‘Hey Mikey, he likes it!’ This week we take a look back at Life (as in the cereal) in 1972.
‘The Waltons’ made its television debut on CBS, introducing audiences to the heartwarming story of a Depression-era family living in rural Virginia.
Richard Nixon was President, kids were playing with Nerf footballs, Dawn dolls and Hacky Sacks and watching popular shows like “Underdog” and “Scooby-Doo.”
And actor Marlon Brando, (a.k.a. The Godfather) made a guy an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Here’s what was happening in our Valley!
Friday, Sept. 15, 1972
In The Service
ANSONIA – Airman Nicholas A. Gentile, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. N.A. Gentile, Sr., of Murray Street, Ansonia, has completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He will remain at Lackland for training in the security police field. Gentile is a 1971 graduate of Ansonia High School.
Griffin Receives $70,000
DERBY – The State Department of Mental Health has awarded Griffin Hospital a $70,000 grant to be used by the Alice Russ Cochran Clinic, the hospital’s outpatient psychiatric facility.
Gov. Thomas J. Meskill said yesterday the Grifin grant is part of $543,000 being distributed to such clinics at nine community general hospitals throughout the state.
Meskill said last year the nine hospital clinics treated nearly 8,000 patients who took part in more than 50,000 psychiatric interviews. He said if these hospitals did not have outpatient psychiatric clinics, between 45 and 75 percent of these patients would have to enter mental hospitals.
McGovern And Kennedy Attract Crowds In Oxford And Waterbury
OXFORD – Sen. George S. McGovern brought his Democratic campaign for President to the Valley last night when he greeted a crowd of about 200 at Oxford Airport.
There had been no advance announcement that McGovern would make an appearance at the airport, but that did not deter the placard-carrying crowd from shouting, “We want George.”
McGovern was accompanied by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, whose family has been popular in Valley communities for many years.
Shelton Panel To Approve Police Station
SHELTON – The Building Committee last night voted to defer to Sept. 27 action on approving plans for a $1 million police station on Bridgeport Hydraulic Co. property on Meadow Street, near the site of the new high school.
The committee agreed to put the police facility on Meadow Street, subject to approval by the Municipal Planning Commission, and to approve the plans on the 27th.
The proposed station will be 23,000 square feet, according to the architect, A.J. Palmieri.
Saturday, Sept.16, 1972
Arrest Total Hits 111 In Ansonia Radar Drive
ANSONIA – Police are going to continue their crackdown on motor vehicle violations “until things slow down,” even if it takes six months, according to Chief Edward A. Turgeon.
In the eight days since Turgeon announced that the department would be tougher on violators, there have been 111 arrests.
Asked about the large number of arrests, Turgeon said, “We are not out to crucify anyone. The large number of arrests just goes to show how bad the problem was.”
Make It 241 For Shortell
ANSONIA – Matthew F. “Pop” Shortell, Jr., Ansonia High School’s No. 1 fan, will be attending his 241st consecutive Lavender football game today when the Big Blue plays Notre Dame at Nolan Field.
Dating back to 1938, Shortell has watched 311 out of 312 Ansonia games. The only game he missed during that period was on the day he was married in 1946.
Shortell is also a veteran basketball, baseball and football official. His son, Billy, is the Lavender’s quarterback.
Equipment Stolen
DERBY – An asphalt roller that was on a trailer was stolen from the Valley Rental Co. on Roosevelt Drive yesterday afternoon. Two men were observed near the roller and trailer just before it was missed.
Annual Festival In Seymour
SEYMOUR – The 7th annual Pumpkin Festival, sponsored by the Men’s Club of the Church of the Good Shepherd, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow at French Memorial Field.
Three features of the afternoon will be a concert by the Seymour High School Band at 12:30 p.m.; Rocky Allen and his Country Western Band at 2 p.m. followed at 3 p.m. with a performance by the Explorer’s Drum and Bugle Corps.
First Aid Attendants At Pumpkin Festival
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Volunteer Ambulance Association will act as first aid attendants at the 7th annual Pumpkin Festival tomorrow at French Memorial Field.
The association will display first aid kits which will be available for purchase. Corpsmen will provide demonstrations and distribute literature on basic first aid procedures.
Sunday, Sept. 17, 1972
No paper.
Monday, Sept. 18, 1972
Hilltop Hose To March Sunday
ANSONIA – The Hilltop Hose Company will march Sunday in the State Firemen’s Association parade in Wethersfield.
Full-dress uniforms will be required. Buses will leave the hose house on Pulaski Highway at 10:30 a.m.
Paugassetts To Hold Ball
DERBY – The annual ball of the Paugassett Hook and Ladder Company will be held at Irving School gymnasium Oct. 28.
Walter Lesniak’s orchestra will provide music for dancing. Joh Rak is general chairman. He will be assisted by officers and members.
4th Festival On Derby Green
DERBY – Fourteen booths displayed a variety of merchandise at the fourth annual Festival on the Green sponsored by the Derby Republican Women’s Club. This year’s theme was “Around the World.” The festival was held from 10 a.m. until dusk.
An entertainment program was presented. On the program were SS Peter and Paul Church chorus and dancers, the Middle School chorus, an Irish dance by Mary Beth Conklin, baton twirling and acrobatics by pupils of the Badley and Middle schools.
$4.5 Million In School Additions Discussed In Oxford
OXFORD – Plans discussed recently by the Long-Range School Building Committee include a full-size gymnasium, an administrative area, thirteen new classrooms and a resource center at Great Oak School.
The plans call for construction in at least two phases, and the changes allow for additions in the future.
Record Crowd Attends Festival In Seymour
SEYMOUR – An estimated 12,000 persons, the largest crowd ever, jammed French Memorial field yesterday to take part in the 7th annual Pumpkin Festival.
Highlights of the festival were the noon crownings of the king and queen and the Dunkin’ Charlie Game, in which contestants tried to dump the festival chairman and Valley politicians into a tub of water.
2nd Annual Ball Planned By Historians
SHELTON – The second annual Olde Ripton Ball presented by the Huntington Historical Society of Shelton will be held Oct. 21 at St. Lawrence School Hall.
Richard McGomb, chairman, said that once again a contingent from the Second Company, Governor’s Foot Guard of New Haven, would attend. Attire for the affair will be period costume (colonial through World War II) or semi-formal. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes of each period.
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1972
Tax Board Votes $5,000 To Pay Ansonia Police
ANSONIA – The Board of Apportionment and Taxation gave the police department an additional $5,000 last night to get the police through the remainder of the fiscal year.
Two weeks ago, the Board of Police Commissioners said if it did not get more money, it would be unable to pay salaries for the last two weeks of the fiscal year. The extra $5,000 appropriated last night will pay for detective and sergeant’s overtime and for the regular salary of patrolmen.
Who’s In The News
ANSONIA – Michael P. Mayko, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mayko, Sr., of Clarkson Street, Ansonia, will attend the University of Bridgeport to major in journalism. He is a transfer student from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.
Miss Margaret A. Homko of Ansonia is one of 490 members of the freshman class at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass. A graduate of Ansonia High School where she was valedictorian, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Homko of Grove Street.
Waterline Crew Trips Fire Alarm
DERBY – Construction workers installing a new water line on New Haven Avenue broke the fire alarm circuit, causing the alarm to sound for a good part of the afternoon.
Superintendent of Fire Alarms Clarence Douglass and his crew made the necessary repairs last night.
Derby’s Carroll At Idaho State
DERBY – Derby’s Mike Carroll starts out the 1972 football season as Idaho State’s backup quarterback. When the man ahead of you is an all-conference player, the only thing you can do is work harder towards the elusive goal of a starting role.
Anyone who knows Mike Carroll is sure that’s exactly what he’ll do – work harder.
“Mike is a very determined young man,” says ISU Head Coach Bob Griffin. “We’re lucky to have him at Idaho State.”
An All-State quarterback at Derby High School, Carroll was also a standout passer for Milford Academy and a highly regarded freshman QB at the University of Tampa before transferring ISU.
1939 Truck Wins Contest At Muster
SEYMOUR – That converted coal truck from Seymour won first prize in arena pumping at the Milford muster Saturday.
The team’s time for the Class C event was 2.3 minutes. They best the second-place team by two minutes and had the best time of all classes.
The 1939 Ford, donated by Allen Beard, was restored and adapted for competition by Citizen’s Engine Company firemen.
Valley Squares Schedule Dance
SHELTON – “We’ve Only Just Begun” will be the theme for the dance at 8 p.m. Friday, sponsored by the Valley Squares.
Club level dancers have been invited and will wear soft-soled shoes. The dance will be held at Mohegan School. Jerry Pascuzzi will call. Refreshments will be served and prizes awarded.
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1972
Welfare Office Closes Doors
ANSONIA – The Valley branch of the State Welfare Department on East Main Street closed yesterday.
The shutdown, part of the state’s austerity program to close many of the branch welfare offices, means that persons on welfare in the Valley will have to travel to the branch at Bassett Street in New Haven.
Derby Gets $39,750 To Plan Industrial Park
DERBY – The Derby Economic Development Commission has received $39,750 from the State Development Commission.
The money is to be used to plan the proposed east Derby Industrial Park in the area adjacent to Orange and Woodbridge.
About 220 acres are involved, some owned by the city, and some privately-owned.
Selectman Accept Firehouse Bid
OXFORD – Town Council Fred Ehrsam has informed the selectmen that they can accept the original low bid of $14,676 received for the addition of the Riverside Firehouse.
Ehrsam said that he based his decision on the fact that bids were requested for only the downstairs’ garage whole two other companies bid on upstairs and downstairs additions.
The board accepted the low bid saying that it did not want to be unfair to Bob Lewis of Southbury by allowing the other companies to resubmit bids after they knew what Lewis had bid.
Seymour Board Opposed Increase In Water Rate
SEYMOUR – The Board of Selectmen is opposed to the proposed rate increase of the Seymour Water Co.
The selectmen voted unanimously last night in town hall to oppose the increase, which would require an additional cost of $2,246 in fire protection service paid by the town.
Fashion Show In White Hills
SHELTON – The White Hills Civic Club’s seventh annual fashion show will be held at 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Mohegan School.
Tickets are available from any member. Proceeds will be for the club’s scholarships.