“Go ahead, make my day” and take a look back at 1983 when Dirty Harry saved the day in ‘Sudden Impact.’
It’s the week when David Bowie’s mega hit ‘Let’s Dance’ reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart; “Return of the Jedi” was released and Michael Jackson, who scored the year’s best-selling album with ‘Thriller,’ introduced the world to moonwalking.
So, in the famous words of Tony ‘Scarface’ Montana, “Say hello to my little friend” and see what Valleyites were up to back in the day!
Here is what was happening in our Valley, as stolen from the microfilm edition of The Evening Sentinel!
Thursday, May 19, 1983
4 Ansonia Girls Prepare For State Jump-Rope Contest
ANSONIA – Four seventh grade girls who won their first jump rope contest last weekend in New Haven are going to the state finals Saturday in the Hartford Civic Center.
The girls have been working on their speed and style all week with coach Arlene Parks. The girls, who have called themselves “Sugar and Spice” are Venessa Ford, Margaret DePalma, Carol Clark and Veronica Lee.
Mayhew To Contend For Alderman
DERBY – Republican Walter Mayhew has announced that he will seek the position of third ward alderman in the upcoming election.
Mayhew, 27, has been a member of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation for three terms.
Mayhew said, “I think my record on the tax board is a good indication of my concern in the city. I would not run for an alderman position if I did not think I would win. I plan to the be first Republican alderman in 10 years.”
Committee Trims Budget On Education
OXFORD – The Board of Education’s finance committee cut $150,000 from its 1983-84 budget to bring it down to $3,443,000.
Although the cuts were made in time for the town budget meeting at Great Oak School on Monday, no action was taken on the matter.
The Board of Education still has to approve the cuts, but the slashes made by its finance committee include $25,000 for one and one-half teaching positions, and $48,500 for new positions. Also, $11,800 has been cut from tuition, $6,000 from employee benefits, $5,600 from the afterschool program and $5,000 each from teacher aides, maintenance supplies, new equipment and transportation.
Parts Stolen
SEYMOUR – Police are investigating a complaint from Beacon Motors Co., 768 Derby Ave., that automobile parts and other items valued at about $1,685 were stolen from vehicles on the property Tuesday.
Theft Reported
SHELTON – A barbecue grill was reported stolen from a home on Carley Street Tuesday. The grill has an estimated value of $170.
According to police, the grill was stolen from the same area as two similar thefts. The other grills were reported missing Monday from homes on Wakeley Avenue Extension.
Friday, May 20, 1983
Firemen Battle Brush Blaze
ANSONIA – Firemen from three hose companies fought a brush fire for several hours Thursday afternoon in a wooded area on Woodlawn Avenue.
Fire had broken out in several different areas in the woods behind several houses near the East Side Greenhouses on North Prospect Street. Part of a large woodpile, a homeowner’s supply of chopped wood for the coming winter, burned in the fire.
Sergeant To Retire From Police
SEYMOUR – Sgt. John R. Falbo, a 30-year veteran of the Seymour Police Department, will retire Jan. 1.
An Amry veteran of World War II, Falbo began his career in the police department as a supernumerary patrolman after his discharge from the service. He was appointed to the regular force in December 1953. He has held the rank of sergeant for about 20 years.
In accepting his resignation, the police commission commended Falbo for his years of dedicated service to the community.
Field Repairs Spur School To Move Graduation Indoors
SEYMOUR – Seymour High School’s graduation exercises June 14 will be held in the school gym instead of on John DeBarber Memorial Field.
And while the Class of 1983 is not happy with the move indoors, the majority of students understand the necessity and are willing to accept the change, the class president said.
Anthony F. LoPresti, principal, said the exercises could not be held on DeBarber Field because of recent repairs to the field which was extensively damaged by vandals earlier this year.
UI Breaks Ground
SHELTON – The United Illuminating Co. officially began construction Thursday on its new headquarters on Bridgeport Avenue.
“You have shown great foresight by re-locating in the Route 8 corridor, which is rapidly becoming the showplace of Fairfield County,” said Mayor Eugene M. Hope, Jr.
Saturday, May 21, 1983
Fight Erupts At Sports Club
DERBY – Police and medical personnel were dispatched to a sports complex in Burtville twice early today. Police had to break up a fight outside the facility and medical personnel had to transport a female patient to Griffin Hospital. She had allegedly been struck in the face during a fight inside the building. Police also investigated a bomb threat that was received over the telephone at the club.
3,000 To Parade
SEYMOUR – More than 3,000 firemen from throughout the northeast will march in a parade June 24, 1984 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Citizens Engine Company.
Edward R. Lewis, a past captain of the volunteer fire company and general of the centennial celebration, said that more than 60 fire companies have already signed up for the parade.
Before the day rolls around next year, Lewis said he expected that about 90 companies from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey would be registered.
Hope To Seek Fourth Term
SHELTON – Mayor Eugene M. Hope, Jr. is expected to announce that he will seek re-election Monday at the monthly meeting of the Republican Town Committee.
“I expect to be making some sort of announcement on the subject,” he said Friday.
He refused, however, to disclose the nature of his announcement.
Sources close to the Republican administration have said that he is expected to announce that he will seek a fourth term in office. No other Republicans have given any indication of interest of running in the fall.
The Democratic race has already picked up steam as candidates William Curran and Thomas Welsh have both announced their intention to seek their party’s nomination.
Monday, May 24, 1983
AHS 1948 Class To Plan Reunion
ANSONIA – Ansonia High School’s Class of 1948 is planning a 35th reunion.
Plans for the reunion will be made at a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the office of Herbert Savitt, Ansonia lawyer, at 400 Main St.
Class members wishing to serve on the reunion committee have been asked to attend Thursday’s meeting.
Window Broken
DERBY – A large window in the front of Johnny’s Service Station on Roosevelt Drive was broken by a large rock Saturday night.
3 Cops Praised By Town Board
SEYMOUR – The Board of Police Commissioners has commended three members of the Police Department for professionalism in recent cases in which they were involved.
Det. James Hayes was commended for his investigation of a burglary and vandalism at Maple Street School April 1, which led to the apprehension of two teenagers that caused more than $8,000 in damage to the school and equipment.
Patrolman Bailey Cook was commended for the professional manner in which he successfully disarmed a man who was pointing a rifle at a window of the police station on April 21. The commissioners said Cook’s restraint in the situation “averted serious injuries or worse” to both the suspect and police involved in the incident.
Patrolman Leo McGinley was given a commendation for the manner in which he handled an incident April 24 involving a “mentally disturbed person,” the commission said. The commission said McGinley’s actions averted a possible suicide.
Tuesday, May 25, 1983
City Hires Dog Warden
ANSONIA – The Police Department has hired a new dog warden.
Daniel Shpak started work today. He said this is his first city job but has worked for the state for many years as a toll collector.
He was chosen out of about 34 applicants, the department reported. The city has been without a dog warden since March 7.
Shpak’s duties will include enforcing the laws concerning roaming dogs and licensing. He also must maintain the dog pound, located at the Public Works complex.
Shelton Socks Raiders
DERBY – It was the season finale for the Derby Red Raiders, but it was just a stepping-stone toward the State LL Tournament for the Shelton Gaels.
Yesterday afternoon at Ryan Field, Shelton, through total domination, defeated Derby 9-1 in the last regular season battle for both teams in 1983.
“Shelton played an excellent game against us,” said Derby coach Tom Fahy. “Their pitcher (Jeff Moore) was just super on the mound and Shelton’s defense was also excellent.”
Disco Strikes Dissonant Note
SEYMOUR – Some businessmen in downtown Seymour are less than enthusiastic about a proposal to turn the Strand Theater, a Main Street landmark, into a youth disco.
Justin Jacobucci, an insurance agent who has an office next door to the theater, said he and other businessmen intended to oppose the proposal at a public hearing of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The disco would be designed for the 13-to-18-year-old crowd and would not serve liquor.
“We recognize that Seymour’s youth needs and deserves a place for wholesome recreation,” Jacobucci said. “But we think the Strand Theater is the wrong place for such an enterprise. We also do not feel that opening the facility to teenagers as young as 13 years is appropriate. There is a wide variation in the sophistication and values of 18-year-olds and 13-year-olds.”
$177 Missing
SHELTON – When an employee of the Bread Box restaurant on Bridgeport Avenue left $177 on the counter momentarily Sunday, it quickly disappeared.
According to police, the employee set down the money and turned away for about a minute.
Jeans Stolen
SHELTON –Four pairs of blue jeans were stolen Sunday from a clothesline belonging to Harry Kushnipsky of Oronoke Drive.
According to police, the jeans have an estimated value of about $50.