Selectman Frank DeLucia said he was satisfied following an executive session Tuesday night at which First Selectman Jack Rosenthal explained his actions last week in settling grievances brought by three highway department employees. Last week, Mr DeLucia raised questions with Director of Finance William Hanlon about whether Mr Rosenthal could settle grievances by adjusting employees’ wages without the Board of Selectmen’s approval, since the union contract was approved by the board.

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 The Newtown League of Women Voters will sponsor a program titled “Newtown’s Future: What’s in Store?” to give townspeople a chance to hear different experts’ views on how our town is developing.

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A large audience enjoyed hearing Dr Truman Warner of Brookfield Tuesday night, February 10, as he attempted to give his listeners a picture of the Danbury area of Western Connecticut during Revolutionary Days. This was the second of the series of three talks sponsored by the Newtown Historical Society on behalf of the Bicentennial Commission and aroused a lot of interest, judging from the questions from the floor and the group gathered around Dr Warner at the close of the meeting.

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The section of the town-owned Stefanko property considered a possible day care center building site by Children’s Adventure Center of Newtown is just too wet and too difficult to adapt to the project, according to Mrs Raymond Craven, chairman of the board of directors of the public day care facility. With a HUD grant of $56,000 approved for building a new facility, the directors must find a different site, either on some other town-owned land, or on land that will not cost too large a proportion of the grant to acquire. “A gift to the town of land for this purpose, either in the center or in Sandy Hook, would be ideal,” Mrs Craven observed.

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Newtown’s Democratic Town Committee got an optimistic report of First Selectman Jack Rosenthal’s first six weeks in office, a warning of work ahead from Town Committee Chairman Earl Smith, and a description of their proceedings as “mind boggling” by a visitor from Hartford. The first selectman and former town chairman told the committee he is certain from his initial experiences with the 18-member Legislative Council that this newly constituted panel will “act in the best interests of the town.” He said he had found most people involved in town government to be pleasant and cooperative and the atmosphere in Edmond Town Hall to be “great.”

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First Selectman Jack Rosenthal and Joseph Bogdan, the town’s labor negotiator, will meet with representatives from the highway department at 2 pm on Friday, February 20, to begin negotiations on the 1976-77 contract for the highway crew.

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Jack Rosenthal is dissatisfied with a provision of the Freedom of Information Act which prohibits him from discussing town matters with the other members of the Board of Selectmen, and would like to see some sort of change in the law. The first selectman told the press Wednesday that he has contacted State Representative John Anderson, 28th District State Senator Joseph Schwartz, and an aide to State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Lieberman of New Haven on the matter.

FEBRUARY 23, 1951

It is reported by H.H. Cutler, chairman, that the High School Building Committee met with the architects Westcott & Mapes, Inc., again last Thursday, and discussed in detail the revised tentative floor plans for the proposed new Junior-Senior High School. In view of the low elevation at the site, and in the interest of economy, it was decided that a combination single- and two-story structure is definitely indicated, but actual determination of a layout was deferred until another meeting set for Thursday evening of this week.

Faced by the challenge thrown out by severe polio epidemics in Fairfield County during the past two years and the national need for funds unequaled in history, Newtown residents responded with the greatest outgiving of funds in 13 years in the March of Dimes campaign which ended January 31, according to a statement released this week by Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh, local chairman. The committee had stated at the beginning of the campaign that the severe epidemics of recent years and the hold-over of cases needing prolonged treatment had created an unprecedented need for funds. The response in Newtown this year totaled $1,429.61, Judge Cavanaugh states, of which $1,234.15 was received through March of Dimes cards, $82.85 through coin boxes, and $112.62 from Newtown’s school students.

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The SAC basketball teams wind up the current season on Sunday night at the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, when somewhat of an extravaganza is promised. The big event of the evening, if not of the season, will be a tussle between the Mighty Midgets and the Popsicles. Game time is 7 o’clock and bleacher seats are sure to be at a premium.

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Architectural changes in the interior of Trinity Episcopal Church, adding measurably to the beauty and utility of the place of worship, have been in process since the beginning of February. The work is being accomplished in a way not to interfere with church services, and it is hoped to have it completed by Easter Sunday. Present alterations, authorized by the Vestry of the church, which is seeking donations to cover the costs of the project, are part of a long-range program projected into the future, and will add materially to the impression of depth in the structure’s interior, besides giving added space in the chancel.

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On Wednesday evening, Rev Gordon D. Pierce, D.D., rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, and Mrs Pierce were guests of honor at a surprise party and supper given by the parish in the church social rooms, marking the first anniversary of their arrival in Newtown, and attended in a downpour of rain by 150 members of the parish.

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The regular monthly meeting of the Newtown Chapter, United World Federalists, will be held at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library on Tuesday evening, February 27, at 8 o’clock. The matter under discussion will be the effort of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to persuade the Connecticut Legislature to rescind the Joint Resolution passed by both Houses in 1949 favoring the entry of the United States into a World Federal Government with limited powers adequate to assure peace. A full attendance of members and friends is desired. It is hoped that representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be on hand to present their views.

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The public is reminded of the open meeting to be held this Friday evening at 8 o’clock in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall. The purpose is to acquaint the public with action previously taken to clear up the pollution of Lake Zoar and to discuss further measures to improve the lake waters.

 

FEBRUARY 19, 1926

A testimonial dinner in honor of O.S. Stoddard, principal of the Hawley School for two and a half years, will be held this Thursday evening at the Parker House at 6:30 o’clock. Over 50 prominent citizens will sit down to dinner with Mr Stoddard, which gives some idea of the strong hold he has made on the good will and regard of the citizens at large.

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The dance lovers of Dodgingtown and vicinity will have an excellent opportunity to enjoy an evening of dancing at Rasmussen’s hall in Dodgingtown on next Friday evening.

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E.J. Hall is installing bathroom facilities and a new kitchen range in the residence of Charles Van Kuren.

FEBRUARY 22, 1901

C.W. Northrop is the owner of an extra good pair of oxen, bought in Meriden.

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The Congregational Sunday School has a committee consisting of Miss Susie Scudder, Mrs H.M. Smith, Mrs L.C. Morris, and Rev O.W. Barker, to select new books for the library.

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Walter Aldrich was so unfortunate to lose a valuable horse last week.

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Mr and Mrs F.B. Drew pleasantly entertained the Whist Club of Hawleyville at their home on Tuesday. The first prize was carried off by E.C. Platt, Mrs F.B. Lake winning the second prize, and Mrs E.C. Platt the consolation.

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O.S. Tyrrill of Hawleyville has been circulating a petition to the selectmen of Newtown in regard to doing away with the grade crossings about Hawleyville.