* * *

Police checking a 28-year-old prisoner in the Newtown lockup Saturday afternoon, found that he had hanged himself. The suicide is under investigation by Chief Louis D. Marchese and Lt Kenneth Shaw, assisted by Lt Michael DeJoseph and Sgt Lydem. Chief Marchese said this week that the prisoner hanged himself by tying his socks through the ventilator in the ceiling. It is the first suicide since the police department moved into its new facility at Town Hall South two years ago.

* * *

A recently released Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on the PCB problem in the Housatonic River indicates a discrepancy in the extent of the transport of the chemicals into Connecticut, according to state Department of Environmental Protection officials and local environmentalists. The polychlorinated biphenyls accumulate in river sediments and have entered the food chain through various varieties of fish. Because they are not readily assimilated into body systems, the chemicals become concentrated in human and fish flesh and have been linked to liver, skin and reproductive disorders in humans.

* * *

A new Montessori school on Dodgingtown Road, which will serve 50 students from K-6th grade age, is expected to be constructed and open for business by Labor Day, following approval of plans by the Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission March 3. The 1,300-foot new building to house the students and five staff members is planned for the corner of Dodgingtown and Jacklin Roads. It is located diagonally across the street from the existing Newtown Montessori School, which serves preschoolers.

* * *

The Board of Education has adopted a budget that was characterized by Acting Board Chairperson Pat Llodra as a realistic compromise between the lagging economy and the legitimate needs of the school system. Mrs Llodra states that she believes that this year’s budget process illustrated that the Board and the Superintendent were prepared to make difficult decisions and forward to the Council a budget that has been reduced in a fair and prudent fashion.

* * *

Edmond Town Hall’s Board of Managers, with a compromise worked out by Councilman William A. Honan, Jr that shaved $9,000 off their request, will be reimbursed $35,000 for work that has been largely completed to bring the town hall into compliance with a series of fire code violation improvements. The fact that the town hall had ordered materials and committed for work without following the town’s regulations for seeking at least three competitive bids for work of over $2,000 has raised questions, although board chairman Betty Lou Osborne said the managers had received a legal opinion that they did not have to comply with regulations.

* * *

With the chairman of the Legislative Council appealing for public input to guide the council as it works on the budget for 1983-84, the charter-required annual public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for 8 pm in the Middle School auditorium, Queen Street, Tuesday, March 15. Proposed is a total budget of $18,253,501 compared to the current $16,763,093, an increase of 8.8 percent.

 

March 14, 1958

Police and fire officials are continuing their investigation into the cause of the blaze that destroyed a Quonset hut in Botsford in the early hours Wednesday and claimed the lives of three small children. The home is one of 11 Quonset huts owned by Ray Hargatt of High Bridge Road. All that remains after the blaze is the metal framework, and a few distinguishable items of furniture such as iron beds, appliances, etc.

* * *

A special town meeting has been called for Friday, March 21, to consider the acceptance of Birch Rise Drive as a town road. The meeting was called on petition of residents although selectmen have declined to approve the road. The gravel on the road is satisfactory to the Selectmen and there has been one coat of oil put on said road. However, the drainage pipe on the side of the road and under the road is less than Town specifications require.

* * *

Dwight Carlson, president of the Newtown Jaycees, has announced that residents who have been assigned house numbers by the Newton Post Office will be able to purchase their choice of types numbers from a wide variety of designs and colors which the Jaycees have ordered.

* * *

The week of March 15 through March 22 will be observed as “Aim to Live” Week in Newtown, in conjunction with a national safety campaign by General Motors Corporation and by proclamation of First Selectman Edward J. Coleman. “The program is designed to educate and encourage the public in the reduction of nighttime driving hazards, through proper aiming and inspection of headlights, as well as safe driving practices.”

* * *

A gala birthday party for the Girl Scouts has been planned by the Mothers Club for Monday, March 17, at 8 pm at the Congregational Church House. The party is an annual event in commemoration of Girl Scout Week. Entertainment will be provided by the Girl Scouts, who have planned their own program, which will include a presentation of the flag, a demonstration of their crafts and skills, group singing, a musical, and a pantomime.

* * *

St John’s afternoon Guild will hold its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, at 1 pm in the church. Guest speaker will be Mrs Marni Wood, noted caterer and lecturer. Mrs Wood is interested in the cookbook which the guild is compiling and her lecture will be aimed toward making this project a success.

 

March 10, 1933

Attractions at Edmond Town Hall Theater: Saturday, March 11, Clark Gable in “No Man of Her Own.” Wednesday, March 15 — Double Feature, Zane Grey’s “Robbers’ Roost” and Fredric March and Claudette Colbert in “Tonight is Ours.” Coming: Friday and Saturday, March 17-18, George Arliss in “The King’s Vacation.”

* * *

Newtown people were pleased to find in the New York Times of Sunday, February 26, a picture of the house of Mrs Lee B. Woodworth of Main street. This charming house has received special mention in the small-house architectural competition of 1932 sponsored by Better Homes in America. Mrs Woodworth’s house was designed by William W. Sunderland and built by Thomas F. Brew, both of whom are deserving of the recognition given them in the planning and construction of one of the prettiest homes along Newtown’s Main street, and in fact one of the prettiest homes to be found anywhere at all.

* * *

A somewhat lengthy session of the Warden and Burgesses of the Borough was held on Thursday night with Warden E.B. Allen as the chair. The new contract of the Borough with the Newtown Water Co. was read, and after certain corrections were made will be signed by the Warden and Burgesses. The contract with the Danbury Gas & Electric Light Co was laid up on the table, and there was talk of an appeal for a hearing before the Public Utilities Commission. During the meeting the electric lights went out, but after a darkness of five or 10 minutes they came on and business was resumed.

* * *

The March meeting of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce will be held on Thursday the 23rd, when the speaker of the evening will be one of Connecticut’s best known and honored citizens, Gov Charles A. Templeton, of Waterbury, who will speak on “Some Interesting Factors in Present Day Business.” He is a forceful, eloquent and convincing speaker and one who hits straight from the shoulder. Members are asked to make no other engagement for that evening.

* * *

The Pootatuck river was at full flood at 7 o’clock, Wednesday morning. It was a miniature Niagara and scores of people stood on the bridge at Sandy Hook watching the turbulent waters.

* * *

At a joint meeting the Town Board of Finance, the Board of Selectmen, and the Town School Board held on Monday evening, March 6, 1933, a 19 mill tax was recommended by the said Board of Finance for the fiscal year. Newtown is very fortunate in having their taxes for the current year reduced by one and one-half mills and the Board of Finance feels very gratified in being able to recommend such a rate. Only through the whole-hearted cooperation of the Board of Selectmen and the School Board was this made possible, through effecting economies by both branches of the Town government.

 

March 13, 1908

A few nights ago, attracted by a commotion at the back door, Rev Mr Miller, who was visiting his father who lives in the old Capt Green place, opened the door when a large, unwieldy animal, too large to be a dog, at least of the kind owned locally, retreated with an angry growl-l-l from the flood of light let out upon him and ambled off into the darkness. Those who secured a glimpse of the creature believed it to be a bear and the dread news quickly circulated about the village “And then and there was hurrying to and fro.” The strange animal has not since been seen and though for a few days general consternation prevailed, at the present time it is practically assured that, whether dangerous or otherwise, it is now nowhere in the locality.

* * *

Two popular young residents of Gas street, one Rubber employee and the other a railroad hand, went fishing one day, last week. They started at 6 am and kept at it all day, and not a fish did they catch. The live bait was exhausted, but they kept at it just the same. The promised fish dinner for the members of the club did not materialize.

* * *

Tuesday, March 17, will be contract day at the factory of the Borden’s Condensed Milk Co. Patrons furnishing the Borden’s people the past six months have not had to hold back a quart, and have received their pay promptly, while many farmers in nearby towns have had their milk thrown back on their hands, and have had to scratch around to find a market.

* * *

A game of pool well worth the time and consideration of any lover of the 15 ball sport was run off at Pitzschler’s barber shop and pool rooms, Sandy Hook, Tuesday evening, between Charles Rubenwulff and Martin Peeso. Each game was a breath holding affair from start to finish and will be long-remembered by all who saw them which was many and from miles around.

* * *

On the hill top overlooking Newtown Street, William T. Cole, general manager of the Fabric Fire Hose Co., is building a house for his occupancy which will be the most elaborate residence in the town. Mr Cole has rightly called his new home “Overlook.” The first story is ruble field cobble construction and the work is very finely done. The sides of the house from the second story up are to be covered with flat French tile. The roof is to be constructed of Spanish tile. Across the entire front of the house will be a piazza 13 feet wide. On the north side of the house is to be a porte-cochere. On the west side will be an observation tower.