the state. The building is of the modified French Renaissance type of architecture, 30x50 feet, and is constructed of Pompeian brick and trimmed with Indiana limestone, granite and terra cotta. The building is fireproof construction throughout, the floors being of steel reinforced concrete.

* * *

State Railroad Commissioners Seymour, Gates and Doolittle held a hearing at the Town hall, Wednesday last, upon the petition of the N.Y., N.H., and H.R.R. Co., for a layout of a new track on the Berkshire division from Hawleyville to Botsford, a distance of about eight miles. Also a change in the present roadbed and the elimination of 21 grade crossings on the Housatonic or Berkshire divisions and the Highland division.