David Brown would have liked to have tabled the request of Architect Peter R. Kosinski for more money “indefinitely,” last Thursday afternoon. But while the other two selectmen probably wouldn’t have minded disposing of the thorny matter that way, they agreed they could really only “take no action.” Mr Kosinski, architect for the day care-multi-use center project now under construction, has submitted a letter to the board seeking more money for additional services he says he had performed for the day care portion, as well as to continue administration of the project until completion.

***

Whether or not Bee subscribers will be receiving their July 21 paper was up in the air as The Bee went to press on Thursday afternoon, about 12 hours before it would be known whether postal workers would go on strike. The postal employees were threatening a strike at the termination of their three-year contract (July 20 at midnight) since bargainers were deadlocked over a new agreement.

***

Last week The Bee ran a front page story about the many incidents of vandalism which are on the rise around town, and this week the story continues. Chapter two begins with the damage at the town landfill area over the weekend. There, the recycling paper trailer was set on fire, windows in a front loader and a dumptruck were smashed, and a fuel pump was broken. Estimated cost for total damage is a little over $1,000. This is an incident in which the Newtown Police are sure they know who the vandals are, through witnesses, and arrests are expected shortly.

***

Ruth Hendrickson of Newtown, from the Southwestern Connecticut Girl Scout Council, has been selected by Girl Scouts of the USA to attend “Hike-A-Peak,” July 22 to August 10.

***

The Italian Heritage Club of America Inc was formally brought into being at its charter night dinner on Saturday evening, July 15, at the Holiday Inn in Danbury. People who gathered heard Victor Marino, the master of ceremonies, describe the purposes of the club, and Joseph Notarnicola discuss the attendant symbolism. Ray Gold, president of the Newtown Kiwanis Club, also presented the IHCA with the flag of the United States, then administered the oath of office to the officers, headed by president John D’Addario.

***

A brief but substantive public hearing was conducted July 13 on the Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission’s proposal for a new zone regulation to permit neighborhood shopping centers. Developer William H. Laws and Attorney Francis R. Mercier presented critiques of the proposed regulations, which would permit a neighborhood center on Business B-1 zoned tracts from one to three acres.

***

Newtown’s anti-nuclear activist Mitzi Bowman of Checkerberry Lane is attending a weekend conference on transportation of nuclear materials sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and meeting in Denver, Colo. Mrs Bowman was chosen to represent Connecticut.

JULY 24, 1953

In keeping with the requirements of Public Act 506 adopted by the 1953 General Assembly, Newtown will elect a new Board of Education at the October 5 biennial election, First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson announced this week. The act came about through efforts of the State Department of Education to head off extension of terms of local Boards of Education where towns changed over from annual to biennial elections. Since Newtown is not covered by a special act of the Legislature regarding the election of Boards of Education, Mr Dickinson has pointed out that it will be necessary to elect two members to the board for six years, two for four years, and two for two years. Present incumbents are: William A. Honan, chairman, Raymond L. Hall, secretary, Nelson G. Curtis, Fred J. Carmody, Barbara N. Smith and John F. Holian.

***

One phase of the two-pronged program of the Italian Community Center of Bridgeport got under way this month with the opening of a day camp for boys and girls on the 143-acre tract of pasture and woodland which the Center acquired this year.

 ***

Residents of Zoar and Wapping Districts, meeting Wednesday evening at the Riverside Clubhouse for one of a series of district zoning discussions called by the Town Development Committee, decided to hold further meetings. It was decided to hold a general district meeting to discuss zoning regulations at the clubhouse next Friday evening, July 31, at 8 o’clock. About 25 people attended Wednesday’s meeting.

***

Fireworks will be shot off on Taylor Field this Friday evening, July 24, to furnish an entertaining program for townspeople and their children. The spectacle will be sponsored by the Newtown firemen for the benefit of the Boy Scouts.

***

About 65 members of the Congregational Church’s Sunday School enjoyed their annual picnic Monday, July 20, at Sandy Beach, Lake Quassapaug, augmented by 15 adults including Richard Hibbard, in charge of the outing, mothers who furnished transportation and others who came along to look after the small fry.

***

A subdued group of children trooped off the 10:07 from New York City at Bethel railroad station this Thursday morning, accompanied by a worker of the New York Herald-Tribune Fresh Air Fund. The 14 children were met by the Newtown committee of the Fund headed by Mrs L. Alfred Mannhardt and many of the local sponsors who will have them as their guests two weeks. Inevitably two boys missed the train and were to follow later in the day.

***

The first camp for intermediate girls, aged seven to 11 years, opened Monday, July 27, at Fredericka House, Sandy Hook. Forty-two girls from New York City and vicinity are attending the camp for the three-week period.

JULY 20, 1928

Monday evening at about 8:30 o’clock a call for help from the firemen came from the Hayts’ Corner section, where the house on what is known as the Bumpus farm was very rapidly being consumed by fire.

***

Upham’s Japanese Gardens at Hawleyville will formally open to the public on Saturday, August 4. It will be a distinctive, original, and beautiful dining place, supervised by an experienced Japanese chef, who will serve dinners and lunches, such as will satisfy the most fastidious.

***

Julian Hillhouse, Newtown, and Philadelphia educator, is one of four men who have just scaled Mount Scott, 10,826 feet, one of the highest peaks of the Canadian Rockies, and never before conquered by man.

***

Mrs George B. Beers gave a very delightful tea at her house Tuesday afternoon for Miss Isabel Tieman and her bridal attendants.

***

The Plastic Molding Corp is installing new machinery and expects to begin manufacturing by August 1.

***

Rev Harry Studwell, pastor of the Methodist Church, has moved from Sandy Hook to the Kennedy home on West Street.

JULY 24, 1903

It won’t be necessary for President Roosevelt to preach about race suicide in Newtown. In Taunton district there is a man who is the father of 19 living children.

***

The iron fence about the Beach Memorial Library building, and the gutters and the water conductors on the library, are being painted by W.P. Tomlin.

***

Deputy Sheriff C.R. Johnson has placed a telephone in his house. The call is 248-5.

***

Miss Josephine E. Lynch has returned to her home on Mile Hill from the State Normal Training School at New Haven, from which she has just been graduated with honors.

***

Owing to the pouring rain, an audience of about 20 were present at the exhibition of the Hatch moving pictures at the Town Hall Saturday night. He gave an excellent entertainment, and had the weather been favorable, would have played to a paying house.

***

The honor of catching the premium bass in Taunton Lake belongs, thus far this season, to Wilbur Briscoe. He took the fish from the water one day last week. It weighed four pounds and ten ounces.

***

Master Harry Beckwith is suffering severely from mercury poisoning.

***

The selectmen will have their monthly meeting on Saturday from 9 to 12 for the purpose of paying bills and attending to other business.