June 28, 1996

Newtown’s first selectman, its town clerk and both of its major political parties agree that changes should be made in the town charter to provide a better process for approving major spending projects. First Selectman Bob Cascella and Town Clerk Cynthia Curtis told the Charter Revision Commission in a letter read at the commission’s meeting last week that the latest round of petitions to force a referendum on the $29 million expansion of Newtown High School and Hawley School “proves that the town meeting form of government is outdated.” Multiple referendums, when town meetings are petitioned to a machine vote, are costly to the community, the two officials said. They asked the commission to consider the format used by the Town of Ridgefield for its annual budget referendum. All appropriations are listed on the same ballot and are voted on individually on the same day.

***

In their continuing effort to build the town’s sewer system, workmen have been digging sewer trenches overnight on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. Because Riverside Road is narrow and the construction equipment is wide, the road must be closed to through-traffic while construction work is underway. To lessen the traffic problems that would result from daytime road closures, the work is done overnight with illumination. John Whitten, chief sewer inspector, said that barring any construction problems, the construction work should be done in two to three weeks.

***

Residents living near the site eyed for the controversial Whispering Pines residential subdivision have criticized a scaled-down version of the development plan, arguing that the project should be cut back even further. About 100 people attended a P&Z public hearing June 20 on M&E Land Group’s proposal for a 16-lot subdivision on 26 acres in Sandy Hook, in the area of Cherry Street, Pine Street, and Narragansett Trail. P&Z members took no action on Whispering Pines June 20... Area residents’ criticisms of the development focused on fears that drilling 16 new domestic water wells for Whispering Pines would deplete existing well water supplies in an area known for its unreliable wells.

***

The Parks & Recreation Commission asked the Charter Revision Commission last Thursday evening whether a special account could be created for the $5 surcharge being collected from participants in sports programs. “We can’t put the money into a gift fund because it isn’t a gift,” said Commission Chairman Larry Haskel. “It goes into the town’s capital reserve fund for non-recurring expenditures and many people are concerned that the money would be use [by town officials] for another purpose in an emergency.”

***

Bob Tendler and Bob Cascella behind bars? It’s true. In fact, many of Newtown’s most prominent citizens were in jail last week at the Olde Town Tavern, June 19. It was all for a good cause, of course, as townspeople voluntarily turned themselves in at the Cardiac Arrest to benefit the American Heart Association. Bailiff Dave Treadwell brought the 40 jailbirds before Judge Joseph Humeston, who administered a challenging heart quiz before sentencing them to jail.

June 25, 1971

Sometime between the hours of 4 pm, June 18, and 9 am, June 19, the Newtown Congregational Church was entered and a number of items taken... Items reported stolen were several seasonal clergy stoles, Mr Sellars’ clerical robe, the American Flag, part of the equipment for the recently installed PA system, and money. In addition the organ had been tampered with and stops had been rearranged... Also a four-foot stuffed toy snake was removed from the downstairs nursery and entwined through the chandelier in the sanctuary.

***

The Newtown Police Department with the cooperation of the Jaycees had a bicycle safety program behind the town hall on June 19, where youngsters were given safety tips and graded as they rode their bikes through a marked course.

***

Plans for a new town park on Lake Zoar known only to a limited few until this week, erupted into open discussion at the June 21 meeting of the Conservation Commission. According to William Morrissey, chairman, the Commission was asked to look at the property under discussion last fall and offer recommendations. The delegation from the Commission that walked the area reported that it was a very rugged and beautiful property, not smooth enough for a general recreation park, but an excellent area for picnics, hiking, and horseback riding if trails were cut through it... the cuts and fills drew angry opposition from David Davis, a member of the Commission. There can be only one reason, he felt, that the town should consider such an operation and that would be to mine the gravel... David Thompson, US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service... said that in his opinion the plan would necessitate a tremendous amount of gravel removal and it might be 15 to 20 years before the project was complete... It was decided the Commission would first consult the Parks and Recreation Commission and get their views on the matter.

***

At the June 17 meeting of the Newtown Interclub Association, Timothy Treadwell, First Selectman of Newtown, reported that the lease with the Italian Community Center should be signed by the end of the week. The signing of this lease will permit the use of these facilities by the town of Newtown as a community youth center for a period of two years.

***

Newtown will get the big July 4 celebration off to a booming start with a fireworks display at Dickinson Memorial Park on Saturday, July 3, at 9:15 pm, under the direction of Chairman David Larson. Chief Lee Glover of the Hook and Ladder Company will direct the fire security forces and members of the company’s fire police will be on duty. There will be no admission charge to the park, but cars must display a current park sticker.

***

There’s a change in date for the concert by The Panacea at St Rose’s new carnival-bazaar. The group will play from 7 to 10 pm on Wednesday evening, June 30.

June 21, 1946

Carroll F. Johnson of Wildwood, Ga., was elected superintendent of the schools of Newtown, Southbury, Woodbury, and Bethlehem by a joint meeting of the Boards of those towns with the Regional Board of Education on Monday evening, June 10. His term of employment will begin July first at a salary of $5,000, plus $500 expenses. Mr Johnson’s work in the new supervisory district will consist of administering each school as agent of the Board responsible for it... At the same time, Mr Johnson will undertake the planning of the new high school with the Regional and an architect the Regional Board will select.

***

With baseball and softball games scheduled in the meanwhile, Newtown’s summer program of recreation gets off to a running start with two big events listed for June 27 — the beginning of the 7-day swimming campaign in the morning and the opening of the Sandy Hook and Hawley school playgrounds in the afternoon. These activities are being preceded by the Second Annual All-Newtown Field Day being held at Taylor Field this Thursday, with plenty of action planned for all students.

***

Newtown fun seekers will rally behind the Drum Corps in their march to Taylor Field, at 7:30 Monday night, July 1, for the grand opening of the First Annual Carnival and Old Home Week of the combined Newtown fire departments, which will continue throughout the week with a different feature every night.

***

From The Sandy Hook School: As Mrs Heinemeyer was unable to prepare lunches for our school any more this year, our Sandy Hook children had their last hot lunch for the season on June 10. We wish to express appreciation for Mrs Berglund and Mrs Tilson for substituting for Mrs Heinemeyer. The children enjoy the lunches and we were fortunate to have the lunches all but a few days of the year.

***

Dr George B. Kyle, son of Mr and Mrs John D. Wood of Brookfield Center, will open his office about the first of July for the practice of medicine in Sandy Hook. Dr Kyle was recently released from active duty with the United States Army. Dr Kyle recently purchased the Martin Corbett property, where he and his family will live and where his office will be located.

***

The State of Connecticut is proceeding to award a contract of $208,781.55 for the rebuilding of nine miles of Newtown roadway on the Hattertown, Great Ring, and Hanover Roads and is asking for new bids on the Queen Street project, the original bids being considered too high... The Queen Street undertaking will also be built by the state as a State Road and, when completed, will be turned over to the Town of Newtown.

June 10, 1921

The contract for the construction of the new High school building for which purpose Miss Mary E. Hawley most generously offered the town the sum of $100,000 was awarded to the Hewlett Company of Bridgeport. Miss Hawley realized the urgent need of a new school and with a very high sense of public spirit made the offer in honor of her parents, Mr and Mrs Marcus C. Hawley, the school to be known as The Hawley School. The Building Committee has labored very diligently. In selecting a desirable site, it feels that the location on the old fair grounds is an admirable one and entirely acceptable to all the people... Newtown can be justly proud of the building because when completed it will be one of the finest school buildings in the state. It is the intention of the Hewlett Company to use all local labor possible and buy all material locally that can be.

***

Rev George T. Sinnott, who has been pastor of St Rose’s church since 1910, has been appointed by Bishop Nilan to the pastorate of the large and important Roman Catholic church in the city of Rockville. Rev Father Sinnott is known as a forceful preacher and able parish manager.

***

Dr W.H. Kiernan had a mess of peas from his garden, Wednesday night. He’s one of the few gardeners in Sandy Hook who deserves the title of “Scientific Agriculturist.” Other gentlemen admitted to the “Scientific Agriculturist Class” are R.P. Shepard and Arthur McDonald.

***

James B. Nichols, the popular RFD man, had a nice mess of new potatoes from his garden for dinner on Wednesday. As a proof of the fact, he brought the editor several samples of the potatoes. You’ll have to step some if you beat the hustling Mt Pleasant gentleman at farming. We welcome him to the local ranks of Scientific Agriculturists.

***

Crows Keep Out! Of your Seed Corn — so do other Birds, Squirrels and Pests when you use Stanley’s Crow Repellant. Keeps the crow from pulling the Corn and saves replanting. NON-Poisonous, it won’t clog your planter; it needs no tar, lime or plaster to make it stick. In successful use for over ten years. LARGE CAN — enough for two bushels of seed corn, $1.50. Small Can — enough for 1 bushel, $1.00. FOR SALE BY Frank A. Blackman, Newtown, Conn., Tel. 7-12. Made by The Cedar Hill Formula Co., New Britain, Conn.

Your memories are the ones we want to share! Do you have photographs of people or places in town from a bygone era? The Way We Were is the perfect landing spot so that your photographs can be enjoyed by Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed as attachments to editor@thebee.com, subject line: Way We Were photo. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.