The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection was expected to act by week’s end on the recommendatons of his Water Resources Unit hearing examiner in connection with the Newtown-Southbury Rochambeau Bridge project. A public hearing took place on May 21 at the Rochambeau School in Southbury and the proposal presented by DOT was to reconstruct a two and a half mile section of I-84 in Newtown and Southbury, including drainage improvements, brook channelizations, installation of culverts, deposition and excavation of material within regulated areas, and construction of a westbound span at the existing Rochambeau Bridge.

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“It’s absolutely gorgeous. I am jealous. No part of my property is nearly as beautiful,” commented Conservation Commission member Julia Wasserman as she discussed a piece of Bridgeport Hydraulic Company land situated between Huntingtown and Orchard Hill Roads at the commission’s meeting Monday night. The commission had been requested by the Board of Selectmen to make its recommendations concerning the possible purchase by the town of Bridgeport Hydraulic property located in Newtown. The BHC is intending to get rid of the properties, and the town would have the first option to buy before they went on the open market.

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Frank DeLucia’s and Thomas Goosman’s mobile campaign headquarters began operation this week, located at the Wheeler Shopping Center. In the two and a half weeks before the September 9 Republican primary, you can expect to see it in other parts of town as well. The bus, staffed by campaign workers, will have literature and information available about both candidates and coffee for interested Newtown voters from 8:30 am on daily.

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On Friday, August 22, “An evening in the Park,” sponsored by the Citizens for Kopp as a campaign fundraiser, will take place at Dickinson Memorial Park, starting at 8 pm. On Saturday, August 22, Newtowners are invited to stop in at Kopp-Sturdevant headquarters, a trailer located in Archie’s Corner, a short walk from the Summer Festival Block Party which will be taking place that evening in the Wheeler Shopping center.

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A Newtown Ecumenical Committee for Assistance to Vietnamese (NECAV) has been formed in order to sponsor a family of Vietnamese refugees in Newtown. Six Newtown congregations are represented on the committee – Christ the King Lutheran Church, the Newtown Congregational Church, the Newtown United Methodist Church, St John’s Episcopal Church, St Rose’s Roman Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church – either by individual participation or by official action of the churches’ governing bodies. NECAV is proceeding with arrangements to bring a family to Newtown. A home has been located for them, and subcommittees within NECAV have been formed to deal with community life, employment, finance, and housing. Co-chairmen of NECAV are Nancy Morrisey and Robert Hamilton. Susan Southey is secretary. Gorgie Clauer and Anne Gushee are co-chairmen for housing, Joyce Kay and Dennis Southey for community life, Fred Wheeler is chairman for employment, and Fr Loring for finance.

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The Board of Selectmen approved this week a suggestion by Town Social Worker Sandy Below that a work relief program be incorporated as part of the social service program offered in Newtown. Mrs Below noted, “I feel the program will preserve the dignity of the individual needing assistance, as well as benefit the town.”

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Since the inception of this year’s day camp program sponsored by the Recreation Department, several of the Red Cross instructors at the Town Park have given their break time three days each week to give one-on-one instruction to the children attending the program offered for exceptional children, under the direction of Gary McMahon. One of the boys was so happy to have come all the way from dread fear of the water to being able to swim, he presented his teacher, Judy Boyson, with a small token of his appreciation and a big kiss to boot. Others who have volunteered their time are Brian Karcheski, Dave VanEpps, Paul Alexander, Bryan Van Epps, and Danielle Meehan.

AUGUST 25, 1950

A special town meeting has been called for Thursday evening, August 31, at the Edmond Town Hall at 8 o’clock. The purpose of the meeting is to receive, consider and act upon a report of the Board of Education, concerning sites for the location of the new high school in Newtown. In this connection, the High School Site Committee has been busy for the past four months, investigating possible locations, and has recommended two pieces of property on Queen Street. One is owned by St Joseph’s Convent and the Sisters of Mercy. It comprises 21 acres, and adjoins a needed piece of 15 acres belonging to John C. Beers. The Board of Education took formal action at its August 18 meeting, recommending the purchase of this property, and the Board of Finance at a meeting on Monday night approved an appropriation of $25,000 for the purchase.

***

Highlighting the one annual benefit movie program of the Boys Social and Athletic Club of Sandy Hook, held Thursday night of last week in the Edmond Town Hall theater, was presentation of the S.E. Stern award to David Carmody, 11-year-old son of Postmaster and Mrs Arthur W. Carmody of Sandy Hook, for the club member showing the most all-around improvement in all phases of club activities during the past year. David also took second prize in the members’ contest to sell the largest number of advance subscription tickets prior to the benefit show.

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In the Democratic caucus held Tuesday evening in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, no contests developed during the nominations. The caucus was presided over by Judge John F. Holian, Democratic Town Committee chairman. Judge Paul V. Cavanaugh was nominated as the candidate for judge of probate for the district of Newtown by Howell Wright. Judge Holian, former Democratic representative, was renominated as candidate for representative from the Second district by Henry L. McCarthy, prosecutor of the Town Court. Judge Cavanaugh nominated First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson as the candidate for representative from the First district.

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The Lions Club, through its president, Raymond J. Trimpert, has announced that the bleachers it purchased as part of its community service project arrived in town last week and have been turned over to the Athletic Association of Hawley High School. The seats will accommodate about 270 persons and will be used by spectators at Taylor Field. At the close of the football season, the bleachers will be transferred to the gymnasium in Edmond Town Hall for use at basketball games there.

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The president of the American Red Cross, General of the Army George C. Marshall, has published an appeal for blood donations greatly in excess of those sufficient for peacetime needs. The General has pointed to the Korean battleground as the chief reason for the increased demand. The Newtown Red Cross Chapter has been promised the services of the bloodmobile for October 12. Mrs Warner W. Bayley, chairman of the local Blood Bank, states that blood donors will be welcomed on that date, between 1 o’clock in the afternoon and 7 at night, in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall.

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At least half a dozen fairs throughout the state have already been held, but the majority of them are scheduled to take place from now until the middle of October. Fairs in Connecticut fall into three main categories: major fairs, the youth and 4-H fairs, and community or grange fairs. Close to home, an example of the former, the large, spectacular fair, would be the Danbury fair. Smaller ones in which the youth of an area band together to show what they have grown, made, or produced in the year gone by, are sponsored by various 4-H groups, and the Fairfield County 4-H Fair at Monroe is typical in this group. The Pomperaug Grange Fair, in Southbury, is a good example of the Grange or community fair.

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Member of the Ladies Golf Association of the Newtown Country Club held their regular Ladies Day on Wednesday of this week. Seven selected holes were played, with Mrs Edmund E. Neary winning first prize.

AUGUST 21, 1925

On Saturday evening, the members of the Newtown Hook & Ladder Company held a fire drill in front of the Fire Company’s house. John Finnell, a former resident of this town and now a resident of Bridgeport and a member of the Bridgeport Fire Department, was on hand to show the local firemen some of the modern methods of fire fighting.

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Charles D. Ferris has taken the position of superintendent of “Three Rivers Farm,” Redding, owned by Granville W. Whittlesey.

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The Sandy Hook schoolhouse is resplendent in a very handsome coat of paint.

 

AUGUST 24, 1900

On last Friday afternoon, Messrs A.W. and A.D. Fairchild were so unfortunate as to lose a barn by the freaks of the lightning.

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M.A. Todd is installing one of the Hartford automatic acetylene gas plants in his house. It gives a very superior light, and Mr Todd is hoping to put in a number of similar plants in local residences. E.J. Hall, the local tinner and plumber, is doing the work.

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James Coles has been having new roofs put on all his buildings.

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The entertainment at the Town Hall Saturday evening, August 25, will be followed by a dance.