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Superintendent Asks School Budget Increase of 9.6% Terming the proposed education budget “one that possesses candor,” Newtown Superintendent of Schools John Reed presented to the Board of Education and those citizens attending the first workshop meeting a budget “that has not been front loaded for the purpose of cutting.”

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After initially objecting to Legislative Council proposals requiring financial impact statements for the future costs of town projects funded by grants, First Selectman Jack Rosenthal instituted an “administrative policy” January 13 requiring such impact statements for any capital project. The move paves the way for a council charge, approved Wednesday night, to expand its charge to the Charter Revision Commission.

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With last weekend’s snow, area horsemen began polishing brass sleigh bells and harnesses in anticipation of the Newtown Sleigh Rally, to be held Sunday, January 23, at the former ICC Field on Route 34. Lack of snow or bad weather forced the cancellation of the event for the last four years, but the 1,000 or so hardy souls who attended the last rally in 1978 are keeping their fingers crossed this year.

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The decision to hold summer camp at the two new parks rather than at the middle and elementary schools has lowered the recreation budget by over $2,000 from last fiscal year. Meanwhile, the need to replace the old pickup truck in order to maintain both parks, as well as the new field at Walnut Tree Hill subdivision and the school fields, has contributed to an $18,000 increase to the parks budget.

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Sixteen NHS foreign language students will spend April vacation in Paris and Madrid. Spanish instructor Mary Gratt has organized her third European trip “to enhance foreign language instruction.” To defray the $1,051 price tag for each student fare, students sold M&Ms, which raised more than $3,000.

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Newtowners can be proud of a local star that was named Horse of the Year Reserve Champion this past show season. Cool It, owned by Gillian Sykes and ridden out of Sykes Farm on Poverty Hollow Road, captured the honors at the Combined Training Level Zone One 1982 American Horse Shows Association/Insilco Awards. The versatile gelding carries the Fairfield County Hounds Master up front during the foxhunting season.

 

January 24, 1958

Fairfield State Hospital this week received the gift of a portrait of Charles G. Morris of Zoar District, Newtown. Mr Morris was a member of the hospital’s first board of trustees and served continuously for 20 years from 1929 to 1949. Mr Morris was identified with Fairfield Hills Hospital from its inception. He was an active supporter of the need for a new mental hospital which resulted in the passage of the enabling act by the General Assembly approved in June 1929.

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The January issue of The American Press, a national magazine published by The American Press Association, lists The Newtown Bee among the top circulation weekly newspapers for November. On the basis of advertising linage, The Bee is listed 15th. We don’t like to boast, but we know that friends of The Bee, especially our advertisers, will be pleased to learn of The Bee’s high rating.

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Applications are being sought for the 4-H chick project sponsored by Sears Roebuck Foundation, and the Extension Service. Any boy or girl between ages 9 and 21 is eligible to receive 50 or 100 baby chicks, if he has not had these chicks or a poultry project before. No charge is made for these chicks, but members agree to raise them and give back four pullets per 50 chicks received. These pullets are sold at the 4-H fair to raise money to purchase more chicks.

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Members of Newtown Mothers Club and their guests enjoyed an evening of music on January 20 at the Congregational Church House. Miss Elizabeth Dominy of Danbury State Teachers’ College gave an informal talk on musical education, and her appreciative audience joined her in singing a few songs and in playing a group of rhythm instruments.

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The Charles Howard Peck Sr and Jr Post No 308 Veterans of Foreign Wars is conducting a subscription campaign to raise funds to purchase a hospital type bed to be made available without charge to any Newtown resident in his home if the need should arise. The method of raising the funds is through the sale of popular magazines, either new, renewal, or gift subscriptions.

The Great Books Discussion Group at its regular meeting in the Library on Monday evening continued its study of Mohammedanism. Frank Johnson, the recognized leader, began the study of the Crusades involving Moslems and Christians by giving the background and causes, largely economic and political rather than religious, as brought out by a translation from the Speech of Urban II given by Dr Backer.

 

January 20, 1933

Dr William H. Walker, who resigned as assistant to the physician-in-chief at the Hartford Retreat last month, has been appointed assistant superintendent of the new Fairfield State Hospital, it was announced Sunday. No superintendent has yet been named and it was believed probable that Dr Walker will continue to act as superintendent for some time.

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A small boy who is living with Mr and Mrs Henry Moore in Taunton, was the victim of a peculiar accident, the other day. A neighbor’s boy, who had a new hatchet, slit open one of the fingers of his little friend in an accidental stroke of the hatchet. The injured lad was taken to the Danbury hospital.

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Monday afternoon, while my son and I were out walking in a wild part of the Zoar District near the lake, we saw a strange sight. As we entered an open space, an animal, somewhat larger than a woodchuck, emerged from the woods, and ran out into the open. We got a good look. Then I said, “It’s a possum.” But how could an opossum be up here? Webster’s Dictionary says that they are sometimes found as far north as New York State. But how do they get across the Hudson River and over here into Connecticut? Very truly, Jerome P. Jackson

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Albert Allen, son of Mr and Mrs Freeman S. Allen, of Mount Pleasant, who suffered an injury to his left eye, while witnessing an experiment in the laboratory of the High School on Friday afternoon, was taken to New York City, this week, for treatment as advised by Dr Desmond. The accident happened while the members of the Science Club were experimenting with a solution of potassium permanganate and sulphuric acid.

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An event of more than usual interest took place on Saturday afternoon, when Postmaster Edmond C. Platt of Hawleyville, the popular lumber dealer, and Miss Edythe M. Peck, his secretary, were united in marriage, the ceremony taking place at Mr Platt’s residence on Mt Pleasant.

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An effort is being made in Newtown to organize a Brownie Pack for children from seven to ten years of age. This movement is closely affiliated with the Girl Scout movement. The Brownie game is played with Girl Scout ideals, but not by means of Girl Scout activities. Nothing is borrowed except those principals for which scouting is so well known: honor, service, fitness, and loyalty.

 

January 24, 1908

The ringing of the Trinity church bell about 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, brought out the fire company and 100 or more spectators to the plant of the Borden’s Condensed Milk Co, the report being that the factory was burning. It appears sparks from a locomotive set fire to the grass north of the factory which communicated to a large stack of wooden crates and milk boxes, which were soon burning fiercely. About 200 milk boxes were destroyed.

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As Mrs Walsh was preparing to go to Sandy Hook, last Friday morning, smoke was discovered coming from the back of the house near the chimney and upon investigation it was discovered that the house was on fire. A desperate effort was made to check the flames, but they soon gained such headway that it was seen the house must go. This house was near Warner’s pond and was formerly known as the Botsford Peet place.

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For one day only, Morris, the grocer, is offering for Saturday, January 25, 1908, at the store for cash, 10 pounds granulated sugar, 2 pounds best rice, ½ pound best black or mixed tea, 1 pound best coffee, 1 can of Morris baking powder, 1 can best peas, 3 pounds milk crackers, 1 can best corn, 1 can of best beets and 1 package of Elijah’s manna. This offer holds good at the store only and you get $2.26 worth for $1.99.

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Manager W.H. Stevens of the Borden’s local plant, wishes through The Bee to return hearty thanks to the Newtown Fire Co for their prompt action on Sunday. While their services were not needed, as it happened, the firemen would have been in ample time to prevent a general conflagration.

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Edward Taylor bagged a nice fox, Monday, on the Black North mountain. The other members of the Sandy Hook Fox Club are sitting up and taking notice. E. W. Troy and Josiah Tilson went fishing on the small pond in Gray’s Plain, Wednesday, catching 12 fine pickerel. One weighed two and one-half pounds.