This week we take a look back at 1989, when spandex, ripped jeans, and perms were all the rage.

Two of this year’s best-selling cars – the Chevrolet S10 Blazer cost $15,750 and the Ford Escort LX was $10,219. Popular Halloween costumes were Batman and Joker.

Popular sitcoms like The Cosby Show, Roseanne and Cheers were playing in living rooms across the country, while Janet Jackson’s “Miss You Much” was dominating music charts.

Fun Fact: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remained the no. 1 Halloween candy in all the land!

Here’s what was happening in our Valley!

Friday, Oct. 27, 1989

Treats In Store For Seymour Kids
SEYMOUR – There will be plenty of treats for Seymour children on Halloween.

Those who visit the Seymour Public Library dressed in costume Tuesday will be given special treats. The winners of a Halloween guessing contest will be announced.

The Seymour Lions Club will continue a Halloween tradition it began more than 25 years ago, giving out silver dollars to children who are home to answer telephone calls made by the Lions at 9 p.m. on the day when witches and goblins are roaming about.

The Catholic Youth Organization of St. Augustine’s Church will hold a Halloween party for the children of the parish from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the lower church.

VEMS Vehicle Badly Damaged In Accident On Hull Bridge
SHELTON – The Valley Emergency Medical Service’s four-wheel drive paramedic vehicle sustained severe front-end damage in an accident on Commodore Hull Bridge Thursday.

According to Darrald Atwood, president of the New England Ambulance Service that supplies paramedic units to the VEMS, the vehicle was answering a call in Seymour at about 3 p.m. when it slammed into a Jersey barrier on the Derby side of the bridge.

“Based on reports from witnesses, it appears the vehicle was cut off by a motorist where the two northbound lanes merge,” Atwood said.

Area Eateries Join Campaign For Recycling
VALLEY – With concern about the disposal of polystyrene plastic increasing across the country, McDonald’s has decided to have its New England restaurants recycle containers made from the material.

McDonald’s on Division Street in Derby and Bank Street in Seymour will be part of the campaign. The two stores are among 450 in New England. About 100, mostly in major cities, have already started recycling.

The recycling comes in the face of increased concern about the environmental effects of plastic food packaging, which is not biodegradable.

Saturday, Oct. 28, 1989

Choir Chief To Be Honored
ANSONIA – Professor Gregory Samolik, choir director at Three Saints Church for 40 years, will be honored at a dinner at 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Actor’s Colony Inn, Seymour. He will retire as choir director in January.

Samolik, a native of the United States, moved to Pinsk, Russia, with his parents when he was seven. Later he attended the Pastoral School of Theology and Choir Directing in Pinsk. His education was interrupted by World War II in which he served as choir director and secretary to the dean of the Russian Orthodox clergy in the British zone of Germany. Returning to his country in 1947, he began directing the choir at Three Saints in 1949.

Derby Bounces Back With Win Over Amity
DERBY – Derby’s Red Raiders rebounded from their non-league loss to Valley rival Ansonia with a hard fought 17-7 Housatonic League victory over Amity Regional’s stubborn Spartans here last night under the lights at Sim Field.

The Red Raiders pushed across two first half touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead at the intermission and then staved off a solid second half performance by the Spartans to salt away their fourth win of the season against three defeats. The Red Raiders are 4-2 in Hous standings.

Mini-Price War Spurred By Seymour Gas Station
SEYMOUR – A mini-price war was set off among several businesses at the intersection of New Haven Road and North Street with the opening of an Xtra Mart convenience store and self-service gasoline station in the former Getty station recently.

Gasoline prices at both New England Sunoco, 54 New Haven Rd. and Armand and Greg’s Auto Service, Inc., across the street, have dropped as much as 10 cents a gallon since Xtra Mart opened its gas pumps.

Xtra Mart began selling its lowest-priced gasoline at its self-service pumps for 99.9 cents a gallon when it opened a week ago. However, it has now dropped the price a penny to 98.9 cents.

Haunted Castle Gets People Into Halloween Spirit
SHELTON – Spooks and kooks. Goblins and ghosts.

That’s what you’ll find at the Shelton-Derby Boys and Girls Club on Howe Avenue.

The annual haunted house is back again, and club members say it is bigger and scarier than ever.

Those who dare to enter are given a guided tour of horrors, such as mad scientists, terrifying nightmares and chainsaw massacres. And beware the King of the Castle.

Sunday, Oct. 29, 1989

The Evening Sentinel Didn’t Publish on Sundays

Monday, Oct. 30, 1989

Cannon Leaving WADS Friday For TV Job In Watertown, NY
ANSONIA – WADS News Director John Cannon announced this morning he is leaving the radio station to become sports director of WFYF-TV, Channel 50, in Watertown, NY.

He will start his new job Nov. 13.

Cannon, 25, said his last news shift will be this Friday, but he will return to anchor the station’s election night coverage Nov. 7.

Mudslide Hits Two Condos At Beau-View
DERBY – “I was terrified, simply terrified.” That’s how Lori Holden described her feelings when rocks and dirt slammed into her kitchen in her apartment Sunday morning in the Beau-View Condominiums.

“I just screamed and ran form the unit,” Mrs. Holden added.

The dirt and rocks crashed through a sliding glass door in the kitchen off of Holden’s apartment.

Two units of the complex, known as Beau-View II, were damaged by the slide. The second unit is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bresman, who were not at home at the time. Bresman told The Sentinel this morning that the rear deck on his unit was destroyed.

Break At Library
DERBY – Police are investigating a break into the Derby Public Library that was discovered Friday morning. Entry was gained by breaking the glass in a side door. Among the items stolen were 60 tapes, a VCR, a microwave oven and cash.

Seymour Vets To Mark Signing Of Armistice
SEYMOUR – Seymour veterans will mark the 71st anniversary of the signing of an armistice to end World War I at a Veterans Day service at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at French Memorial Park.

William Farchause, commander of Emil Senger Post, American Legion, has invited all veterans’ organizations to take part regardless of whether they are affiliated with a service organization.

“Veterans Day 1989 is of special significance as we honor those who fought in World War I since their numbers become fewer and fewer with each passing year,” Farchause noted.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 1989

Ex-Comptroller Is Booked Again In Embezzlement
ANSONIA – The city’s first comptroller, who was arrested in 1982 for embezzling about $14,000 from the city, was charged Monday with first-degree larceny by Naugatuck police.

Dominick J. Polis, 40, of Jewett Street, was charged with embezzling at least $60,000 from his former employer, Western Woodwork, Co. in the Naugatuck Industrial Park.

Polis turned himself in at Naugatuck police headquarters Monday and was released on a $15,000 bond.

Polis, who is co-owner of Champions Bar on Bridge Street, was arrested in March of 1982 for advancing city checks to himself while he was city comptroller.

Male Stripper Bares Truth – He’s Crazy About His Job
DERBY – As a full-time firefighter in Milford, Mark Rohrig knows what it’s like to be in a hot spot. And as an entertainer, he knows how to turn up the heat.

Rohrig, 29, is a male stripper. For the last eight years, he’s been enthusiastically pleasing audiences of women as the “Polish Pony,” and letting it all – well almost all – hang out once he takes to the dance floor.

Rohrig performs at nightclubs and private parties, including birthdays, bridal showers and even divorce celebrations. In fact, he recalled performing at one woman’s bridal shower and divorce party, both in the same year.

Rohrig has no qualms about barring all in front of an audience “all in the name of entertainment.” And if there’s any embarrassment, he said it’s usually on the part of those who sit and watch.

Seymour Girl, 9, Wins ‘Coffin’ Full Of Candy
SEYMOUR – A Seymour youngster whose birthday coincides with Halloween isn’t sure if the ghostly spirits of the season are responsible for her good fortune.

But Nicole Gardiner, who is nine-years-old today, isn’t asking any questions about how she happened to be the lucky winner Saturday of a replica of a four-foot coffin filled with 500 assorted candy bars.

It took four people to carry the candy-filled ‘coffin’ into her home on Balance Rock Road.

What did his daughters do when she learned she was a winner?

“She shrieked,” her father Brian Gardiner said.

Bicentennial Ball Canceled in Shelton
SHELTON – Members of the Bicentennial Committee announced today that the Bicentennial Ball, scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled due to lack of interest.

Linda Hooper, organizer of the ball, said less than 100 tickets were sold out of a minimum of 250.

The ball will not be rescheduled. It was organized in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the separation of Huntington from Stratford in 1789.