Newtown Associates, which hopes to develop the 616-acre Poverty Hollow Farm property into a “cluster” condominium development of housing units in the $150,000 range, has presented a proposal for regulations to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration.

***

The water crisis and spiraling inflation coupled with the oil crunch merely pale in the face of The Great American Peanut Butter Shortage. Shoppers with foresight — probably veterans of the toilet paper crisis several years ago — are now breaking out horded jars of vintage 1979 peanut butter. The days of the $1.39 jars are but fond memories.

***

The State Department of Education’s announcement last week that it had made errors in calculating Guaranteed Tax Base grants to towns for the current and next fiscal years has Newtown officials who were already worried about reductions in grants and revenues even more worried. The errors resulted from incorrectly including state and federal grants to towns for child nutrition in the calculation of local tax effort.

***

Nursery schoolers at Newtown Congregational Nursery School got a chance Tuesday night to snuggle up to their fathers and listen to stories being read as part of the school’s evening story hour program.

***

First Selectman Jack Rosenthal was delighted to announce the news Monday night that a three-member board of arbitrators decided February 20 that the State Department of Transportation cannot turn over to the Town of Newtown Glen Road and half of the steel bridge spanning the Housatonic River between Newtown and Southbury.

***

The Board of Burgesses of the Borough, displeased with the appearance of the newly renovated Town Hall South building, is considering making funds available for landscaping out of revenue sharing funds available for the borough.

***

Bentley C. LeWare of Sandy Hook, plays a key role aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which recently returned from a record-breaking deployment to the Indian Ocean. The Ike, as it is nicknamed by its crew, began its 251-day deployment from Norfolk in mid-April and returned home just before Christmas.

March 2, 1956

The Fairfield State Hospital plans to open a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic to serve individuals living in the greater Bridgeport area, Dr William F. Green, superintendent, announced this week. Service will be made available to those patients who have left the hospital on extended visit status and also to those persons referred by local psychiatrists and accredited social agencies.

***

The combined fire companies of Newtown will hold a summer carnival July 9 through 14, in the vicinity of the shopping center, at Queen Street, it was announced this week. All committees are at work preparing for one of the most spectacular Fireman’s Carnivals in years, complete with a gigantic parade and many innovations for the children.

***

An exploding oil burner and a wayward incinerator were apparent causes of two fires last weekend which damaged the home of Mr and Mrs Richard B. Gilpin and family of Sugar Street, and destroyed the barn owned by Joseph Samperi in Botsford.

***

The high winds which blew last Saturday and caused widespread trouble along the eastern seaboard brought some electrical outages to the Newtown area. In some cases wind-whipped wires making momentary contact with one another or being short circuited by tree branches caused fuses to blow, or in other cases larger limbs falling brought down wires entirely.

***

Contributions amounting to approximately $500 have been received to date in the annual Heart Fund drive, according to Lynn J. Mathewson, chairman of the Newtown committee.

***

A meeting of the Newtown Planning Commission was held on Wednesday evening at the Edmond Town Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Local Assistance Program under the Federal Housing Act of 1954, Section 701, which provides that federal funds are available on a matching basis to states for assistance in providing planning agencies to local municipalities of less than 25,000 population.

***

Charles W. Terrill, Jr of Aunt Park Lane, Newtown, became the third president of the Newtown Young Republicans Club at its second annual meeting held Friday evening at the Hawley Manor, with more than 100 members and friends attending.

February 27, 1931

Wishing to get a good home for a beautifully marked collie dog, the editor inserted a small advertisement in The Bee. The paper had hardly issued from the press when applications to possess the dog poured in. One of the applicants was from as far away as Bethany. Moral: It pays to advertise.

***

The International Coffee Club of America held a regular meeting on Wednesday at “Al” Fatool’s restaurant. The bonus bill, the drought in Arkansas and Gov Cross’ appointments were boldly discussed.

***

John Little, of the Sandy Hook Garage, who injured his knee in October and has since that time been unable to work, is now slowly recovering from the injury, but is unable yet to be on the job. He is under the care of Dr Sweet of New Haven.

***

At 5 o’clock in the frosty morning on Friday, Edward Bradshaw of Naugatuck, accompanied by Thomas Subyue, a student of the Washington Lee University of Lexington, Va., and one other young man, came tearing along in an automobile on the Southbury side of the Housatonic river. Unable to make the turn to go on to the bridge, they crashed through the railing and dropped 30 feet on to the ice of the Housatonic river. Dr Waldo F. Desmond was aroused from his slumbers, and treated the men in the small Ingram cottage. The young men claimed they were out for a ride, but it was a strange hour to be touring abroad for pleasure.

***

DR WALDO F. DESMOND IN NEW OFFICE LOCATION Moves Across the Street to the Kilbride Block Dr Waldo F. Desmond will change his office location to take effect March 1, as Mrs W.H. Kiernan and family plan to open a tea house there in the immediate future.

***

Keep in mind the benefit performance at the Edmond Town hall, Friday evening, February 27, sponsored by Hawleyville Fire Co., when the great picture, “Abraham Lincoln,” will be presented. This is going to be a real treat, so if you haven’t secured your tickets, buy them at once. The tickets are 40 cents.

March 2, 1906

The Hillside club minstrel entertainment at the Town hall, last Thursday evening, was a pronounced success. The hall was crowded to the doors, the attendance being larger than at any entertainment given at the hall in a number of years. The program started off, nearly on time, and with a snap and vigor that was refreshing.

***

James Corbett of Taunton was set upon by two tramps near Hawleyville, Saturday afternoon, and robbed of a sum of money, about $4. Sunday morning two men who passed the night in the Newtown jail on West street were looked over by Constable Drew, but were let go as Mr Corbett said they were not the men.

***

Minott Augur came to Sandy Hook to engage in the meat and provision business, September 1, 1867, and has been 38 years in continuous service. Thursday, March 1, marks the 35th anniversary of Edward Taylor as landlord at Taylor’s hotel. He is undoubtedly the oldest landlord in years of continuous service in the state. Is there another village in the state where two such veteran business men can be found in active business within a stone’s throw of each other?

***

While driving in Hanover, one day this week, H.G. Warner assisted in putting out afire in the house of Mrs Lillis which threatened the destruction of the house. As a result of his gallantry the Board of Relief will reduce his taxes $88.63. He will undoubtedly receive a Carnegie medal.

***

Newton M. Curtis has been cutting down all the large pine trees in the front yard to his place on Curtis hill.

***

At the last informal supper of St John’s Guild, held at the home of Mrs R.N. Betts on February 16, 62 were present and an elaborate supper was served by the ladies of the parish. After the supper young and old enjoyed dancing, card playing and singing.