This week we take a look back at 1990, when those famous words “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” became a popular catchphrase for the now defunct Life Call medical alarm.
Jerry Lewis’ 25th Muscular Dystrophy telethon raised $44,172,186.
And these were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:
“If Wishes Came True” – Sweet Sensation
“Blaze Of Glory” (From “Young Guns II”) – Jon Bon Jovi
“Unskinny Bop” – Poison
“Release Me” – Wilson Phillips
“Do Me!” – Bell Biv DeVoe
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Saturday, Sept. 1, 1990
Weather To Cooperate For Holiday
VALLEY – Valley residents and people across the country geared up for the Labor Day holiday Monday and got ready to enjoy to the fullest what is considered by many to be the last day of summer.
The season does not officially end until Sept. 23, but Valleyites are using the three-day weekend for a number of outdoor summer activities, such as swimming, boating and picnicking.
Proposed 52% Rent Increase Blamed On Rising Costs
ANSONIA – The managing agent of the Beaver Brook Apartments said his proposal to increase the rent of 172 low-and-moderate income housing units about 52 percent is merely a “rent adjustment.”
Vincent D. Celentano said the increase is needed to keep up with rising operating costs.
“We have not had an increase in nine years,” Celentano said. “We should have implemented a rent increase before, but we waited.”
Club 101 Opens To Rave Reviews
DERBY – Nearly 100 enthusiastic teenagers who attended opening night festivities Friday at Club 101 agree it is bound to be successful.
They poured into the newly renovated club within the first hour of its grand opening, which was officially kicked off by a brief ceremony that included Mayor Richard A. Grande and co-owners Michael Carpinello and Mark Michel.
The club features recorded music provided by a number of area disc jockeys, a dance floor with light show capabilities, a juice bar, a game room with pinball and video games supplied by New England Pinball Services of Derby, as well as soda and pizza.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed. The club is open only to 14 to 20-year-olds.
Vehicle Vandalized
DERBY – Jonathan Kohn of Roosevelt Drive reported to police that his van had been vandalized while it was parked in the Derby Municipal garage. Four tires were flattened.
Youth Found
SEYMOUR – About half-a-dozen state police troopers in patrol cars converged on Route 67 near the entrance ramp to Route 8 at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday after a 16-year-old Woodbridge youth who had been reported missing by his family was located. Police declined to release details of the incident.
Sunday/Monday, Sept. 2 – 3, 1990
The Evening Sentinel didn’t publish on Sundays or Labor Day.
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 1990
Youngsters Flocked To Bible School
ANSONIA – During the last full week of summer vacation, there wasn’t much left to do except get ready for the start of school.
But one group of 70 children between the ages of 3 and 12 attended a very specialized school every day.
It was Vacation Bible School at Christ Church and was sponsored by three ministries in the city.
From 9 a.m. to noon each day, the children learned songs, made crafts and heard Bible stories from a guest minister.
Merchants Fly Flags To Honor U.S. Troops
DERBY – Motorists passing through downtown may notice the Stars and Stripes being flown along city streets.
Downtown businessmen have agreed to fly Old Glory each day in honor of American troops who have been sent to Saudi Arabia.
The troops are there to guard against a possible attack from Iraq after the Iraqis invaded Kuwait Aug. 2.
Quaker Farms Passes Muster In Petition-Spawned Inspection
OXFORD – Building Inspector Zigmund Korowotny said he would probably issue a certificate of occupancy for the controversial Quaker Farms School later today following an examination of the facility Friday by a state building official.
The inspection was triggered by a petition from concerned parents that wound up in the office of Gov. William A. O’Neill.
Oxford Fire Marshal Frederick Pommer accompanied state Building Inspector David Veronick on a tour of the school where no major faults were found.
Alderman Says Relocation Of City Hall Is Years Away
SHELTON –The location of a new 20,000-square-foot senior citizens center on Wheeler Street does not preclude using that land as a future site for a new City Hall, one alderman says.
Thomas Zabornasky of the city’s 4th Ward said today he favors building the senior center on two acres behind the police station and feels the four remaining acres will be sufficient for new administrative offices for the city.
But, he adds, despite the overcrowded conditions at the present City Hall, housed in the former Fowler School on Hill Street, a new facility is still years away.
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1990
Mayor Seeks To Ban Repair Work On Streets
ANSONIA – Mayor Thomas P. Clifford III is pushing for a city ordinance banning all cars from being repaired at curb sides on city streets or on sidewalks.
“Not only are these cars an eyesore,” Clifford said recently, “but their presence on city property can make the city liable.”
Clifford said the cars create hazards for oncoming drivers on these roads, along with pedestrians who often have to overcome obstacles of engine parts laying on sidewalks.
Woman Rescued From Smoky Fire
DERBY – An unconscious woman was pulled from a smoke-filled office at 136 New Haven Ave. by Patrolman Charles Stankye III after a fire broke out at about 9 a.m. today.
The fire in the Jupin Realty Co. was quickly controlled by firefighters, with damage estimated at $10,000.
Ruby Jupin, who was in the office at the time the fire started, refused medical treatment, although she was given oxygen at the scene by corpsmen from the Storm Engine Ambulance Corps and a paramedic team from Valley Emergency Medical Services.
Stankye, who also is the first assistant fire chief, said the fire appeared to have started in the area of a hot plate.
Balloons, Banners Herald Debut Of Town’s New School
OXFORD – Quaker Farms School opened today without a hitch.
The Stars and Stripes and the state flag graced the flagpole in front of the sprawling school, while down below, Principal Robert Martino stood in front of the building like a new preacher waiting for his flock to arrive.
And in many ways, he was.
Controversy over the $10.9 million school has swirled about it since it began – cost overruns, leaking roofs, accusations of shoddy workmanship and 11th hour approvals of the facility by various state and local agencies – had put the opening in doubt, but building committee members and school officials remained confident.
Town Hall To Return To 5-Day Week After All
SEYMOUR – The Board of Selectmen reversed its position Tuesday and voted to return Town Hall to a five-day work week rather than continue the four-day week that was in effect during the summer.
Two weeks ago, on the recommendation of First Selectman Robert J. Koskelowski, the board decided to continue with the Friday closings, opening from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday.
Koskelowski said he had proposed continuing the reduced work week at the request of the department heads. But the decision drew loud protests from critics who claimed he wanted the reduced hours to give him more time to campaign for the 105th District seat he is seeking in the November election.
New Hotel Manager Aids Fire Victims
SHELTON – Rodney Francis and his family spent a free night at the newly opened Ramada Inn Saturday and are now living there at about a fourth of the usual rate.
No, the hotel’s manager is not a member of their family. No, they are not on welfare.
It’s just a case of a good Samaritan – hotel manager David Fontaine – coming to their rescue.
A fire ripped through their home at the Fairchild Trailer Park on Bridgeport Avenue Saturday morning, totally gutting the trailer and destroying the family’s belongings.
Thursday, Sept. 6, 1990
Summer Slam Is Back Again
VALLEY – Valley Cable Vision, Inc. has rescheduled the airing of World Wrestling Federation’s Summer Slam ’90 for 8 p.m. Friday, Harold V. Kramer, VCV vice president, said.
The ‘pay per view’ program was initially slated for presentation Aug. 27 but because of technical difficulties at Valley Cable’s studio on Great Hill Road, many customers who had ordered it were unable to receive the signal.
Those who did not receive the show were able to obtain refunds of the $24.95 charge. This time Valley Cable is offering Summer Slam for $14.95.
Property Is Ruled Out As Site For New School
ANSONIA – Hopes to build a school on state-owned property off Edgewood Avenue were put to rest after a title search indicated use of the land is limited.
The search, conducted by Corporation Counsel James Sheehy at the request of the School Building Commission, indicated that the parcel is owned by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the state Department of Transportation.
Drivers Alerted
DERBY – Chief of Police Donald Germain said today that police will be watching for drivers who pass standing school buses with warning lights flashing. The violation carries a maximum penalty of a $500 fine.
Cyclist Hurt
SEYMOUR – A motorcyclist received minor injuries when he lost control of his motorcycle in the northbound lane of Route 8 about 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Citizens Engine Company was called to the scene to contain a fuel spill from the bike.
The identity of the driver was not available from state police, who investigated.
$12 Rise In Shelton Sewer Use Fee
SHELTON – The sewer-use fee could go up as much as $12 per person for this fiscal year, Mayor Michael E. Pacowta said yesterday.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DEP have charged that the city’s User Charge System did not meet state requirements or federal regulations. The city faced an Aug. 17 deadline imposed by the DEP, showing how it will raise the sewer-use charge to cover operational costs of the Water Pollution Control Authority Sewage Treatment Plant.