The Newtown Summer Festival Committee is again sponsoring a townwide picnic at Dickinson Memorial Park on Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4. Chairing this year’s picnic are Bob and Debby Tendler and Stan and Sue Kiger. Activities, which begin at 1 pm, have been planned for the entire family and charcoal will be provided at dinner time.

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The summer of 1979 seems to be one of worry with pessimism about gasoline and fuel oil, and now possible shortages of a third nature have people concerned — food. Because of the independent truckers’ strike across the nation, foodstuffs are not getting to the market places. Farmers are not slaughtering because meat is not being moved, and in the produce area, nature’s bounty is being left to rot or else plowed under the ground. For the past weeks there have been predictions the food may dwindle at the stores, and Connecticut faces a disadvantage since it imports 78 percent of its food.

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With rising meat prices and concern about meat shortages developing because of the uncertain energy picture, strong support was given to the proposal of Gerald and Caryl Killing to allow raising of pigs for home use, at a Planning & Zoning Commission hearing last Thursday night. Forty-two people jammed into the third floor meeting room of the Congregational Church House to support the zoning amendment. It would permit pigs to be raised on lots of two acres or more, one per 40,000 square feet of land. Mr Killing estimated there are some 500 pigs in town, in spite of zoning prohibition, while state Department of Agriculture swine expert, Robert Armando, guessed there are at least 150.

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Following a meeting Tuesday with 11 of the town’s 15 gasoline dealers, First Selectman Jack Rosenthal said that people in town who have “bonafide emergencies” but are unable to purchase gasoline will be able to call the Newtown Police Department which will contact dealers. The dealers expressed agreement with such a system for emergencies when they are closed, for instance on Sundays. But they emphasized that to open the station they want a police officer present to prevent immediate swarms of motorists lining up at the pumps.

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As far as most of the members of the Planning and Zoning Commission are concerned, the concept of cluster housing for Newtown should be given the deep six. Monday evening P&Z chairman Arthur Spector tried to get a discussion going on whether or not the commission would consider, sometime, cluster housing for the town and incorporating some provision for it in the regulations. He didn’t get very far, and was given a pretty good idea that members of his group were not enthusiastic about cluster housing, with three of them voicing downright disapproval. Commissioners Robert DiGiovanni and Carl Swanhall and alternate John Millard said they did not like cluster, period.

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Earl J. Smith, a member of the Democratic Town Committee since 1966 and chairman since 1974, announced his resignation as chairman of the Democratic Town Committee at a meeting on Thursday, June 21. His resignation becomes effective as of August 1 which, he states, “will give the new chairperson time to organize the campaign for the coming election as he or she wishes.” Mr Smith told members he had been thinking about this for some time. “Sometimes parents get too involved in solving the problems of humanity and end up neglecting the family unit,” he said, adding that he hoped to spend more time with his family as he had promised them so often.

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Incumbent Democratic Selectman Jack McAuliffe announced this week that he intends on seeking a second two-year term on the board in the November election.

JULY 2, 1954

A queen for more than a day, six of them, in fact, is Ginger Northrop, 17-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs George W. Northrop of Meadow Road. Her reign as queen of Bridgeport’s Barnum Festival began on Wednesday with the “kick-off” luncheon at the Stratfield Hotel and continues as an endless round of pagentry through Monday, July 5, when the annual Barnum Festival parade will wind up the civil celebration.

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The Newtown Mothers Club committee, which is acting in behalf of the New York Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund in Newtown, made an earnest plea this week for sponsors of 14 city children who will provide a country vacation for the youngsters from July 22 to August 5. Starting its campaign with a quota of 20, the committee has secured pledges from six town homes which will entertain children for the two-week period.

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Preliminary plans have been completed by the Newtown Rotary Club for the entering of a boys baseball team from Newtown in a four-team league, comprising teams from Newtown, New Milford, New Fairfield, and Brookfield. The proposed schedule will include six games for each team, to be played during the months of July and August.

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Bands will play and balloons will fly this Sunday afternoon as the second annual July Fourth parade sponsored by the volunteer firemen of Newtown steps off at the head of Main Street and follows its course to Sandy Hook. At 2 o’clock, weather permitting, First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson, the parade marshal, will step into his official conveyance, a 1907 White steamer driven by its owner, Dr. John P. Miller, Jr, and lead the way down Main Street and Church Hill Road to Sandy Hook Center.

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The parking area of the shopping center off Queen Street is a gay spot this week, with townspeople turning out in large numbers to enjoy the carnival being put on there by the Newtown Lions Club. What with kiddie rides, games, hot dogs, and candy cotton and the chance of winning of prizes drawing the visitors, the club members who are manning the midway hope for a substantial addition to their Civic Activities Fund before the show is struck this Saturday night.

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Forty girls arrived Tuesday from New York City at Fredericka House in Sandy Hook to open another season at the summer camp. They will spend a three-week vacation here enjoying summer life in the country, and will be followed by other groups throughout the summer.

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The pulsing double beat of the Mattatuck Drum Band playing “The World Turned Upside Down” and other martial music of the Revolutionary era was suggestive of June 28, 1781, when the 4,800 troops of the Comte de Rochambeau tramped over a wooden bridge which spanned the Housatonic River. The uniformed players in their cutaway coats, buff breeches, patent leather boots and tricorn hats might well have stepped from the French ranks. Otherwise, last Saturday afternoon, June 26, everything was modern as the new Rochambeau Bridge was named and dedicated to its function as a modern highway bridge. State officialdom, represented by Governor John D. Lodge, State Highway Commissioner G. Albert Hill and State Senator Philander Cooke of Wallingford, chairman of the legislative committee for roads, bridges, and waterways, was present, as was the Republic of France, represented by Admiral Andre Jubelin of the French Navy, and the Connecticut Society, Sons of the American Revolution.

JUNE 28, 1929

“Cast off!” will be the shout heard Monday morning, when H.G. Carlson, of the Liberty Garage, signals to his crew that their big airship is ready to nose its way skyward in the Goodyear Zeppelin race. Goodyear is staging this contest among its dealers throughout the United States and has assigned to each dealer a mythical zeppelin. All the zeppelins leave Akron, Ohio, on Monday morning and are due at the California factory in Los Angeles, by Saturday night. Each sale of a tire or tube by a dealer carries his zeppelin so many miles toward the goal.

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The residents of Shady Rest colony will celebrate Fourth of July with a steak roast, followed by evening fire works.

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Morris Levinson of Huntingtown has stocked his store with an exceptional large line of fireworks.

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The roses planted by C.F. Beardsley on the front of the Land’s End cemetery are now in full bloom and present a beautiful appearance in their varied colors.

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The town assessors, Messrs Hourigan, Glover, and Keane, began Monday on the task of reassessing the town, as required by the state law.

 

JULY 1, 1904

The Gregory’s Orchard school closed last Friday for its usual summer vacation. In the afternoon over 60 of the parents and friends enjoyed a picnic on the school green. Mr Sherman of Stepney entertained with his phonograph and Miss Tyrrell, the teacher, gave a number of recitations. Ice cream and cake were served at the close, which was greatly enjoyed by the children.

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A ball nine composed of men employed in the factory of the Fabric Fire Hose Company, and a nine from the reclaiming plant of the New York Belting and Packing Company, will try conclusions, July 3, in a game in the Winter Green at the Hook.

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Selectman S.A. Blackman passed Sunday at Fairfield Beach.

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Dr A.L. Schuyler had a narrow escape from a serious accident at the ballgame Saturday. One of the players lost his grip on a baseball bat and it struck Dr Schuyler in the abdomen, causing him a considerable pain for a time.

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Henry B. Coger attended the annual gathering of the Masonic Veterans’ Association in Waterbury on Thursday of last week. He is the only local Mason who belongs to the Veterans’ Association.

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William H. Wakeley attended the Knights Templar parade in Litchfield.

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Leon Bourqueney of Botsford is soon to erect a sawmill near his home, and will be in shape soon to do all kinds of lumber sawing for any who may wish such work done.