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July 20, 1990

Initial test results from a study of Newtown air shows there are 2.6 micrograms of sulfuric acid per cubic meter. On a scale of 1 to 10, that puts Newtown at about a 5, according to Douglas W. Dockery, assistant professor at Harvard University’s School of Public Health. This is the beginning of the third year of a three-year study of air acidity in 24 towns stretching from Pennsylvania into Canada. Tests of the air were conducted in several areas in a 20-mile radius of the center of town for a year. In addition, a study of elementary students’ lungs was conducted in November 1988.

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On Friday, July 13, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps had its first “triple call” of the year. A triple call is when all three of the ambulances are called into service at the same time. Lorribeth Jajoie, the dispatcher on duty at the time, said all three persons were taken to Danbury Hospital. On each of the calls, volunteers quickly called her to say they were responding to the call; she said that none of the three calls required her to issue a second request. Sometime, it can be difficult to get enough ambulance volunteers during weekday working hours, when some volunteers are working out of town.

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The framework is going up for Wesley Hall, the future Christian Education center for the Newtown Methodist Church. The building will eventually house eight classrooms and a church school office and will be connected to the church by a walkway. Extensive site work and difficulty in finding materials have slowed down the work. However, bids are out for plumbing and electricity work, a hopeful sign that the building will soon be ready for occupancy.

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On July 17, the Newtown Ambulance Corps became equipped with two defibrillators, devices that would be used to attempt to save the lives of persons having cardiac arrest. The corps recently ordered three new defibrillators from the Laerdal Manufac           turing Crop and the corps expects these devices to arrive by the end of the month. Meanwhile, Laerdal has given the corps two to use so the company can determine how well they work during field use. Already, 15 of the corps’ 30 members are trained in using the defibrillators.

July 23, 1965

Entertainment for every age and generation is being prepared for the International Summer Festival of the International Institute. The day-long outing is scheduled for Sunday, July 25, at the Italian Community Center on Route 34. At least 15 nationality groups are expected to participate in the annual event which serves as a showcase of the various cultures which contribute to community life.

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Brian Kelly, son of Dr and Mrs Peter Kelly, carried the torch for the first lap on Monday afternoon to open “Olympic Week” at the A. Fenn Dickinson Memorial Park. The torch was lit by William Honan, Jr, chairman of the Newtown Park and Recreation Commission, and was handed to the young runner by First Selectman Carl M. Schutz near Hawley Pond. The flame passed through the hands of seven team captains before reaching the park and was then used to light a torch at the base of the flagpole. The entire week at the park has been under the “Olympic” theme, with eight teams representing different countries competing.

The Covered Bridge Day Camp, directed by Mrs Stanley Simon, opened June 25 and is in its third week. Its 30 campers enjoy working on many projects. In arts and crafts, the girls work with tiles, copper, and paints, and make string baskets. Burlap mats, hot plates, and cloth on the loom have been made in weaving class… Dancing class is in the afternoon. The Covered Bridge Day Camp has been in existence for five years, meeting the standards of the American Camping Association of New England.

***

Al Penovi, Sandy Hook, and John Mulholland, Newtown, are friends. Penovi is a master plumber and knows his work from A to Z. Mulholland is a master magician, and knows his craft from A to Z. The news about these friends is they have a joint hobby which has nothing to do with either of their professions, yet requires the knowledge of both. The hobby is making electrical lamps out of various castings and piping to be found in the exceptionally well-stocked plumber’s shop. Penovi keeps his eyes open for a joint, valve, or other plumbing adjunct he feels might be the basis for a design. Mulholland takes the brass castings and valves and finishes the rough surfaces. Then in a tricky way, he puts the parts together and adds a switch, bulb, wire, and plug to make a lamp.

 

July 19, 1940

George B. Beers had the misfortune to have a large haystack destroyed by fire on Monday. Mr Beers, with John Stefanko of Sandy Hook and force of men, had been haying in the fields of property on The Boulevard. While at dinner, the stack was discovered on fire. Over three tons of hay was completely destroyed. It was thought that the stack was ignited by a spark from a cigarette of some of the men employed in the hayfield.

***

Many Newtown residents were among the 13, 236 visitors who inspected the new $2,000,000 Federal Prison in Danbury last Saturday and Sunday. The institution, which is the first of its kind in New England and one for the most modern in the world, was thrown open to the public by Warden Edgar M. Gerlach for two days on orders from the government. It will house 600 prisoners who are first offenders and serving not more than eighteen months. The first contingent of prisoners is expected to arrive about August 1.

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The 1940-41 series of concerts of the Newtown Orchestral Society will open on Thursday evening, August 8, when Mario DiCeddo, conductor, will present the full orchestra in a “pops” concert at the Edmond Theater. Appearing as soloist on this program will be Miss Dorothy Kirsten, lyric soprano, who is destined to become one of the country’s great singers. It will be a real pleasure for a Newtown audience to hear her, particularly as she is now living here in town. Miss Kirsten is a protégée of Grace Moore and pupil of Astolfo Pescia of Rome.

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Although news to many townspeople, Newtown is the scene, this summer, of one of the most unique camps in the country. It is an Associated Junior Work Camp and is located on Botsford Hill at the Stepney camp of the East Side Settlement of New York. The property is the old “Sunrise Hotel,” which more recently was operated by the Federal Government as a Transient camp. Groups from New York City spend two week periods enjoying the benefits of life in the country. At present, there are 54 girls at the camp, ranging from 8 to 16 years of age.

 

July 23, 1915

Thomas J. Corbett and son, Master James Corbett, have been camping out for a week at Sasco Beach in Southport. Master James earned the tent they are using on the camping expedition by selling copies of the Saturday Evening Post.

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It was the question of practical utility and economy that induced one of Newtown’s progressive farmers, William C. Johnson, to introduce the milking machine in his dairy. Mr Johnson has had one for the Hinman milking machines in operation in his stable for about three weeks and he and his men are delighted with it. It takes about 50 minutes to milk his herd of 20 cows and does the work thoroughly and well. The cows took to the new method at once, as if they had been used to it all their lives. Mr Johnson thinks the great value of the Hinman machine is its simplicity. A boy of average intelligence can superintend its operation.

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F.A. Blackman was so unfortunate as to come into collision while driving his Ford car with a cow belonging to Mr Bolmer. A cow is an uncertain quantity for an autoist to meet. The cow was not hurt, but the windshield and a fender on Mr Blackman’s car were put out of commission.

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The Newtown Savings bank is having an additional number of safe deposit boxes of different sizes installed, this week, in its security vault by the York Safe & Lock Co. A large steel chest for storing silver-ware and other valuables is also being installed for those who desire to leave such articles for safekeeping when out of town.

William Abel Upham is best known as the man who developed the paper tea bag, in 1919. Mr Upham was very involved in the Hawleyville community during his lifetime (1880–1949). He built a tea house and garden on Route 25, now Big Buddha’s, later adding this  miniature golf course (circa 1930) on an island in the tea garden lake. — From Legendary Locals of Newtown by Dan Cruson     
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