Incorporators and directors of the Ridgefield Boys Club joined other boys clubs throughout the nation in a message to their chief, Herbert Hoover, former president of the United States, on his 90th birthday, the July 23, 1964 Press reported. The letter was a part of a bound volume pledging support for Mr. Hoover’s goal of establishing 1,000 clubs for 1,000,000 boys.
Republican First Selectman Leo F. Carroll accepted appointment as Ridgefield chairman of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library fund drive.
Braving both rain and fog and foregoing the first night of the Republican National Convention, 75 townspeople gathered in the Cleves Auditorium at the Veterans Park School to speak for and against a petition to establish a garden apartment zone on Main Street. The principal question, according to most of the speakers, was whether the new zone would serve the best interests of the community. Attorney Romeo Petroni spoke on behalf of the petitioner Jerry Tuccio, who hoped to build new apartments in a zone that would include the Olcott (Casagmo), Casey and Salvestrini properties. Louis H. Price, whose Ridgefield Supply business abutted part of the proposed zone, favored the proposal. Other adjoining residents including Mrs. John J. Pierpont, Mr. Jerry Skillen, Ralph B. Crouchley and Mr. William Casey, all of Main Street, opposed the new zone saying the resulting traffic would be terrible for the nearby residents.
Miss Mary M. Boland resigned as an English teacher at the Ridgefield High School ending a 45-year teaching career. Miss Boland began her career in town in 1919 and had been on the staff here since, with the exception of one year when she taught in an elementary school in Norwalk. (Miss Boland’s sister, Elizabeth, a teacher of mathematics at the high school also began her career in town in 1919.) Miss Boland attended school in Norwalk (Ridgefield did not have a high school at that time), studied at Danbury State Teachers College for two years and earned her bacelor of science and master of science degrees at Teachers College of Columbia University. She started her career with the first grade at the Center School on East Ridge, taught at West Mountain and after one year returned to the Center School. She had been an English teacher at the junior and senior high schools since 1929. When she started teaching her salary was $1,000 per year. At the time of her retirement that starting teachers’ salary was about 10 times that amount.
Newly enrolled Ridgefield voters included Miss Evelyn Leeman, Richard J. Lavatori and Gerald F. Doyle.
Peter Santini dominated the track and field events in the 11-14 age group with six first places (including two new records) at the first Boys Club track meet of the season. In the 8-11 class Dennis D’Inzeo established a new record in shotput and Thomas and Howard Nash captured most honors in the younger class competition: Thomas with four first places, two seconds and on third and Howard with two firsts, five seconds and one third. Both Nash brothers excelled in the dash.
The Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department held its 13th annual ball at the Ridgefield High School field on East Ridge. Music was provided by Pat Dorn and his orchestra. Admission was $3.50 per person and dancing continued until 2 a.m.
Bethel Circle B teacher and former Ridgefielder Bob Paris was the caller at the World’s Fair. Approximately 100 people squared danced to his calls in a pavilion near the RCA exhibit.
Mr. and Mrs. William Allen of Fairview Avenue announced the birth of their first child, Robin Rae.
Miss Dawn Hauptman was engaged to be married to Mr. Stephen W. Price. Miss Hauptman was a graduate of Ridgefield High and was then attending the Hartt School of Music. Mr. Price, also an RHS graduate, was a senior at Wesleyan University.
The Ridgefield Playhouse on Prospect Street featured What A Way to Go starring Shirley MacLaine and Paul Newman followed later in the week by The Carpetbaggers starring Alan Ladd and George Peppard.
Joseph Consentino, a former professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, and his wife moved to Ridgefield from Great Neck, L.I. Mr. Consentino, a freelance photographer, had done pictures for many magazines including Life, Look and Sports Illustrated.
