August 20, 1982

The Charles Batchelder Company on Swamp Road, Newtown, received two citations this week from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for violating air compliance standards. Meanwhile, a Monroe resident is recommending that the Newtown Health Department determine whether the emissions are hazardous to citizens’ health.

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Strong support by members of the public for Newtown to keep open the option of purchasing Morgan Pond off of Castle Meadow Road in the south of town was expressed during a meeting of the Legislative Council Wednesday. The council revived consideration of the purchase of the 26-acre pond and approximately six acres of land, in spite of a 2-1 rejection by the Board of Selectmen last week of seeking any further environmental reviews of the purchase.

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“It was like Christmas,” said Suzanne Azrak of Newtown, who never expected the “outpouring” of gifts from celebrities around the world. Mrs Azrak, a member of St George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Danbury, sent out 300 letters to people who might be willing to give “a tiny part of you” to the Celebrity Auction the church is planning as part of it Mid-Eastern Festival. Among the items received are a draft of the Happy Days script due to premiere this fall signed by Henry Winkler; a signed Arthur Miller play; a print of a Washington scene painted by US Senator Alan Cranston; several autographed books by congressmen; a record from the show Fiddler On The Roof autographed by Theodore Bikel; a poster from Princess Grace of Monaco; and a signed graft from Dr Michael DeBakey.

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One of the best things to happen to sports in Newtown this summer was the creation of the Parks and Recreation Summer Sports Camps. In the past, parents paid hundreds of dollars to send their children to a similar facility out of town, but this summer for a relatively small fee, young athletes received instruction at Newtown Middle School and Dickinson Park in sports such as tennis, baseball, soccer, and basketball.

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Heavy equipment was in use at various points on the new Timothy B. Treadwell Memorial Park site beginning last week. Workers, however, were dismayed several times during the week to find equipment left overnight had been vandalized. Patrolman Luigi Agostini and Sgt Owen Carney, who responded to the site Thursday morning, said that the damage occurred sometime between 7:30 pm and 8:10 am the next day. Investigation is continuing; when perpetrators are caught, they or their parents are liable for damages.

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Song, dance, and mimicry were the staples August 13 in a talent show put on by children ranging in age from TineyTots (4–5 years old) through 5th grade who took part in the second three-week session of the Newtown Parks & Recreation-sponsored summer day camp program. The talent show concluded the camp program, run at the four elementary schools.

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Kevin Burland of Newtown’s Video Movie Corner says the growth of the new business he manages in the far left corner of the Queen Street shopping center is evidence that people have had it with trite sitcoms and other offensive programming. Through the Movie Corner, customers can rent or buy hundreds of uncut feature video films, from classics to the latest releases. Those who don’t have the video cassette recorders to play the cassettes can rent or buy these, too.

August 23, 1957

The Rev Bruce M. Robinson has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of St John’s Church, Sandy Hook. He will assume his duties on September 1. Mr Robinson, who was appointed Diocesan Missionary last December and assigned to Christ Church, Tashua, will continue he work at Tashua.

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Little Jamie Critten, son of Mr and Mrs Kenneth Critten of Laurel Road, became bored with the many-inning softball game between the Little League personnel and the Newtown Rotary Club last Thursday evening and decided to while away some time on the playground slide at Taylor Field. Minutes later he learned that however tiresome the game might have been for him, it would have been safer because he tumbled from the slide and broke his arm in two places.

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First Selectman Edward J. Coleman, chairman of the Park Commission, announced this week the gift of $400 from the Newtown Lions Club for the construction of a wading pool for toddlers at Dickinson Park. The location selected is somewhat back from the pond, between the bathhouse and the brook, where the removal of several trees has created an area of sunshine until late in the afternoon.

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The 17th Annual Clambake of the Dodgingtown Fire Company will be held at the fire house picnic grounds on Sunday, August 25, from 10 am till 2 pm. President Harold Dunlaney announces that the refreshments will consist of clams, hot roast beef sandwiches, all you can eat and drink, during the morning, with a chicken dinner being served promptly at 1 o’clock.

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The Third Circle of the Women’s Federation of the Newtown Congregational Church will sponsor a benefit movie “The Friendly Persuasion,” on Thursday, September 5, in the Edmond Town Hall Theatre. The story pertains to the attitudes of The Quakers in regard to war and how their compunctions are overcome. One of the big scene stealers in the picture is a white goose with a tendency to biting and because it has particular appeal for children as well as grown-ups, a matinee performance at 3:30 pm has been scheduled.

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A conference on influenza was held August 14 at the Connecticut State Department of Health. The present epidemic of influenza in Far, Middle, and Near East countries was discussed in detail. It was pointed out that since this epidemic is due to a previously unknown strain of influenza virus, the susceptibility of the American people is great and that sporadic cases and small outbreaks of Asian influenza have already occurred in the United States, so that the virus is seeded throughout the country. Vaccine containing the new strain of virus already being produced by biologic manufacturing concerns and will be available for the protection of the public in the fall.

 

August 19, 1932

A good time is assured all who attend the card party and dance at St Rose’s Casino, this Friday evening, August 19. Bridge, whist, pinochle and forty-five will be played and prizes awarded. After the card playing dancing will be enjoyed, music being furnished by Harold’s Melody Boys.

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In order to raise funds to pay for an inhalator recently purchased by the Newtown Fire Co, a moving picture will be held at the Edmond Town hall on Friday, September 2. Buster Keaton, the screen’s funniest comedian, will play in “Speak Easily.”

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Newtown theatergoers were finally rewarded by an entertaining play, when Mrs Sophie Treadwell presented her new play, “The Island,” at the Edmond Town hall on last Thursday and Friday evenings, August 11 and 12. The play contains what might be termed several risqué situations and lines. While a number of neighboring cities have predicted failure for this play, the Editor believes that it will appeal to Broadway.

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The seventh annual carnival given by the Hawleyville Fire department will take place on the island at Upham’s tea garden at Hawleyville on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, August 18, 19, and 20. In the center of the island a platform has been erected for dancing, so that the young people can enjoy dancing in the open air.

It will be of general interest to the motoring public to know that a new gas station has opened at Wallace’s Sunnybrook cottage, located on the Hawleyville road just off the Danbury-Newtown state road. This new station will handle Socony gas and oils. The place is ideally located and easy for the motorist to drive in and out.

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Newtown Freeman, employed by Robert C. Mitchell & Son, who was knocked down by a bull, sustaining a bruised shoulder, bruised ribs and a contusion to the hand, Sunday night, was taken to the office of Dr W.F. Desmond.

August 23, 1907

Miss Anna May Betts had a very difficult but successful operation performed on her nose, Wednesday, by Dr H.E. Smyth of 376 John Street, Bridgeport. Any one who has any trouble with the throat, nose or ear ought to consult the doctor, who is very proficient in his practice.

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An entertainment under the auspices of the Men’s club will be given in the Town hall, Friday evening, August 30. The program will consist of vocal solos and impersonations by that talented Newtown young lady, Miss Agnes Platt, and a musical operetta, “The Strange Visitor,” by Newtown children who have been carefully drilled under the directions of Mrs R.H. Beers and Mrs C.S. Platt.

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The Maplewood ball nine defeated the Sandy Hook Team in a 10-inning game, Sunday, by a score of 8 to 7, in favor of the Bridgeport boys. The Newtown baseball nine will play with the Bethel boys, Labor day, on the Fair grounds.

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Those taking part in the great and only circus in Samuel Page’s barn, Tuesday, were Stuart Naramore, Marguerite Beecher, Ruth Monson, Mary Monson, Elizabeth Bailey, Lloyd Barker, Gordon Gale, Sanford Beers, Robert Beers, Helen Allen and Adelene Barker. Clowns, freaks, witches, snake charmers, acrobats, fat girls and trained animals were to be seen. An audience of 30 or more enjoyed the performance. The children had $6 or $7 in their bulging treasury after the show.

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William Honan, a popular clerk in the employ of L.C. Morris, who was taken suddenly ill, Sunday night, and was removed to the Bridgeport hospital, Monday night, is now convalescing and will not have to undergo and operation for appendicitis, as was feared.