A series of hearings has been scheduled on a suit filed by a coalition of four groups concerned with the possible expansion of Super 25 through Trumbull, and possibly Newtown. One of the groups, Environmental Study and Protection, is from Newtown. ESP Vice President Kurt Schneider says the suit was filed against the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the state Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental Protection for violating their own clean air standards.

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The names of Constance B. Geason, one of Newtown’s assistant town clerks, and Bernard S. Cayne of 8 Old Green Road, Sandy Hook, have been officially enshrined in a unique document now recorded after a wait of two years for the town’s archive. The day on which the document was recorded, September 18, 1978, was on the surface not too unusual… Little did the employees in the town clerk’s office suspect this day would provide the first time — and possibly the last — to issue…A ferret license! Yes, it’s true. Two years after the State of Connecticut passed a law requiring ferret licenses, one was finally sold, and another dollar was earned for the Town of Newtown’s general fund. Of course, the town clerk’s crew might not know a ferret if they saw one, and certainly in 1976, didn’t have any idea what in heck a ferret was when they learned they had to record licenses for the critter. They were enlightened a bit, though, when The Newtown Bee provided a photo of one of the furry, weasel-like animals. Ever since then the picture of “Felicia the Ferret” has graced the walls of Town Clerk Mae Schmidle’s office in anticipation of the day they’d be required to give a license. Then, last Tuesday, in strolled Bernard S. Cayne, a clipping from a recent issue of The Bee in hand. The article contained some information about services available from Mrs Schmidle’s office, such as access to the land records, sale of dog licenses, and tossed in as an afterthought, licenses for ferrets. “All my life I’ve wanted a ferret license,” Mr Cayne told the surprised staff. Did he own a ferret? Nope. “I don’t want a ferret, I want a ferret license,” he explained… Bernard Cayne told The Bee that when he lived in Winchester, Mass., he noticed that the wall in his home where he had educational degrees and such framed looked sort of bare. So he began framing various documents he came across, such as a Confederalte admiral’s certificate he bought at Atlanta Airport and his dump permit, and so on…Now that he has moved to Old Green Road, he said he finds he has a larger wall to fill up, so the ferret license will be added to the framed collection.

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The Newtown Ambulance Association Inc will soon be moving into a new home following the purchase of the former Chevron Station at the foot of Mt Pleasant hill. The deed was transferred during transactions on Monday evening between the Association and Chevron USA Inc of Perth Amboy, N.J. According to the quit claim deed filed in the office of the town clerk, the selling price was $95,000.

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Clerk of the Works James R. Smith reported to the Public Building Committee Tuesday that extensive leaking has occurred in Newtown High School, due at least in part to inadequate temporary sealing measures by the company which is doing roof repairs, F.J. Dahill Company. Mr Smith said “considerable damage of the interior through water leaks in the lower B wing” has occurred. Leaks have been reported in the lobby, cafeteria, kitchen, art and music rooms, according to the clerk.

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William H. Laws of Mountain Laurel Lane Development Corporation received a markedly different response from the public to his idea of locating a small shopping facility on Route 34 last Thursday than he did with an earlier proposal last November. Mr Laws, wheelchair bound due to a leg injury, received support from two area residents and no public opposition during the Planning & Zoning Commission public hearing on his proposal to change the zone of a 2.68-acre parcel of Professional P-1 land to Business B-1.

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The idea of a Main Street Historic District has surfaced in several meetings and conversations regarding the fate of the homes along the street, with speculation that recent changes in ownership of some of the properties might make the necessary 75 percent vote in favor of establishing such a district possible to obtain.

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There may or may not be a public hearing on the possible location of a cable television tower on Reservoir Road proposed by Housatonic Valley Cable Vision of New Milford. Housatonic Cable Vision plans to extend service to Newtown, and in doing so would have to erect a 40 foot transmission tower.

OCTOBER 2, 1953

A new military disaster plan was made available this week to city and town officials in all Connecticut communities. In the plan, which carries no military security, the scope and mission of the military in time of a disaster other than when security is threatened by an outside aggressor force, is defined. Maj Gen Frederick G. Reincke, state adjutant general, in announcing the distribution, explained that, with the plan in the hands of the civilian agencies, relief measures where the military is involved will be expedited in disaster situations.

***

Mr and Mrs William G. Sheldon, Jr, of Queen Street, enjoyed the experience of seeing the meteorite which flashed across the sky about 6:30 Monday evening. They were mowing their lawn at the time, and were startled by the red, blue, and white colored blaze which shot over their heads, appearing like a big star with a long tail, which seemed to break apart as it raced toward the horizon, traveling northward. The Sheldons are now looking for 20 years of good luck, which are reported to follow after seeing a meteor.

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The winner for the third time of the junior female bugling championship of the Northeastern states in a competition held last Saturday, September 26, at Jamaica Racetrack, Jamaica, L.I., N.Y., was Miss Ann Shaw, daughter of Mr and Mrs Irving Shaw of Glen Road.

***

The disclosing by State Highway Commissioner G. Albert Hill of his department’s plans for the re-routing of Route 6 through Newtown was made a condition of the town’s acceptance of an agreement with the state concerning the nearly completed relocation of the highway from Route 6 to the Housatonic River, by voters at a special town meeting held in Edmond Town Hall last Thursday evening, September 24.

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The Hawleyville Farm Workers 4-H Club will sponsor a square dance in Edmond Town Hall gymnasium next Saturday night, October 10, from 9 to 12 midnight, for the benefit of the 4-H Fair Association.

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Col James B. Tobey, Sunset Hill, and Lt Col Walter B. Smith, Taunton Lane, were among 260 retiring Army reserve officers from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey who are expected to attend a retreat parade on Governor’s Island, N.Y., this Thursday afternoon to be held in their honor.

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George Smart won the men’s championship of the Newtown Country Club on Sunday, September 13, when he defeated William Cole in the finals of the men’s elimination tournament 4 and 3.

SEPTEMBER 28, 1928

The selectmen report that there will be a balance of close to $50,000 in the town treasury at the close of the fiscal year, besides having paid $15,000 on the town debt and also paid $4,000 on account of the new school at Sandy Hook.

***

Irving Waterhouse of Palestine district, who recently installed a Fairbanks-Morse lighting outfit in his house, is extending the lights to his barns and hen houses.

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The Men’s Club will meet next Tuesday night at Upham’s Japanese Tea Gardens, with E.C. Platt as host and C.B. Johnson in charge of the literary program.

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Jack Gordon and Bill Leahy journeyed over to the Mill River Club in Stratford Saturday and defeated Bernard Lee and P.J. Coughlin, 3 and 2 in an 18 hole golf match. Gordon and Leahy also won the match played at the Newtown Country Club the previous week by 4 and 3.

***

Mr and Mrs H.G. Warner and Mrs Julia Hawley attended the band concert by the US Marine band at the high school auditorium in Danbury on Wednesday afternoon.

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The thermometer was reported as low as 30 in several places about town Monday morning. The heavy fog prevailing in the valley kept off the frost.

OCTOBER 2, 1903

About 2:45 o’clock Friday morning, the people residing in the Street were aroused from their slumbers by the ringing of the Trinity Church bell. The first to give the alarm through the Street was Martin Talty, who was returning from the home of his father, who has been critically ill. The fire turned out to be the barn on the property of St Rose’s Church, although from the upper end of the street the fire appeared to be on the Fairgrounds. Patrick Gannon was the first at the hose house and, unaided, got the truck out and pulled it down the hill to the St Rose’s grounds, a good half mile. Rev J.H. George rang the church bell, which caused a general turnout of the men of the Street and vicinity.

***

While running to the fire early Friday, Principal Jewell fell and injured one knee quite badly. He was obliged to use a cane for a day or two.

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Master Leonard Wright is attending the kindergarten school of Miss Bertha George.

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Despite the rain there were 72 present at the rally-day session of the Congregational Sunday School Sunday. Rev Mr Barker presented the greetings of Rev Mr Ross of Sandy Hook, who was unable to be present.

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The train reaching Newtown at 7:40 am Monday was an hour and 40 minutes late. Owing to an accident to a freight train near Botsford, the passenger train was sent north via the Derby division.