The Conservation Commission wants to make it clear to town departments that they are not exempt from wetlands regulations. At its meeting Wednesday night the commission agreed that perhaps some town departments did not feel as bound by inland wetland
The Conservation Commission wants to make it clear to town departments that they are not exempt from wetlands regulations. At its meeting Wednesday night the commission agreed that perhaps some town departments did not feel as bound by inland wetlands regulations as the general public. Specifically mentioned were the Highway and Park and Recreation Departments.
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Voters at a town meeting on Wednesday night overwhelmingly approved the townâs plan to purchase the Ruwet-Sibley building on Main Street for use as a new police station and for town offices, but decided not to appropriate money at this time to renovate the structure. Moderator Robert Hall judged that an amended motion to appropriate $390,000 for the purchase of the 17,650-square-foot structure passed following about two hours of debate. The original resolution as passed by the Legislative Council provided $650,000 both to buy and renovate the building for town use, with funding over three, ten and 20 years. The charter provides a special appropriation involving bonding of more than five years needs 75 percent approval at a town meeting in which at least 150 voters are present, or else a referendum is automatic.
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Those Newtowners who were wishing for a white Christmas had their desires fulfilled on Christmas Eve with the advent of an unpredicted winter storm. Admittedly the weatherman had called for rain, but the precipitation was a little heavier than that, beginning as snow around 7:15 on Christmas Eve, and dumping around four inches before it changed to sleet around midnight. Then it rained in the early hours of Christmas morning, and snowed again before finally stopping around 9 am Christmas Day.
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With the police departmentâs $8,000 overtime account nearly depleted before the halfway mark of the fiscal year, the Legislative Council approved a $4,000 transfer into the account December 20. The Board of Police Commissioners requested a $5,000 transfer last week out of the contingency account, but Councilman James Severnak successfully proposed an amendment to reduce it by $1,000 and instead take the money out of other police accounts.
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The school systemâs immunization program which took place the week before Christmas vacation was one which saw a number of students immunized, but not all of them who should be. The systemâs head nurse Jean Sheldon reports that a total of 255 children were immunized with 210 measles, 51 rubella, 78 polio and 69 DPT (tetnus, deptheria, and whopping cough) vaccines. Immunizations took place at the high, middle, elementary and St Rose schools.
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Steve Kordish, the Indiansâ talented all-around athlete, will become the first Newtown basketball player to accumulate 1,000 career points. Starting the year with 840 points, Kordish has fired in 126 in five games this season for a 25.2 points per game average, which leads the WCCâs top ten scorers. This gives Kordish a total of 966 points going into this Fridayâs action against Joel Barlow, and it is conceivable that the senior guard-forward could come up with a 34-point performance.
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No additional suggestions were made for possible uses the town may propose for HUD Small Cities Community Development Block Grants at a hearing conducted Tuesday night by the Board of Selectmen. In fact, nobody showed up. The selectmen received a lot of suggestions at a hearing on December 18, though, and will decide which ones will be part of a preapplication to HUD when they meet on January 8.
JANUARY 1, 1954
The March of Dimes, the annual campaign for funds with which to support the activities of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, will be held in Newtown throughout the month of January under the direction of Attorney John F. Holian and Mrs Thomas Goosman, co-chairmen.
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Three principal winners were selected Wednesday afternoon and night in the annual Town Decorations Contest, sponsored by the Newtown Lions Club. Mr and Mrs George McLachlanâs entry of decorations at their home on The Boulevard was named best of the entries judged by day; the brightly lighted scene at the home of John Mitchell was best by night, and Richard Mitchellâs decorations at his High Ridge Road home was the most original. Prizes will be awarded the winners by the Lions Club.
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 The basketball teams of Newtown High School gave a good account of themselves in their annual games with old grads on the high school courts on Wednesday night. The girls had things their own way in a 40 to 28 contest while the high school boys lost a heartbreaker in the last minute of a contest which had a final score of high school 45, alumni, 47. Joan Milot of the high school led the scoring for both teams with a 22 total while her teammate Cappy McMahon registered 11. Mary Lou Bradley led for the alumni girls with 14, followed by Shirley Weeks, seven, and Pat McMahon, six.
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 A gay holiday dance in the attractively decorated Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall took place Wednesday evening with about 90 persons in attendance. Decorations were carried out around a balloon motif, with paper balloons against the walls and real balloons hanging from the ceiling.
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Construction of a new 300-patient admissions and intensive treatment building at Fairfield State Hospital will begin with the breaking of ground on Monday, January 4, according to Thomas S. Frouge, president of the Frouge Construction Company of Bridgeport, who recently signed the contract on a basis of a low bid of $3,369,000 in competition with three other contractors.
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The sale of United States Savings Bonds has been transferred from local post offices to banks serving the same areas, it was announced recently. The change was made so that the Treasury Department can use established financial institutions in a more intensive bond sales program. Local banks have long made the service available to anyone free of charge, whether depositors or not, and will continue to serve the publicâs bond buying needs.
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The Auxiliary of Charles Howard Peck, Sr and Jr Post 308, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will hold two dances on Saturday evenings this month, with the proceeds to go to the postâs building fund and to the March of Dimes, the month-long campaign to aid in the fight against polio.
DECEMBER 28, 1928
The King Sanitary Pipe Company has rented the upper floor in the factory of the plastic Molding Corp for manufacturing his electric brush, used by the big milk companies. Mr King has sucessfully introduced his appliance in 32 states.
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W.P. Boyle, superintendent of construction on the new Edmond Town Hall for the H. Wales Lines Company of Meriden, is pushing the work right along on the foundation.
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The banquet served the members of the Chamber of Commerce at the Pines Inn at Botsford last Thursday night was attended by 80 people and was a social and pleasing success.
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Miss Conger, who is a member of the teaching staff of Syracuse University, is passing the holiday with her parents, Mr and Mrs E.M. Conger.
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In the early hours on Monday morning fire broke out in the wood house on Frank Kaiserâs place, about 15 feet in the rear of his residence. The men of Taunton district rallied, and the house was saved from burning. About seven or eight cords of dry wood were destroyed. Mr Kaiser was not awakened until the shed was well burning. The origin of the fire is not known.
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A.E. Brinton is installing a new furnace at Trinity Church.
JANUARY 1, 1904
The work of papering and painting the stage and ante rooms at the Town Hall has been completed by Painter F.E. Burwell, who practically donated his own work on the contract. The Town Hall, by the way, is evidently in urgent need of some repairs. The roofs leak badly in spots, it is said. Now that the stage has been fitted up by the ladies, we hope Selectman Blackman will order the interior of the hall painted, removing the dingy and dark color for some light and pleasing shades.
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Postmaster Duncombe has engaged additional room for the Post Office, having the office in the rear of the present quarters. It was formerly used by J.H. Blackman.
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Mr and Mrs Ernest Hawley have begun housekeeping in the cottage vacated by Operator Hart at Hawleyville.
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The Christmas exercises of the Flat Swamp School was held, Saturday evening. A goodly number of the friends and parents of the pupils were present. A pleasing program of song and recitation had been carefully prepared by the teacher, Miss Elsie Ferry. There was a tree well ladened with gifts. The teacher received a beautiful mirror from her pupils.