A seven-member Water Pollution Control Authority was named by the Board of Selectmen Monday night. It will wield broad powers under the state statutes in laying out sewers and other possible facilities to end the town’s existing wastewater pollution problems caused by failing septic systems.

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Unanimous approval was given Tuesday by the Board of Education for an increase in the prices for the school lunch program beginning February 2. Prices will now be 80 cents at the high school, 75 cents at the middle school and 70 cents at the elementary schools.

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A Newtown Middle School teacher and a woman who co-chairs a local anti-nuclear organization were respectively chosen as the outstanding young man and woman for Newtown during 1980 at the annual awards banquet Saturday evening, January 24. John A. Quinlan of Lyrical Lane was chosen the 24th annual recipient of the award for men, while Joanne E. Zang, Camelot Crest, became the tenth outstanding young woman.

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Fire officials said early Thursday afternoon the fire that destroyed the Yankee Drover was, in their opinion, “definitely not” of suspicious origin. Trooper Walter C. Anderson, Jr of the Office of State Fire Marshal, said the point of origin was in the rear of the building in the ceiling area above the first floor furnace room, where the flue from the furnace entered the building’s brick chimney. It could not be determined if the cause was a heat build-up or an electrical malfunction.

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It was back to work Tuesday for Zita McMahon as she resumed her position as grants administrator and assistant to the first selectman after a federal judge ordered her rehired, with back pay, overturning her September 10 dismissal by the first selectman in a policy dispute.

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During three evening sessions at Newtown High School, nursing supervisor Maureen Bruce conducted a first aid class for town school bus drivers, van drivers and other school personnel. Participants viewed motion picture film segments, observed demonstrations and completed workbook assignments. Coordinated practice sessions followed the traditional classwork.

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Nearly 60 Newtown High School students have planned their schedules to allow for early graduation. As long as the basic requirement for 40 credits is met, students may carry on with their education at college or technical school, or may enter the job market. Some may choose to “just do nothing” for a few months to see what it is like.

February 3, 1956

A generous contribution of $100 has been made by a group of residents in Middle Gate and Huntington districts to the Newtown Planning Commission. The gift is intended to defray some of the commission’s expenses, there having been no appropriation of town funds for that purpose to date.

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All of the outstanding performers of Newtown High School will parade their talents on the stage of Edmond Town Hall next Thursday evening, February 9, at 8 o’clock. For entertainment there will be vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, ballet, prima donnas, tumbling artists, humorists and the ever-popular Hayshakers, who always stop the show with their antics and corn-fed music.

***

An important Civil Defense Air Defense meeting will be held in the gymnasium of Edmond Town Hall in Newtown at 7:30 pm on Monday, February 6. The public is invited to attend the meeting to hear about the air defense system of the United States and the part that Newtown can play in the defense system.

***

The Gran Carnevale of 1956, presented by the Italian Community Center, for the benefit of the ICC Children’s Day Camp, Route 34, Newtown, will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 3, 4 and 5, from 7 pm to 1 am. Following the custom of previous Gran Carnevales, the building will be decorated to represent an Italian street scene.

***

The Newtown Chamber of Commerce made an impressive showing on its first annual dinner last Thursday night, January 26, in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall. The speaker was Robert P. Lee, chairman of the Connecticut Development Commission, who told of inevitable development in this area, and gave some suggestions for getting the type of planning that is wanted.

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A newly-appointed Fire Prevention Committee of the Newtown Hook and Ladder Company will set up a comprehensive fire prevention program for the area served by the company, according to Chief Lee W. Glover.

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The St Rose parish will hold its annual pre-Lenten card party next Friday, February 10, at the St Rose hall. The admission will be 75 cents including refreshments. The party is under the chairmanship of Mrs Richard Sperling and Mrs Matthew Winkle, who have announced that the hall will be heated.

January 30, 1931

Col Neilson of Darien and his son, Wallace, who is Secretary of the Whippet Club of America, were at the Parker House looking over the English Greyhounds that William and Edith Parker are raising for racing. The racing season at Panama is now opening and owners are getting ready to ship new dogs down to the tracks.

***

 The Boy Scouts or all who have ever been a boy scout whether he is registered now or not is invited to a pancake and sausage supper (there may be some ice cream too) next Thursday, February 5, at the church. There will be no charge but every boy must bring his dad.

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H. G. Warner will have a nice supply of fresh killed turkeys, geese, ducks and chickens for Sunday. Roasts of veal, beef, lamb and pork.

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Hugh J. Hamilton, the horseman, of 1252 Broadbridge Avenue, Stratford, is in the west. He has gone out for another load of horses and expects to be at his stables about Saturday, February 7. He will have a horse for any kind of job.

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A largely attended parish meeting of St John’s church was held on Monday evening at the rectory in Sandy Hook. A letter from Bishop Acheson was read extending to the parishioners the bishop’s full approval of plans to rebuild St John’s church and assuring the parishioners his full co-operation in the work. It is expected work on the new church will be started soon.

***

While driving to Sandy Hook Saturday afternoon, First Selectman T.F. Brew picked up a young man, well dressed, and gave him a ride to the village. He told Mr Brew he had walked that morning from Patterson, N.Y. where he had worked two weeks. His money had given out and he was headed for Waterbury. He had had nothing to eat since early morning. Mr Brew gave him some change to get a lunch and advised him to strike in some other direction than Waterbury, as hundreds of men were walking the streets in that city.

February 2, 1906

The house of Lucien Pierron in Palestine had a narrow escape from being burned to the ground, last week Wednesday. About 7 o’clock in the evening, fire was discovered coming through the roof. An alarm was sent to the neighbors, who quickly responded and a few pails of water put the fire out but not until two or three holes had been burned through the roof. Before the fire was out all the furniture had been removed from the house.

***

The Emily Northrop Hearing: The arguments in the hearing that has held the attention of the Probate Court for some time on the admission of the will of Emily A. Northrop to probate were heard at the Brick building on Monday, and consumed the entire day, beginning at 11 o’ clock. Judge De Forest first spoke, taking about three and one-half hours to dissect the evidence (which consisted of several hundred pages of typewritten matter).

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A party of Taunton boys and girls ventured on the small ice pond near Charles Briscoe’s, Monday evening. All went well ‘till near the center of the pond from whence came an ominous cracking noise, followed by some shrill screams from the girls as they were all precipitated into the icy water. After some gallant fishing on the part of the boys, the girls were finally on to dry land.

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The Taunton schoolhouse was well filled, Tuesday evening, at the weekly prayer service led by Charles Edmonds of Plumtrees. Next week Mrs R.E. Danforth of Newtown is expected to lead the service and a good attendance is hoped for.

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We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to refund the money on a 50-cent bottle of Greene’s Warranted Syrup of Tar if it fails to cure your cough or cold. We also guarantee a 25-cent bottle to prove satisfactory or money refunded. R.H. Beers & Co, Newtown; Betts & Betts, Sandy Hook.

***

Nym Crinkle, the beautiful cat belonging to Mrs R.S. Cheves of Zenith, Ga., and well known among the friends of Mrs Cheves of Newtown, died on January 25, lacking but a few months of being 19 years old.