Straight from the archives of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to 1980.
Tuesday, May 27, 1980
5,000 Attend Ansonia Parade
ANSONIA – An estimated 5,000 people lined the streets of the city from Nolan Field to City Hall Monday morning to view the 74th Memorial Day Parade.
Near the reviewing stand in front of the U.S. Postal Service office, on Main Street, spectators stood three and four deep.
James Kennedy, parade coordinator, said the crowd was “bigger than ever.” Frederick Walsh, grand marshal, said it was a record crowd.
Derby Firemen Busy On Holiday
DERBY – Two fires were handled by firefighters Memorial Day.
The first at 8:20 a.m. was at the home of the Pozucek family on Derby Avenue. A television set caught fire. It was carried outside by members of the family where it was extinguished by firefighters.
Early in the afternoon, fire units were sent to the Paxton home on Tenth Street, when an overheated stove caught fire.
Seymour Honors War Dead
SEYMOUR –Seymour remembered its war dead on Memorial Day Monday at exercises, a four-division parade and wreath-laying ceremonies at the service men’s monuments at French Memorial Park.
Sunny skies and a brisk breeze provided an ideal setting for both parade participants and viewers. A crowd of about 3,500 lined Main Street, New Haven Road and Spruce Street to view the procession.
James Holmes, a World War I veteran and charter member of Emil Senger Post, American Legion, was the parade marshal.
11,000 Attend Derby-Shelton Parade
SHELTON – Brilliant sunshine and perfect holiday weather helped to draw an estimated 11,000 persons to the annual Derby-Shelton Memorial Day Parade Monday.
The crowd was 10 deep in some areas along the 1.7-mile parade route. Throughout the lines, “Old Glory” waved in gentle breezes from atop buildings and from spectators’ hands. The traditional firing of a volley and the throwing of a wreath into the Housatonic River were held at the Derby-Shelton Bridge. Memorial services were also conducted on the Derby Green at the end of the procession.
Wednesday, May 28, 1980
Buildings Sold In Ansonia
ANSONIA – The downtown block known as the Firestone Block has been sold.
A Stamford-based company called Independent Investors Co. bought the block which is bordered by Main, Bridge, East Main sStreetsand Malus Park for $465,000. A Firestone Co. store is in the block.
Derby To Adopt Budget With Increases
DERBY – The 1980-81 budget will be adopted Thursday by the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, and taxpayers are facing a likely increase of four mills.
The total budget is expected to be $7.6 million.
Derby’s current tax rate is 24.25 mills.
“The target we’re now shooting for is 28.25 or 28.50 mills,” tax board Chairman Joseph J. Ahearn said last night.
Skater Sets His Sights On Olympics
SEYMOUR – Getting up at 5 a.m. during summer vacation may not be on the agenda for most 13-year-old boys.
But for Jeffrey Sochrin, who wants to be an Olympic figure skater one day, the early morning wake-up will become routine.
By 5:30 a.m., Jeffrey explained, he will be at the Milford Ice Palace to begin a five-hour lesson in figure skating under the instruction of Patricia Nelson of Seymour.
In addition to all the practice, Jeffrey began competing on the ice a year ago. Jeffrey, a seventh grader at St. Joseph’s School in Ansonia, has won a number of local and regional competitions. Most recently his wins include taking first place in the Central Eastern Regional Competition in Bridgeport and third place in the Westchester Figure Skating Competition in Dairen.
City Spends $75,000 For Road Work
SHELTON – The city has spent about $75,000 to fix roads damaged by the flooding last month.
Paul DiMauro, superintendent of highways and bridges, said Tuesday night that repairs should cost the city about $300,000 for minimal work.
City officials have estimated the damage to roads to be about $2 million.
Thursday, May 29, 1980
LaRovera May Get Public Works Post
ANSONIA – It looks like William M. LaRovera Jr. will follow in his father’s footsteps.
LaRovera, a 2nd Ward alderman, is expected to be appointed superintendent of streets and bridges at the June 10 session of the Board of Aldermen.
According to sources, LaRovera has the votes to gain the $15,700-a-year job.
LaRovera’s father, William M. LaRovera Sr., resigned as superintendent of buildings and refuse in 1976 after more than 20 years working with the public works department. He left to take a position with the W.R. Archer Co. of Derby.
LaRovera Jr. would replace William Whalen as superintendent. Whalen resigned last month and is employed by Farrel Co.
Property Sales Decline In Derby
DERBY – Property transfers for April showed a decline of $433,700, according to records in the office of Marion C. Molloy, town clerk.
The total value of property sales in Derby last month was $328,000. A year ago, the total was $761,700. There were only seven transactions in April 1980, as opposed to the twelve a year ago.
West Point Graduate
SEYMOUR – Cadet Steven M.F. Stuban, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stuban of Colony Street, Ext., Seymour, has graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY.
Stuban received a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.
A 1976 graduate of Seymour High School, Stuban was a dean’s list student at West Point.
Rev. Morgan To Be Honored
SHELTON –The Rev. John H. Morgan, pastor of Shelton Congregational Church, will preach his last sermon at the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday.
He recently announced his resignation. After the service a farewell reception will be given by the church to honor Morgan and his wife, Barbara, and their two children, Cheryl and Douglas.
Morgan began his ministry at the church Aug. 1, 1976. He will be leaving the ministry to enter business.
Friday, May 30, 1980
Healey Seeks Car Dealership
ANSONIA – Henry F. Healey Jr. is negotiating to buy the former Dworkin Ford car dealership on lower Main Street, sources said today.
Healey is high sheriff of New Haven County. The Healey family owns a Dodge dealership in Branford, and Healey Subaru and a Sunoco service station called Healey Motors Inc., both on New Haven Avenue, Derby.
Healey reportedly would sell the Branford Dodge operation and run the Ford dealership.
Board Approves 4.5-Mill Tax Rise
DERBY – A $7,336,310 budget with a tax increase of 4 ½ mills was approved Thursday by the Board of Apportionment and Taxation in City Hall.
The 1980-81 budget includes a 28.75 mill rate and represents a tax increase of more than 18 percent. Under Derby’s new uniform fiscal year, taxes are now due July 1 and Jan. 1.
Overall, the budget reflects an increase of less than 5 percent over last year’s $6.9 million package.
“When we first sat down to begin work on this budget, we were facing a 14 ½ to 15 ½ mill increase because of an income shortfall and the budget requests,” said Joseph J. Ahearn, tax board chairman. “However, with the new budget we have imposed hardships in all areas and are asking every department head to work with us. We’re in hard times.”
3,000 Lost Water After Main Break
SEYMOUR – Service to about 3,000 customers of Bridgeport Hydraulic Co, was disrupted twice Thursday because of breaks in a distribution water main on Old King’s Highway, Beacon Falls.
Gerald E. Loiselle Jr., manager of corporate affairs for BHC, said a break in a 15-inch pipe at 11 p.m. Thursday occurred a short distance away from a previous break that was discovered about 21 hours earlier.
Hospital Closing Opposed
SHELTON – Police Chief Peter J. Siraco said today that he opposed the closing of Laurel Heights state hospital and its companion facilities on Coram Avenue.
The hospital, because of state budget cuts, is scheduled to close in 1982.
Laurel Heights provides care for patients with chronic illnesses and those who need rehabilitation. It is one of the few hospitals in the state that accepts patients with tuberculosis.
Siraco said, “The Laurel Heights Hospital stands as a monument for the many sick who have been made well through the treatments they have received at the facility.”
Saturday, May 31, 1980
Mayor Denies Seeking State Job
DERBY – Mayor Edward J. Cecarelli said last night that he is not seeking a state job.
For the past several weeks, reports have been circulating that Cecarelli was planning to resign to take a state job. Last night at City Hall, the mayor denied those reports claiming they were “unfounded.” He added, “I’m happy where I am and I have no intention of leaving Derby.”
Exxon Buys Oxford Land
OXFORD – Exxon Enterprises has purchased the last parcel needed to build a proposed plant.
The property is 58 acres fronting Christian Street. The price was $12 million.
The George L. Lilley Co. of Waterbury sold the land for $17,699 an acre.
Exxon officials have now purchased the entire 91-acre site. The company has said that a decision on whether to build a new research plant will not be made until 1981.
2 Pastors Appointed In Seymour
SEYMOUR – New pastors will be appointed to two Seymour Methodist churches at the annual conference of the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church June 8 in Bridgeport.
Bishop W. Ralph Ward Jr. has announced his intention to appoint the Rev. David A. Stevens as pastor of the Seymour United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Lee C. Hardgove will be named pastor of Great Hill United Methodist Church.