Original art, home made crafts, Christmas decorations, flower arrangements, baked goods, music, Santa and food — all you need to capture that holiday spirit — are just a few of the surprises planned at the Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, December 6. Starting off the day will be the Newtown Rotary Club having its eighteenth annual pancake sale in the Alexandria Room.

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With better communication, the matter may never have gone as far as Hartford. Nevertheless on Monday afternoon at 2, Newtown Police Officer John Kotch, president of the police union, and Clifford Bulmer, chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, found themselves toe-to-toe in a dispute stemming from their different interpretations of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in the Hearing Room on Trinity Street.

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After the persistent urging of residents and fellow board members, the Board of Education agreed it was time to resolve the problems at Head O’ Meadow School, with the fire alarm and ventilation systems. Concerns were again aired at the meeting by members of the Head O’ Meadow PTA who have been monitoring the malfunctions of both systems for over 1½ years.

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Two break-ins occurred at Newtown High School during the Thanksgiving recess. On Friday, November 28, at 9:35 am custodians reported to police that sometime during the night someone broke two windows on the north side of the building, went inside, broke the door lock to the vault room and stole an undetermined amount of cash. A 6 Monday morning, December 1, custodians discovered that someone had damaged four locks to classrooms on the second floor.

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Recommendations to award contracts to install air conditioning in the town’s Day Care, Multi-purpose Center on Riverside Road, and to construct a 500 square foot addition on the multi-purpose wing, have been made by the Public Building Committee, following opening of competitive bids by the town this week and last.

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The Newtown High School Marching Band will conclude its 1980 marching season on Saturday, December 6 with its performance at the Class L state championship football game in Wilton, when the Newtown Indians take on Rippowam High School of Stamford. The 120-piece band, which has entertained the crowds during the home games at Bruce Jenner Stadium, also features the color guard, the Markettes, a female dance line and featured baton twirler Tammy Dickerson.

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On October 25, the Newtown Bridle Lane Association sponsored the first annual Hunter Pace very seasonably called “Frost on the Pumpkin.” And it was cold indeed. Only generous provisions of sherry and wine kept the officials and timekeepers from catching frostbite at the starting point and rest stop.

December 9, 1955

 The Christmas customs of peoples of many lands were told by Newtown residents to the Newtown Parent Teacher Association Tuesday night, during the regular monthly meeting at Newtown High School. The members enjoyed the accounts given by the speakers of the Christmas customs of their native lands.

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While individuals and organizations in Newtown and the rest of Fairfield County, throughout Litchfield County and in a number of communities in New Haven County prepare gifts for the patients at Fairfield State Hospital in Newtown, the staff there has begun an extensive program of parties at which the gifts will be distributed.

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 Connecticut’s largest water power project, the Shepaug Hydroelectric Development, on the Housatonic River between Southbury and Newtown is now in operation, according to The Connecticut Light and Power Company. Capability of the plant is 42,800 kilowatts. This will increase CL&P’s hydroelectric capacity from 73,050 kilowatts to 115,850 kilowatts.

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 “Newtown Past and Present” was prepared by the League of Women Voters in connection with the 250th Anniversary. It is a distinguished book, not only because of the information it contains, but also because it has been illustrated by some of our local artists.

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Members of Newtown’s Explorer Post 70 did a civic good turn last Saturday, December 3, by clearing the land for the new swimming pond at Dickinson Park. By the time the crew left in the late afternoon, they had the felled trees trimmed, cut up and the brush burned.

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The nationwide fight to conquer polio returned to the local level this week with a meeting of the Newtown committee for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to plan the 1956 March of Dimes. Scheduled for the month of January, the drive will seek the funds to continue the Foundation’s program of caring for polio victims in Fairfield County while continuing to support nationwide research and education in the effort to eliminate polio.

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The annual winter formal dance of the senior class of Newtown High School will be held in a “winter wonderland,” the theme chosen for this year’s affair. It will take place in the high school cafeteria next Friday evening, December 16, from 8 to 12 o’clock. Bill Godo and his orchestra of Fairfield will furnish the music.

December 5, 1930

The site at Newtown, where the construction of the first unit of the Fairfield State Hospital is well under way, is a very busy place, thriving with the combined activities of laborers, carpenters, masons, concrete men, plumbers, electricians and heating men, and with steam shovels and trucks noisily at work.

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The thermometer touched a new low mark for November on Saturday, registering four degrees below zero in Sandy Hook. Tuesday morning, December 2, will be remembered as the first day of winter, the ground was white with snow.

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The Editor of the Newtown Bee would like to go on record as favoring the adoption of the use of voting machines for elections in the town of Newtown. Ballots are susceptible to misinterpretation by the voter which results in many of our citizens being disfranchised because of some error in marking their ballots.

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When William F. O’Donnell of Danbury leased for a number of years the property on Church street, formerly occupied by Blackman’s garage, store, moving picture theater and gasoline station, a large business place changed hands. The new owner has completely renovated this place of business, and has built five stores. Because of its location midway between Sandy Hook and the Newtown Main Street, Mr O’Donnell has called this business place The Central Building under which title it will be known in the future.

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Sizzling! Whizzling! Action! Fun! Clara Bow’s in town in “Her Wedding Night,” a deliciously romantic farce-comedy, written by Avery Hopwood, king of farce. “Her Wedding Night” opens Saturday at the Edmond Town Hall Theatre.

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The minstrel show on Friday night, under the auspices of the Young Men’s Athletic Club, was a fine success despite the handicap of the lights delaying the show for an hour and a half. About 300 people were present.

December 8, 1905

HUNTERS SWEPT OUT INTO SOUND Newtown Ball Players And Companions Have Rough Time Off Milford. — Party Was In Two Skiffs Seeking Ducks. — Rower Loses Oars Because Of Chill. — Other Boat Attempts Assistance And Both Are Carried Off. When about three miles off shore, the tide turned and with the one pair of oars the two boats managed to return to shore. All hands were suffering from exposure, but nothing serious is anticipated.

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Martin Keniry met with a bad accident, last Friday, which will keep him from his work at the Fabric Fire Hose Co for a few weeks. While unloading a car of old rubber at the Sandy Hook Depot, his foot slipped and he fell out of the freight car between the car and the wagon, and landed on his right hand with such force as to break the large bone and one small bone in the wrist.

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The annual meeting of the Newtown Library association was held, Tuesday night, with a good number in attendance. The thanks of the association was given Miss Rebecca D. Beach for her handsome gift and to those who contributed new books.

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The ladies of Trinity Guild will serve an oyster supper on Tuesday evening, from 5 to 7. Oysters in every style, stewed and escalloped, at 25 cents per dish. The ladies of Trinity church are noted entertainers, and a large number should be present.

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There is great interest being taken in the hog guessing match, to take place at the Grand Central hotel yards on Saturday, December 23. The butchering will take place in public view at 2 pm that day. Guesses run from 400 to 800 pounds. A good chance for a close guesser.