Conservation Commission members came away empty handed for the second time in two months that they’ve tried to convince the Board of Selectmen to approve matching funds for a study of the Pootatuck River Valley aquifer in Newtown.

***

 Within the space of 14 days the Newtown Board of Ethics has lost two of its five members due to a broad provision in the Town Charter, and while everybody agrees it’s a crying shame, there’s just not much anyone could do about it. First to feel the Charter’s axe was Democrat Arthur Forcht, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in September. An original ethics panel member, Republican Lois Loveland, was declared off the board Tuesday. In a November 4 decision rendered to Board of Ethics Chairman William Downing, Town Counsel Paul Pollock referred to Section 4-5Bb of the Charter, which provides that the “Board of Selectmen may not appoint an elector to the Board of Ethics who has been a town employee or official of the town in any capacity three years prior to the date of the appointment. Any such appointment shall be void.” As it turned out, Arthur Forcht, a teacher in the Norwalk school ssytem, has been a photography instructor for the Newtown system’s adult education program.

***

This week the United Methodist Church on Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook began getting an addition as work began on construction of a new steeple for the old historical church. At one time the church did boast of a handsome steeple, but this was destroyed in a hurricane several years ago and was never replaced since there were immediate plans to move the church across the street to a new site. The church made its move in 1972 and since then work was done on completing repair work on the main building and making improvements to the grounds.

***

Phil Jennings of Crown Hill Drive, Sandy Hook, a 26-year veteran employee of Pitney Bowes, swept the top prizes in all categories in the second annual Pitney Bowes fork-lift rally. The rally, held on Sturday, November 8, tested warehouse employees on their skill on both the counterbalance and the narrow aisle trucks. Each driver had to make his way through a specially designed obstacle course. Mr Jennings took best overall winner prize in the competition and also was named the best on the counterbalance and narrow aisle trucks. First prize was $50 with the winner’s name to be inscribed on a perpetual plaque.

***

Lyman D. Rogers, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, has named a new candidates committee for the GOP, Benjamin Blanchard, chairman; Carl Beck; Robert Smith; Ann Killian; and Joan Kellogg.

***

The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown has elected its new officers for 1976. Guido Migiano has been elected to serve as president, with his fellow officers being Raymond Marcus, vice president; Catherine Rickwell, secretary; Jeanne Riswold, corresponding secretary; Harold Barrett, treasurer; Directors-at-large are Jacob Steisel and Audrey Gerger.

***

The Board of Selectmen acted Tuesday night, November 18, to send a mandatory referral request to the Planning & Zoning Commission on a 9.5 acre parcel of land located on Peck’s Lane, being considered as a site for a new town garage and police headquarters.

NOVEMBER 24, 1950

More than 1,200 guests, townspeople, farm owners, and visitors from nearby communities attended the formal opening last Friday night of the new building that houses Lovell’s Farm Equipment, Inc., at the corner of South Main Street and Bethel Road. The opening was held along with the company’s annual family party given each year with the cooperation of the International Harvester Company. Preceding the evening entertainment, interested visitors had streamed through the new building all day, inspecting the premises and offering congratulations on the enterprise exhibited in providing the new structure.

***

After having been reported missing in action in Korea on September 15, Sgt Earl Martin Lockwood, Jr, son of Mr and Mrs Earl Lockwood, Glen Road, Sandy Hook, has been reported killed in action on that date, according to word forwarded to his parents by the Department of Defense last Saturday. Sgt Lockwood, a sniper in the First Cavalry Division, enlisted in the Army on April 28, 1948, and had been in the fighting area of Korea about ten days when reported missing. Sgt Lockwood, whose picture and story appeared in The Bee in the October 13 issue, was 20 years of age.

***

A big Achievement Rally held last Friday night, November 17, at the Monroe School, wound up a good 4-H year for 1950. Nearly 500 members, leaders, and parents attended the rally. Awards in national and county 4-H projects were given to many of the county’s 700 4-H boys and girls.

***

Members of the Charles Howard Peck Post, VFW, feeling that an honor roll of local men and women now in service, and going into service, should be compiled for the Town of Newtown, have decided to compile such a permanent record.

***

The Parker House was filled with holiday spirit and much activity last Saturday evening when Mrs Edith C. Parker entertained 35 members of the Boys’ Social and Athletic Club at a turkey dinner. As senior vice president of the club, this is the fourth year that Mrs Parker has shown her great interest in the boys by playing host to them at Thanksgiving time. The occasion has become a popular one, an event the SACs look forward to each year with great enthusiasm. Wilton Lackaye, executive director of the club, served as master of ceremonies. Following the dinner he presented prizes to the boys credited with the most volunteer work during the past year. SACs who were awarded prizes included George Lockwood, first, with 105 credits; David Carmody, second, with 81 credits; and Carl Kuhne, third, with 48 credits. Honorable mention and special appreciation awards went to James Knapp, junior president of the club, and to John Watkins and Robert McMahon, presidents emeritus.

***

Daniel Vincent, national field representative for the United World Federalists, is spending two weeks in Connecticut organizing new chapters. He will be guest speaker at the next meeting of the local UWF chapter to be held on Tuesday evening, November 28, in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library at 8 o’clock.

***

The excellent response to the Newtown Clinic’s appeal for used toys, paint, and volunteer workers made it possible for the organization to make its first trip recently to deliver toys to children at the Southbury Training School. The box of repaired toys included books, trucks, dolls, and scooters. The clinic is deeply grateful to James Miner and George Crump of the Parker House for fixing and refinishing these toys, and for their announcement that they will continue to help the clinic as toys are donated.

 

NOVEMBER 20, 1925

William Conger, the plumber, Frank Dower of the White Rose Baking Company, and Richard Carmody of Davey Brothers put in a day at hunting, Thursday, and last heard from they were reported lost in the Great Ring Forest on Lake Zoar.

***

The new train placed on the Berkshire Division, leaving Danbury at 7:20 am and arriving at Derby at 8:30 am, should prove a popular one.

***

The annual supper served by the good ladies of St Rose’s parish Thursday night at St Mary Hall in Sandy Hook was attended by more than 400 people who enjoyed a repast of unusual excellence.

NOVEMBER 23, 1900

Rev O.W. Barker and Deacon George Ruffles went to Meriden on Tuesday as delegates from the local Congregational Church to the annual session of the State Association of the Congregational denomination.

***

Walter Glover is still in a feeble condition, and his condition causes his friends anxiety. One day the past week he got out as far as the home of his father-in-law, Norman Northrop, Esq.

***

L.C. Gilbert has bought a handsome pair of fat oxen of parties in Redding weighing about 3,900.

***

A.F. Moffett, the blacksmith at the head of Newtown Street, had an operation performed by Drs Smith and Gordon on Monday. As a consequence, Mr Moffett has closed his shop for a week or 10 days.