Newtown churchgoers are advised to doublecheck household clocks Saturday, February 22, to avoid an embarrassing arrival at place of worship just as everyone else is leaving on Sunday, February 23. At this unaccustomed time of year the nation is going to “Spring forward,” setting clocks one hour ahead to Daylight Saving Time in the interests of energy conservation.

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The Bee this week reviewed the problems Edward McHale, safety consultant for the State’s Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA) Administration, found with the present town garage during an advisory inspection he made on February 12. Mr McHale was present at the Town Meeting on February 13 to review the problems he had uncovered. The day after the Town Meeting, two employees of the Highway Department filed formal complaints with the OSHA Administration. According to union president Jack Butler, the complaints were not filed by the union, though all the employees knew about the complaints and approved. Those who filed complaints about working conditions may remain anonymous. Mr McHale noted serious structural problems with roof support at the garage, with the beams being too far apart on ten-foot centers. He also noted there are cracks in the wall from settling of the building.

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The Department of Transportation has completed its feasibility study on the relocation of Route 25 to be submitted to this year’s General Assembly. The DOT Bureau of Planning and Research has concluded that the traffic, geometric, and impact studies conducted up to now have firmly established the feasibility of a new Route 25 from Route 111 in Trumbull to Interstate Route 84 in Newtown as an alternative for the Route 25 transportation corridor.

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“Dirty pool” and “living with Alice in Wonderland” are among the charges made by the chairman of a group opposed to the new Route 25 and directed at a planner who favors it under certain conditions. Seth O.L. Brody, a Bridgeport attorney who resides in Newtown, has released a letter written to Richard Anderson of the Regional Plan Association in New York City. As chairman of Environmental Study and Protection Inc, Mr Brody protested a brand-new RPA report on Connecticut transportation. The Brody letter attacked the RPA report on two fronts: traffic justification and an RPA recommendation of “sterilization” or state zoning at all Super 25 interchanges.

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Mrs Mary Bellamy, voters service chairman for the Newtown League of Women Voters, and several members of her committee will distribute petitions to urge the removal of the party lever on voting machines. They will be at the Connecticut National Bank on Friday, February 28, during business hours.

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The Newtown Bicentennial Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, February 25 at 8 pm in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. The meeting is open to the general public and residents of all ages are encouraged to attend. Newtowners from the Middle School level up to the senior citizenry are already contributing their thoughts, ideas and time towards the rapidly approaching 200 year anniversary of this nation. Christopher Spiro, chairman, aided by Harvey Hubbell, IV, are spearheading this project, and in keeping with the Newtown style, plan to make it a truly momentous occasion for all Newtown residents by relating historical education to the festivities of the celebration.

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Because of requests from Newtown organizations for suggested projects whereby their members might help the Commission expand Newtown’s recreational facilities, Park and Recreation Commission Chairman David Larson has sent a list to the heads of service clubs and civic and volunteer groups.

FEBRUARY 24, 1950

William K. Daniells, Newtown member and former chairman of the Regional Board of Education, states in an interview with The Bee that Newtown taxpayers are being duped. A nineteen room local high school plus gymnasium, two shops, library, auditorium and cafeteria for a total cost of $750,000 is fishy, he says. The recently completed addition to our Hawley School cost over $300,000 and this covered only ten elementary class rooms, without costs for land, site development, architect fees or the expensive equipment required for a high school. We all know, Mr Daniells states, that high schools cost more to build than elementary schools. Our legislature recognizes this by allowing 50 per cent more state building aid for high schools than for elementary schools. Newtown’s school building committee, he feels, did a swell job in holding bare construction costs down to 76 cents per cubic foot for the elementary addition to Hawley School. Using 76 cents per cubic foot, the proposed high school would cost over $800,000, without land, site development, architect fees and equipment, to say nothing of athletic fields and a contingency fund. When these items are added, the cost would be at least one million dollars.

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Miss Jean Pinney of The Bee staff, who has more confidence and certainly more experience with a typewriter than with a pair of skis, spent most of the present week in bed as a result of miscalculations with the latter. On Sunday, in company with a group of friends at the Mohawk Ski Area, Cornwall, Miss Pinney failed to negotiate a slope properly and came away with two bad sprains, one for each ankle.

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Mrs George M. Stuart has been named chairman of the 1950 Easter Seal Sale campaign for the benefit of the Connecticut Society for Crippled Children and Adults in Newtown, according to an announcement this week by Ralph H. Love, state president, Hartford. This is the 10th year that Mrs Stuart has served in this capacity.

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As a consequence of the first real snowfall of the winter there have been a number of complaints received concerning the failure of a few Main Street residents to have the snow removed from their sidewalks.

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At the February 17 meeting held in the Hawley School, the Newtown Board of Education voted to reemploy for 1950-51 all members of the school staff. Walter Los, vice-principal and president of the Newtown Teachers Association, and Joseph Ozanne, French teacher, representing the Newtown teachers, appeared before the board to request an upward revision of the Newtown salary schedule. They pointed out that the requested increase, a salary beginning at $2,400 and going to $4,000 for a bachelor’s degree and $2,800 to $4,800 for one year beyond a master’s degree, would help Newtown to hold present staff members and in cases of resignations the board would have more interested applicants for the openings.

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In the match game at the Edmond Town Hall bowling alleys last Sunday afternoon between the Post Office team and the Newtown Cleaners, the Post Office five emerged victorious by cleaning the Cleaners two out of three games. A good crowd (free admission) was on hand to see the match, and all seats were full. The games were enjoyed by all, with fun galore and plenty of ribbing. Bart Carmody with a 133 high string and teammate Al Nichols with a high of 127 were high scorers for the Post Office team, while Hermie Parker with 108 and 109 and teammate Elzie Hunnicut with 109 had high singles for the Cleaners.

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Home decoration was the subject of a talk by Mrs Marni Wood, editor and writer of the Dodgingtown District, given before the meeting of the Mothers Club held in the Trinity Church guild rooms on Monday evenings. The meeting was well attended and Mrs Robert W. Russell, president, presided and introduced the speaker.

 

FEBRUARY 20, 1925

The store of Arthur J. Gallagher in the Glen was held up by four bandits Wednesday night, about 10:30 o’clock and the sum of $25 was taken from the cash register. Sheriff Beers was notified, but no trace of the bandits has been obtained. They came and departed by automobile.

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Miss Dorothy Dinkler is the proud owner of a new Rainhard piano.

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George Schaefer is driving a new Dodge touring car.

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Gasoline enough to fill to capacity reservoir No. 1 of the Hartford Municipal water supply located at West Hartford was consumed by motor vehicles in Connecticut during the past year, it is indicated by records of the state Motor Vehicle Department.

FEBRUARY 23, 1900

Despite the rain and darkness a goodly number of young ladies and gentlemen presented themselves at the home of Jerry Trov of Zoar Thursday evening, February 8, in answer to a general call for volunteers to enter into regular service in tripping the light fantastic. About 15 couples passed all requirements and as strains of music pealed forth from the instruments of the South Britain Band, partners took to the floor and danced to the music of “The Lock on the Chicken Coop Door” and other popular airs until 5:30 in the morning.

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Some nocturnal visitor visited the clothes line of Mrs Martin Lynch on Botsford Hill recently and helped himself to nine dress shirts, sorting them from others on the line and taking only the best, six of which were never worn.