Officials of the regional planning agency and transit district told the Town of Newtown in March that installation of a fixed route bus system to link Newtown with Danbury and Bethel was a good three years off. But Lyndon Thomas, the Board of Selectmen’s observer to the Housatonic Area Regional Transit District (HART), said this week the town may be able to get bus service as early as next July because of the availability of used buses from the State of Connecticut.

***

Over 50 Borough residents attended the budget meeting on Tuesday, June 19, in the Alexandria Room at the Edmond Town Hall. Borough Warden W.L. Christensen conducted the meeting commenting, “It’s nice to see so many people interested in how we spend a few dollars.”

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It was the heat that caused a power outage Monday in the Queen Street, Church Hill Road area, leaving approximatley 100 customers of Northeast Utilities without electricity for one hour and 15 minutes. Among those without power were Queen Street stores and businesses and Edmond Town Hall.

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What some had feared and others had hoped would happen has become a reality. A gas rationing plan based upon the last number or letter appearing on a vehicle’s license plate was put into effect at 12:01 am Wednesday by Governor Ella Grasso who declared an “energy emergency.” Implementation of the state plan that had been drawn up and held in reserve during the 1973-74 Arab Oil Embargo came after Governor Grasso was advised by the state’s Office of Policy and Management that dwindling fuel supplies would dwindle even further.

***

The Board of Education met in special session Tuesday night to complete its 1979-80 budget of $8.6 million, and when they were through, three programs which had been considered for possible extinction next year got a reprieve and will be continued. These were the dropping of the elementary school string program in grade 3, the foreign language program at the middle school, and the high school freshmen sports.

***

The Newtown Summer Festival is inviting all families in Newtown to spend the afternoon and evening at Dickinson Memorial Park, July 4, enjoying a time of games, picnicking, and visiting with friends all topped off by a giant fireworks display.

***

Officers of FISH of Newtown have regretfully come to the decision that their services must be discontinued because of the current gas crisis. As it now stands, the service will be discontinued for the summer, effective immediately, and Malcolm McClintock, group treasurer, said that “FISH will resume when this chaotic gas situation clears up.”

 

JUNE 25, 1954

Two days shy of 173 years from the time the French army under Comte de Rochambeau crossed the Housatonic River from Southbury to Newtown, over a wooden, Army-built bridge just north of Fish Rock, the governor of Connecticut, John Davis Lodge, will accept for the state the new steel-and-concrete highway bridge, located at nearly the same spot, and dedicated to the memory of the French general. This Saturday afternoon, June 26, the bridge will be officially dedicated in ceremonies in which the French government will be represented and state officials besides the governor will participate.

***

Town Court Judge Walter A. Reynolds was nominated for the unexpired term of judge of probate by town Republicans in caucus Tuesday night, June 22, in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, an opening which occurred with the death of Paul V. Cavanaugh, Democrat.

***

The spring handicap team tournament which started the week of June 13 has been progressing rapidly, according to Jack Lawler, club pro. Going into the semifinals, the teams of George Renda and George Kaltenbach will meet George Erben and Al Palmer, while the team of Frank Hubbell and William Murphy will play Richard Sperling and K. Lund.

***

S/Sgt Brendon Jones is enjoying a leave at the home of his parents, Mr and Mrs Hobart V. Jones, Sandy Hook, after completing a tour of duty with the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, US Air Force, in Korea. In the course of his year’s duty in Korea, S/Sgt Jones, a teletype supervisor, was awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal and National Defense Medal.

***

A “presidential” White steamer, vintage of 1907, running under its own power, will lead off next Sunday’s Fourth of July parade. The sturdy antique makes it possible for the parade marshal, First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson, to ride over instead of walk the two-mile parade course from North Main Street to Sandy Hook, as he did last year.

***

Outdoor recreation activities are the order of these warm days for the patients at Fairfield State Hospital. Ten picnics have been arranged for the season, with noonday refreshments to be served on the hill at the east side of the grounds. A great favorite for patients and staff alike is the weekly softball contest, every Thursday morning, between the patients and psychiatric aides, while the monthly swimming party at Lake Quassapaug is looked forward to.

***

The second tour of the garden of Mr and Mrs Herman deVries of Obtuse Road, Hawleyville, held on Thursday, June 17, was attended by about 160 people from various parts of the state.

JUNE 21, 1929

George Fatool, proprietor of the Newtown Confectionery Store, has just installed an up to date popcorn and peanut roasting machine.

***

The Pootatuck Inn located at Sandy Hook is enjoying excellent patronage from both local and out of town motorists. This year the management is serving special dinners each Sunday, with luncheon every day.

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An event of importance to the taxpayers of Newtown took place on June 15, when Selectmen Thomas F. Brew, Frederick B. Lake, and Arthur J. Page drew a town order for $38,000, to pay up the indebtedness of the town, in the shape of notes held by the Newtown Savings Bank. It may be of interest to know that the first note was for $9,200, dated September 24, 1887, and was signed by G. Aaron Sanford, Samuel T. Tilson, and James Green as selectmen.

***

Rev Charles H. Kane, assistant pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Wallingford, has been appointed rector of St Rose’s parish, Newtown, by Bishop Nilan, effective June 23.

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The Hawleyville Fire Company is to hold a boxing and wrestling carnival on Friday evening, June 28. Local champions and near champions will give the public its first view of their ability.

JUNE 24, 1904

Professor C.S. Platt will give the proceeds of his annual recital for the purchase of new books, as heretofore.

***

The annual meeting of the voters of Middle School district will occur on Saturday evening at 8 o’clock.

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The Italian laborers employed in setting the telephone poles are quartered in one of Newtown’s municipal buildings, the imposing but useful West Street jail. They are a peaceable and musical lot of fellows and in the evening the air resounds with their melodies.

***

At the annual school meeting in Dodgingtown school district, last Saturday night, Ernest Ferry was chosen committee and George Barnum clerk. An adjournment was made to Saturday night of this week, when the question of painting the school building will be considered.

***

In driving about town, we find Selectman Blackman’s order, relative to cutting brush by the road contractors, has been quite generally complied with.

***

John Corbett and P.S. Hall have placed four new boats on Taunton Lake, which they are to let.

***

William H. Jillson has started a new industry at Hawleyville in the shape of a skunk farm. He raised the animals for their skins. He has at present 12, but expects to greatly increase the number.