* * *

Allowances for high school and middle school sports programs and extracurricular activities in the 1981-82 budget came under the knife at a special meeting of the Newtown Board of Education on Thursday, June 25. By chopping funds in half, the school board members added Newtown to a growing number of Connecticut communities that have been forced to reduce spending in these areas. All of the plans being considered require that an athlete or his/her parents pay a certain amount to help defray a sport’s cost.

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Four years ago Democratic First Selectman Jack Rosenthal advocated a proposed charter change to eliminate the town’s three member Board of Selectmen in favor of a single elected chief executive, and Republicans lined up behind retaining the board instead of concentrating executive authority in the hands of one person. Voters in that election year finally rejected eliminating the board. The proposal is back again this year, and it’s another election year.

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Thirty-five high school students from Spain and Portugal will pay a three-day visit to Newtown. Due to arrive July 8, the students will stay with local families and participate in activities arranged by the Newtown chapter of AFS International/Intercultural Programs. The students are part of a group of more than 3,200 teenagers traveling across the United States on two-week bus trips.

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Newtown-born Joe Mahoney remembers when Earl Meyers used to deliver groceries to his parents. Now he and his wife, Carol, are taking over the Newtown General Store and getting some sound advice from Earl and Grace Meyers who sold the store last summer after operating it for 31 years. The Mahoneys follow a long line of retailers who have operated the store since the latter part of the nineteenth century.

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For Newtown Superintendent of Schools Dr Albert Brinkman, those long awaited days of pleasurable retirement have arrived. After 41 years in educational systems in New York and Connecticut, he has decided to call it quits. Teachers, administrators and staff honored Dr Brinkman recently in a quiet, daylong reception at the central office.

* * *

Many school systems throughout the nation, including Newtown, have incorporated aspects of behavior modification principles in the classroom. A version of this approach is called reality therapy, a technique applied in Newtown classroom settings by some teachers. No matter what the name, the goal is essentially the same: the use of the basic psychological principles to help people to change their behavior so that they can lead more satisfying lives.

 

July 6, 1956

Next week the biggest single event for the combined Newtown fire companies takes place when all units unite to stage their weeklong carnival on the east side of Queen Street opposite the shopping center. The customary midway attractions will be offered, say the firemen, with rides of all kinds for the children and games of skill and chance for their elders. In conjunction with the weeklong affair, plans have been completed for staging one of the biggest firemen’s parades to take place in Newtown, with more than 20 visiting units from Connecticut and New York taking part, plus at least four out-of-town bands.

* * *

The Newtown Park Commission this week gratefully acknowledged the gift of 12 picnic tables and benches, made and donated to the Dickinson Memorial Park by the Newtown Rotary Club. Nicholas Domain, the bulldozer operator who has been working at the park for the past several weeks getting the beach and parking areas in shape, has, at his own expense, completed the road through the park.

* * *

Fourth of July was celebrated at Beechbrook in Sandy Hook with the annual parade at 10 in the morning, with all children in the development riding their decorated bikes, wagons and carriages. Candy, ice cream, and favors were given to the youngsters at the conclusion of the event, a big time had by all.

* * *

A fine two-year-old heifer from Mr and Mrs Edward Churchill’s Quiet Valley Farm in Newtown will be flown across the Atlantic Ocean to West Germany this summer to play an important part in the rehabilitation of a farmer-refugee from East Germany. The heifer, Quiet Valley Lady Ada, will become the foundation animal of a new dairy herd, and will start as well a “chain reaction” which will conceivably spread the bloodlines of the Quiet Valley Ayrshires far.

* * *

The Cyrenius H. Booth Library has acquired copies of three maps drawn by Alexandre Berthier, who was attached to Rochambeau’s staff during that leaders march through Connecticut. Three maps which are the photostatic copies of the originals owned by Princeton University were presented to the library by the American Heritage Discussion group through its leader, Dr James A. Tobey.

 

* * *

Upon recommendation of the Governor’s Poliomyelitis Advisory Committee of the Public Health Council of the State Department of Health broadened, this week the age limits for the use of Salk vaccine to include all persons aged six months to 19 years inclusive and pregnant women. This change was made, the health department noted, because of the large allocations and receipt of vaccine in Connecticut since the regulation was changed on May 28, when the original priority group of three to 12 was expanded to one to 14.

 

July 3, 1931

A good sized audience enjoyed the vigorous address of Hon Henry Trumbull of Plainville, president of the Connecticut State Chamber of Commerce, who spoke in the Alexandria room of the Edmond Town hall, Thursday night. A committee was appointed consisting of W.F. Scott, A.J. Smith, George M. Stuart, Dr W.F. Desmond, Judge Hampton and William A. Upham to see what could be done to improve the safety of traffic conditions at the flag pole.

* * *

The second unit of the Fairfield State hospital will be constructed at a cost of not more than $1,912,424, exclusive of equipment, it was estimated following the opening of bids for the general contract, heating and ventilation, electrical, and plumbing contracts by the trustees of the institution in the State Capitol, Tuesday afternoon. Twelve buildings are included in the second unit, the reception hospital, general hospital, staff dining hall, nurses’ home, male employees’ home, female employees’ home, married employees’ home, and five duplex staff houses.

* * *

Dea Horace A. Smith, while working on his tractor, in some hay was caught between the tractor and the side of a small chicken house. He was badly bruised and also sustained a sprained shoulder and two fractured ribs. Dr E.L. Kingman attended to his injuries. He is getting along comfortably.

* * *

The Men’s Club enjoyed a real treat, Tuesday night, in their meeting at the Parker house in the address by Rev Charles H. Kane, pastor of St Rose’s church, on the work of the lumber jacks in the forests of Southern France during the world’s war, where he was stationed as chaplain and one of the officers in charge. Father Kane said he had always felt that not enough of credit was given to the men who labored behind the lines.

* * *

Eugene R. Botsford, who fell 20 feet from a ladder and landed on his shoulder, sustaining a dislocation, is getting along very well. Dr W.F. Desmond attended him. It was regarded as a miracle that he was not killed, as he is over 70 years of age.

* * *

Tuesday, June 30, was a day set apart for the laying of the corner stone for the new St John’s church in Sandy Hook, and many friends were present to hear the inspiring words of Bishop Acheson and the encouragement that he gave to the members of the church. His subject was very appropriate for the occasion. “The Pride of the Village,” said how proud we all should be, that a new church was to be erected upon the old foundation, for every village should have a place of worship, for it is the villages of America that keep it as a whole, good and pure.

 

July 6, 1906

Thanks to the energy and patriotism of a few public spirited Sandy Hook citizens, the town enjoyed the most elaborate Fourth of July celebration, Wednesday, which has taken place in recent years. The heavy showers of Wednesday morning and the early afternoon prevented the ball games which had been schedule at Ronald Park for the afternoon, so the public were the more eager for the celebration of the evening.

* * *

The new hotel on Botsford Hill is nearing completion and it is a very convenient and pleasant hotel. Guests from New York will begin to occupy it next week. The building was planned and the work carried out under the supervision of T.F. Brew and it is a credit to him.

* * *

A large audience was present at St Rose’s church, Sunday afternoon, at the confirmation service when Bishop Tierney was present. After the service of confirmation Bishop Tierney addressed the children in a familiar way. The bishop said in substance: You begin a new life to-day, dear children…I must warn you against one sin, I mean that of drunkenness. Nobody means to get drunk and yet there is a great deal of drunkenness.

* * *

Messrs Hermon H. Peck and Frederick L. Northrop have completed their contract of building a road from the south end of Taunton lake, northward along the east shore of the lake, a distance of about 800 feet to the site of the power house. Their work has been done thoroughly and well, and those who have driven over it are pleased with the picturesque route.

* * *

I can say without fear of contradiction that agricultural conditions are looking up in the territory served by THE BEE, covering portions of Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven counties. One thing that is helping is the steady and unmistakable drift from city to country. It is my judgment that in the last two years there have been more purchases by city people of country property, small farms and village places than there had been in the previous five or six year. Newtown, and the territory served by THE BEE, is decidedly a dairy country.