Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to 1992.
“A Few Good Men,” directed by Rob Reiner and starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, opened in theaters.
Jack Nicholson’s character Colonel Jessup delivered the famous line “You can’t handle the truth” with such force that it became one of the most referenced in American movie history.
These were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:
“Baby Got Back” – Sir Mix-A-Lot
“I’ll Be There” – Mariah Carey
“Under The Bridge” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Jump” – Kris Kross
“If You Asked Me To” – Celine Dion
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Monday, July 6, 1992
Banker Of Year Retires After 21 Years
ANSONIA – Peter Goumas retired last week after 21 years with Great Country Bank and has been named by Mayor Thomas Hallihan “Ansonia’s Community Banker of the Year.”
“Peter continually demonstrated professionalism and his love and pride for the town in which he was born and raised,” Hallihan said.
Before deciding on a banking career, Goumas ran a grocery store. In 1937 his father opened Goumas’ Grocery Store on North Main Street. When his father died, Goumas took over and ran the store for seven years. In 1969 he went to work for Derby Savings Bank and later joined the Savings Bank of Ansonia, which became Great Country Bank in 1985.
Arraignment Set In Mayor’s Attack
DERBY – The man accused of assaulting Mayor Gino S. DiMauro was scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Derby Superior Court, along with his alleged accomplice.
An affidavit dated June 29 reportedly has the Derby man admitting attacking the mayor because he was angry DiMauro did not give him a job promised to him in the Water Pollution Control Authority, according to a published report today.
State To Probe Parent’s Complaint
SEYMOUR – The State Board of Education is investigating a complaint filed by a Seymour parent alleging the $12.6 million school budget for 1992-93 will not meet the state-mandated Minimum Expenditure Requirement for education.
An official at the state agency said Commissioner Vincent L. Ferrandino, after reviewing a complaint from the parent, found it to be “substantial” and has directed Seymour officials to respond to the allegations.
School Superintendent Eugene A. Coppola said he was not surprised the matter had been brought to the state’s attention. During budget deliberations in May, the Board of Education had said it would need about $935,000 more than the 1991-92 allocation of $12 million to meet the state mandates for education spending.
Rain Threats Subdue 4th Celebrations
VALLEY – Although the heavy rains never came, cloudy skies and scattered thundershowers subdued the Valley’s Independence Day weekend activities.
The only fireworks display scheduled for the Valley area was in Oxford on Friday night. Threatening skies and showers, however, forced members of the sponsoring Quaker Farms Fire Company to postpone the display until Saturday.
Many people turned to the malls, movies and Wimbledon for entertainment Sunday, while others braved temperatures in the 60s to enjoy parades, festivals and family fun.
“For everybody who is ready to lynch the weather guy, this is the first Fourth of July rain in 10 years,” said Mel Goldstein, director of the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University.
Tuesday, July 7, 1992
50th Anniversary Celebrated
ANSONIA – Arthur and Hazel Lewis Tidmarsh of Hotchkiss Terrace celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 2 at a party at Rapp’s Paradise Inn, Ansonia. Approximately 120 people attended the party.
The couple was married March 28, 1942 at the First Methodist Church of Ansonia by the Rev. Howard B. Warren.
Arthur Tidmarsh is a former employee of Great Country Bank, while Hazel Tidmarsh is a former employee of Arco-Anaconda of Ansonia. They have a daughter, Nancy Ann Tidmarsh, of Ansonia.
Sewer-Use Fees Increase
DERBY – Homeowners will see their sewer-use fee rise by $11 per unit, an increase adopted Monday by the Board of Apportionment and Taxation.
The tax board gave its approval by a 7-2 vote during a meeting at city hall.
Thomas Soda, chairman of the Water Pollution Control Authority, told the tax board that his panel recommended the increase because of increased costs for utilities and salaries.
A rate of $101 per unit was levied last year. That will jump to $112 when bills are sent out in the near future.
Capece Eyes 105th; Seat Held By Betkoski
SEYMOUR – Vincent J. Capece Jr., a Seymour selectman and former Board of Education member, will seek the Republican nomination for the 105th District seat currently held by Beacon Falls Democrat John W. Betkoski, III.
Capece said he had decided to run for the state office because “the voice of the people in this state has been repeatedly ignored. Mandates have been forced on municipalities with what appears to be little or no regard as to the long-term effect.”
He said it has become “increasingly evident” that a majority of the current General Assembly has lost touch with the average Connecticut taxpayer.
Voters May Get Final Say
SHELTON – The Shelton Taxpayers Association says it has got a “hot potato” in its hands ready to be served to the Board of Aldermen.
Last week, STA President Bette Blaze announced that the group had obtained about 3,000 signatures, or more than 15 percent of the Shelton electorate, on a petition calling for a referendum on future city budgets.
City Clerk Beverly Brown today confirmed the fact that the group has gathered bona fide signatures from 15 percent of the city’s voters.
Blaze said she and the STA hope an ordinance will be adopted to incorporate the referendum in the city budget process. Municipal budgets like the 1992-93 $62.5 million spending plan – a 31 percent increase over the 1991-92 budget – are currently formulated and approved by the Board of Aldermen.
Wednesday, July 8, 1992
Jeweler Relocated To Store Site In City
ANSONIA – Thomas Gabianelli remembers a time when merchants knew their customers on a first name basis.
He chose to relocate his business to 262 Main St. in May because he believed the location and the neighboring merchants would provide the friendly atmosphere he said would complement his business.
Gabianelli owns and operates Thomas Jewelers with his wife Linda, mother-in-law Fran Webb and father-in-law Arnie Webb, daughter Dina 18 and son Todd, 14.
Ex-Derby Resident To Appear On TV Show
DERBY – David A. Testone, an ex-Derby resident and teacher, is scheduled to appear on “A Current Affair” at 7:30 p.m. today on Fox-TV. Testone is an insurance consumer advocate.
Injunction Filed
DERBY – The Board of Education filed papers Tuesday in Milford Superior Court seeking an injunction against the Board of Apportionment and Taxation to prevent the recently adopted 1992-93 budget from being used.
The school board received an appropriation of $8 million compared with the previous year’s level of $8,375,000.
It has claimed that the tax board failed to allow a public portion during the special meeting where it adopted the new budget.
Brush Fire
SEYMOUR – Citizens Engine Company responded to an alarm at 6:30 p.m. Monday for a brush fire on Briarwood Drive. Deputy Fire Marshal Michael Driscoll said the fire was started accidentally by a group of youths who were illegally discharging fireworks. The youths scattered before firefighters arrived. Officials are investigating.
Thursday, July 9, 1992
Gabinelli Is Starring In Musical
ANSONIA – Native Michael Gabinelli is starring in “They’re Playing Our Song,” which opened Wednesday at Western Connecticut State University.
The show is being produced by WestConn Summer Musicals and is directed by Brad Blake.
The Neil Simon musical was originally produced on Broadway with Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz. The show involves an established composer and a wacky, high-energy budding lyricist whose professional relationship turns to matters of the heart.
Official: TEAM To Hold Line
DERBY – Richard J. Knoll, newly-appointed executive director of Training, Education and Manpower, Inc., said changes under his leadership will be subtle.
“There will be some changes in management style and communication, but I don’t anticipate more than that,” he said.
Other plans include setting goals and priorities for the agency, said Knoll.
Knoll, 44, of Shelton, has been with TEAM for the past 12 years, serving in a number of capacities, including accounting, personnel and planning.
Library Project Tops Agenda For Selectmen
SEYMOUR – The proposed $1.4 million expansion of the Seymour Public Library will be discussed at a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Library Board of Directors at 7:30 p.m. July 20 at town hall.
First Selectman Robert J. Koskelowski said he would like to see the project underway by winter.
“We need to discuss hiring an architect to prepare the final design for the addition and the procedures for going out to bid to hire a contractor,” Koskelowski said.
Residents gave the go-ahead for the 6,500-square-foot addition recently when they voted to increase the town’s share of the cost from a previously approved $350,000 to $810,000.
A state grant of $350,000, grants from two foundations totaling $235,000 and private donations will cover the balance.
The addition will provide a room to expand the children’s section and improve the reference area as well as to reorganize the circulation desk and increase the book storage space from 40,000 volumes to 60,000.
Land Donated To City
SHELTON – The Norman Santa family donated a 10-foot by 300-foot strip of historic land on River Road to the city’s Conservation Commission at 10:30 a.m. today.
The land will be maintained as open space, Mayor Mark A. Lauretti said.
Santa and other family members, Lauretti and members of the Conservation Commission attended the dedication.
Friday, July 10, 1992
Old Milk House Work Spurred
ANSONIA – The architectural drawings for the conversion of the old milk house at the Ansonia Nature Center will be unveiled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Mayor Thomas Hallihan announced.
The conversion will include a classroom, exhibit areas, kitchen, office and a sleeping loft. Plans may include lighting and heating and a composting toilet, all powered by solar voltaic cells to generate the electricity needed.
DiCenso Tapped For DHS
DERBY – A 23-year veteran of the school system was appointed the new principal of the high school at Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.
Charles DiCenso, 44, of Summit Road, will replace Michael Angelini who is retiring after 25 years with the system.
DiCenso will continue as football coach indefinitely, according to Superintendent of Schools Nathan Chesler.
A veteran English teacher, head football coach and administrative aide. DiCenso says the immediate challenge facing him is the merger of the intermediate school and the high school under one principal.
Last year, the high school had an enrollment of about 300 students. The combined student population under DiCenso will be about 500 students.
Zoners Refuse Change
SEYMOUR – The proposed reclassification of property at 55 Garden St. as an Office Development District was turned down by the Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday at town hall.
The change had been sought by Dr. Anita Blume, a Seymour dentist who wanted to relocate her office to the one-family house.
Property owners in the neighborhood had opposed the reclassification of the house, contending an increase in traffic would create a hazard on the street and would change the character of the residential street.
City Playground Site Gets OK By Aldermen
SHELTON – Aldermen meeting Thursday approved, with reservations, property in front of the police department for the site of a city playground.
The vote was 7 to 1 to allow Friends of the Playground, a nonprofit group formed in April, to build a $50,000 to $60,000 playground on city land there.
To date, $10,000 has been donated by the Welcome Wagon. The Friends group said fundraising efforts have been hindered by the lack of a playground site.
Alderman John Anglace, who said he approved of the playground, recommended that organizers continue looking for another location.
“I will offer my support conditionally, but everyone is convinced this is not the best location,” he said.