* * *

More and more Newtowners are beginning to realize that Newtown High School will actually be without many of its sports and extracurricular programs this year, now that a recent decision by the Board of Education has had a week to sink in. Over 700 interested townspeople have signed a petition supporting the restoration of the sports and activities, while yet another group has decided to organize a demonstration in front of the Middle School on August 25.

* * *

Newtown’s recent addition of a job bank has turned out to be a ray of sunshine for idle teens. Under the set-up of the service, organized by Y-SIN (Youth Services in Newtown), teens or potential employers may contact the group for work or employees respectively. According to Y-SIN Committee Chairman Darlene Jackson, 33 Newtown students are registered and working through the service. “Feedback has been excellent from students, parents and employers,” said Mrs Jackson.

* * *

Police are investigating vandalism done to approximately 25 to 30 mailboxes in the area of Possum Ridge, Castle Hill, Taunton Hill and Taunton Lake Roads over the weekend. Officer Harold F. Evans, Jr discovered a number of mailboxes had been damaged or destroyed at 2:15 Sunday morning, August 16. Later on in the evening, more were vandalized. The persons responsible for the vandalism left the area before they could be caught, said police.

* * *

Joseph E. Borst, caucus-endorsed Republican candidate for selectman in the September 8 Newtown Republican primary, took issue this week with Philip J. Kopp over increasing the town’s tax base by attracting corporate or commercial development. “I have yet to see an instance where the tax rate has been reduced by increased industrial or corporate expansion, except, of course, in the oil rich states, such as Alaska,” said Mr Borst.

* * *

Chieppo Bus Company, which runs twice daily between Bridgeport and Danbury, making stops at Newtown and Fairfield Hills Hospital, has petitioned the State Department of Transportation to abandon the route. Chieppo’s request brought opposition this week both from Fairfield Hills and Newtown First Selectman Jack Rosenthal. “I recognize the fact that the people of Newtown are not breaking down the doors of buses in order to ride, nevertheless it is one sure means of travel if all else fails. For that reason alone it should be continued,” Mr Rosenthal wrote.

* * *

Harry Greenman of Elm Drive, proprietor of Lovell’s Garage on Main Street and lifelong Newtown resident, was reading the paper last Friday night when he discovered he was $20,000 richer. A regular player in the state’s Money Tree game, Mr Greenman says he has been buying the red, yellow, blue and green tickets since the game began. Last week he found that he had finally won while comparing his ticket numbers with the winning numbers in the paper. “I just figure that I was lucky once,” he maintains.

 

August 24, 1956

At the opening meeting of the Newtown Board of Education held Tuesday evening in the high school, only one item of business was of public interest and that was the progress reported on the new Sandy Hook elementary school. As townspeople know, there have been delays. Nevertheless, the report of the architect, Louis E. Jallade, on Tuesday evening, indicated that he was making every effort to have portions of the new building ready for occupancy on the first day of school, which comes in less than two weeks, on September 5.

* * *

William A. Honan, owner and proprietor of W.A. Honan, Inc, the general store in Hawleyville, has announced his retirement from business after 43 years in Hawleyville. According to Mr Honan, he has been in the same business longer than any one in Newtown. The Hawleyville Post Office, which has been housed in the store, will take over the entire edifice for enlarged quarters on September 1.

* * *

Hundreds of watermelons were strewn over the pavement at the intersection of Main and Sugar Streets, this Thursday morning, August 23, when a large trailer truck spilled part of its load of the succulent fruit, while attempting to avoid striking a car at the intersection. In a matter of minutes, dozens of youngsters had appeared and were scrambling to retrieve the melons.

* * *

An awards presentation will take place Wednesday evening, August 29, at 8 o’clock, when representatives of the United States Air Force meet with members of the Newtown Ground Observers Corps in the Edmond Town Hall. Fifteen members of the local community who have given time and effort by serving at the Newtown Observation Post will be presented Ground Observer Corps wings and awards by Capt Edwin P. Leonard of the United States Air Force.

* * *

In observance of 25 years in business at the same location on Route 34, Sandy Hook, William d. Murphy, proprietor of the Berkshire Filling Station, will hold an open house on Sunday afternoon, August 26, from 3 to 5 o’clock at the station. Refreshments will be served, and guests will be invited to inspect buildings and equipment, a display of antiques and oddities, a Magic Barrel exhibition, and a product supplier’s display.

* * *

NEWTOWN GENERAL STORE Weekend Specials: Wheaties….2 lge. Pkgs. 43 cents; Shurfine Oven Baked Beans….2 28 oz tins 43 cents; Shurfine Peanut Butter….12 oz jar 31 cents; Minute Maid Lemonade….3 for 49 cents; Corned Beef Brisket….69 cents lb.; Rib Roast of Beef….59 cents lb.

 

August 21, 1931

St John’s Episcopal: A great change has taken place in the newly formed choir under the leadership of Donald Griscom of Sandy Hook. Friday is the day of our weekly choir practice, and it is good to hear his instructions on “How to sing,” and one must admit it does help a great deal to follow his advice. Sometimes we get into a little flutter by reason of his voice, and eye, and manner, he never gets exactly peppery with us, but sometimes gets slightly miffed until the harmony of our voices is to his liking; then he smiles benevolently.

* * *

W.B. Harris, the popular proprietor of the Maryland Tea House, will shortly open at the Madigan home on Church street, an up-to-date tea house. Alterations have already been started and a large dining room is being built on the east side. This place is really ideally situated and is on one of the most heavily traveled tourist roads in the state.

* * *

Labor Day, September 7, is to be a banner day in Newtown, when the first annual horse show will be held on the property of Stephen Budd in Newtown. This horse show will have every feature of the larger shows that are held annually in this county. One of the feature attractions will be the farmers’ horse race for cash prizes.

* * *

Maurice Chevalier in “The Smiling Lieutenant.” You don’t know Maurice Chevalier until you’ve seen “the Smiling Lieutenant,” and that’s at the Edmond Town Hall theater for two days, Wednesday and Thursday. It opens with Maurice Chevalier’s gay love-making, his delicious comedy singing raising a riot of laughs and tender emotion in the eyes and hearts of his audience.

* * *

As announced, last week, Miss Hawley’s portrait by Frederick Lester Sexton, a token of appreciation from the townspeople of Newtown, will be hung on her birthday, August 22. In deference to Miss Hawley’s dislike of public ceremonies, there will be no formal unveiling of the portrait.

* * *

H.G. Erwin, of New York City, a well-known interior architect and decorator, has purchased under contract, from the estates of the late Harlow and Louise Benedict, an exceptionally attractive old colonial house, together with 100 shares of land, located in Newtown. Mr Erwin plans to improve the place and occupy it for his summer home.

 

August 24, 1906

A lady was driving up to the store of G.F. Baker & Co in Hawleyville, Thursday last, when her horse became frightened and dashed away. But for the presence of mind of C.W. Halsted there might have been quite a serious accident. Mr Halsted was returning from the postoffice when the horse started and as it went by him he sprang to the horse’s head. He was dragged for quite a distance, but at last succeeded in stopping the horse.

* * *

W.H. Shepard is putting in the foundation for the power house for the Newtown Water Co. The 300 cement blocks to be used in the building are now completed.

* * *

Contractor McCollum and men began work, Monday, on the Masonic Hall, and the frame is now up and covered. The building is 28x56, and will present a fine appearance.

* * *

To Editor The Newtown Bee: To aid in building up the Sunday school of the Sandy Hook Methodist church, I will give to each child under the age of 15 years who attends the Sunday school on Sunday, September 2, 1906, a 1906 dime. I will come up prepared for at least 100 children and hope to see the church filled with them. Henry C. Johnson, Sandy Hook, Ct.

* * *

Manager Beers of the local telephone exchange has had ‘phones placed in the residences of Mrs Bertha Ferris, Norman B. Glover, George W. Northrop and Walter Ruffles.