Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to 1992.
Monday, Sept. 28, 1992
Stolen
ANSONIA – Police said they are investigating the report of a theft of 10 cartons of cigarettes from a Great Hill Road business on Saturday evening. Two white males took the cigarettes and fled onto Route 8 heading south in a large white vehicle.
Cycle Stolen
ANSONIA – Police said they are investigating the report of a stolen motorcycle from a North State Street home Saturday morning. A white Honda Fat Cat dirt bike with a blue gas tank valued at about $500 was taken.
TEAM Announces Data To Get Fuel Assistance
DERBY – Heating your home in winter is hard enough if you make decent money. When you are financially strapped, paying the heating bills can be very difficult.
Training, Education and Manpower administers two fuel assistance programs that are designed to help people in a 10-town area pay their heating costs.
Last year, the fuel assistance program helped 2,154 clients.
‘Buy A Brick’ Drive Nears Goal
SEYMOUR – A ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign for the benefit of the Seymour Public Library building expansion project has raised more than $26,000 and will end Oct. 31.
The campaign was implemented by the library board of directors to help fund a $1.4 million addition to the library.
Donors can buy bricks for donations varying in amounts from $5 to more than $250.
The goal is to raise about $27,000.
Tanner Wins Golf Title
SHELTON – George Tanner needed a ‘sudden death’ to defeat Ron Refkowski by one stroke in the championship flight of the Highland Golf Club Championship.
Tanner won the 36-hole event for the fifth time since 1984.
In the first flight, Dave Martin triumphed over Fred Hulley by two strokes. The second flight saw another sudden death playoff. Tony Marchitto defeated Dennis Donahue by two strokes in 37 holes.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1992
Water Tank To Be Erected On Hilltop
ANSONIA – A 500,000-gallon water tank will be erected on U.S. Agricultural station property as a result of several large subdivisions under construction in the hilltop area.
The tank, which will measure 88 feet high and 32 feet in diameter, will cost the Ansonia-Derby Water Company about $500,000.
The tank will be put on the site of the former Nike Radar Station on Ford Street, and the U.S. government will lease the needed land to the water company.
Zois’ Pizza Beats Fletcher
DERBY – Zois’ Pizza swept Fletcher Construction in recent Valley Fall Softball League action 11-3 and 15-14.
John Lounsbury had two complete game wins for Zois,’ limiting Fletchers to just three hits in the first game.
Zois’ rallied for six runs in the second inning to go ahead 6-2 and cruised to an 11-3 victory in the opener.
Gary Menna hit a home run and drove in two runs, while Bob McSally got a double and garnered three RBI.
Seymour Golf Course Approved
SEYMOUR – A plan to develop an 18-hole golf course and 23-lot housing subdivision on a 153-acre tract is back on line with an approval Monday by the Inland Wetlands and Conservation Commission.
A plan for Seymour Park, originally approved by the commission in May 1991, was resubmitted by Trumbull developer Chris Bargas after the approval ran out in May.
Arthur Miller of AM Engineering of Stratford said because of a downturn in the economy last year, Bargas had considered abandoning the golf course plan after the initial approval was granted.
“He has since changed his mind and intends to go ahead with the original plan,” Muller said.
The plan calls for 15 lots for one-family houses and a club house with an entrance to the golf course on Davis Road.
Top Employee
SHELTON – Irmina Grabarz, a local resident and phlebotomist, has been named employee of the month at Bridgeport Hospital.
She joined the hospital staff in 1977 and has been working in the hospital’s Trumbull Testing Center since 1990.
“Irmina kept patients calm and satisfied with their care,” said Robert J. Trefry, the hospital’s chief operating officer. “She continued to spend time with each patient and kept her smile and good attitude.”
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1992
School Board Oks Zero Cost Budget
ANSONIA – School Superintendent Ruth Feinberg Connors Tuesday submitted what she termed a “lean budget” that would call for a 1.9 percent increase over last year, but at no cost to the city.
The school board’s finance committee approved the spending plan for fiscal year 1992-93. It includes an increase in the state’s contribution to the city for education, which covers the slight increase in costs.
Equipment Stolen
DERBY – Police are investigating a burglary at Sea Food Peddler Restaurant on Pershing Drive during which about $1,600 of restaurant equipment was stolen from a trailer in back of the restaurant.
Brother, Sister Team Up In Derby To Run Beau’s Restaurant & Pub
DERBY –Bo knows a lot, but does he know about Beau?
Beau’s Restaurant & Pub, that is.
The dining establishment that opened last week on Pershing Drive has been doing a steady business, according to its co-owners, Tara and Bobby Kolakowski, of Ansonia.
Beau’s features seafood, Italian dishes, chicken, veal and daily specials, according to Bobby, who previously worked for six years as a cook at Evergreen Restaurant, Derby.
He said it was his sister’s idea to open the restaurant. Tara said she began negotiating in February with the landlord and worked with her sister Karen to develop the menu and decide on the décor.
In June, she asked her brother to come onboard.
Two Dogs Back On Duty
SHELTON – The city and police union have reached a verbal agreement for getting the city’s two retired police dogs on duty, Patrolman Michael Lewis, union president, said this morning.
Mayor Mark A. Lauretti had retired two of the city’s three police dogs recently, pointing to costs to maintain the unit.
Lewis said the agreement would save the city $22,000 in productivity costs with the handlers putting in as regular time the hour and half they had spent in at home or grooming time with the dogs.
He estimated the cost to have all three dogs on duty would run about $8,000 annually.
Thursday, Oct. 1, 1992
Northenders Reunion Set
ANSONIA – The second annual Ansonia Northenders reunion will be held Oct. 11 from 11:30 a.m. until early evening on the grounds of St. Anthony’s Church on North Main Street.
Stories concerning familiar spots will be swapped. A hot buffet will be served mid-afternoon.
This Tinney Maintaining A Winning Family Tradition
ANSONIA – Mention the name “Tinney” during a word association game in Ansonia and “winner” would often be the immediate response.
From Ansonia High School Hall of Fame member Howard Tinney to Chargers’ star halfback Jason Tinney, the name has traditionally been synonymous with success.
“Jason can break open a game at any moment,” said Ansonia coach Jack Hunt. “We can do so much with him in the backfield. He can run, pass and catch.”
In this week’s 21-14 victory over Shelton, Tinney broke the game open with an 80-yard touchdown run. The score proved to be the game winner.
The 5-footl-7, 147-pound senior, mentioned as “a player to watch” by the USA Today in its high school preview, compiled 247 yards in his game against Shelton last week. He scored two touchdowns and gained 199 rushing yards.
2nd Grader Asks Board To Increase School Budget
DERBY –Bradley School second-grader Lauren Joel, who one day hopes to be an eye doctor, has written a letter to the Board of Appropriation and Taxation asking them to vote in favor of increasing the city’s school budget.
The neatly printed block letter covers three pages carrying the following message:
“I am a second-grade student at Bradley School. My name is Lauren Joel. Please vote to give more money for education in Derby. When I grow up, I want to be an eye doctor. My education is very important to me.”
The tax board is scheduled to meet with the Board of Education on Oct. 5 where the school board is expected to ask for an additional $230,000.
Errant Ferret
SEYMOUR – Furry ferrets can weasel their way into their owners’ affections.
Just ask Gabrielle St. Cyr of Seymour, whose ferret, Jasmine, slipped out the front door of her West Street house Sunday and escaped into the wilds of the streets of Seymour.
The errant ferret was found by a neighbor who was not aware of the identity of the owner and turned it over to the Fur-n-Feather Pet Store.
By the time St. Cyr got the news that her pet had been found and taken to the pet store, the ferret once again was gone.
This time, not by accident, but by design. Michael Giori, the owner of the store, said since he didn’t include ferrets in his inventory, one of his employees offered to find a good home for the lost animal.
St. Cyr is hoping if the new owner hears about her desire to be reunited with Jasmine, he will return to her and accept an offer of another ferret or a $150 cash reward.
Friday, Oct. 2, 1992
Raccoon Spotted
ANSONIA – Police said they responded to a report Thursday of an ill raccoon at a Main Street gas station.
While police were approaching the animal, which was hiding under a car, the raccoon charged at them, then ran across the street and hid in a wooded area. The raccoon was found by police, killed and take to the city complex for disposal.
Bond Issue Eyed
DERBY – Taxpayers will be asked to approve a $1.7 million bond issue for street repairs in a referendum recommended by the budget committee.
A major portion of the bond issue, $1.5 million, will be used to improve roads, drainage and traffic flow on city streets that have had little maintenance for several years. The remainder will be used to pave other streets.
The impact on taxpayers would be minimal over the 20-year bonding period, ranging from 0.14 mills the first year to .22 mills in the final year.
Wire Mill Determined To Reopen
SEYMOUR – The beleaguered Seymour Specialty Wire Co. will continue efforts to reorganize and reopen in spite of its failure to provide proof in U.S. Bankruptcy Court it has the cash to pay off its largest creditor.
William T. Varga of Thomaston, a metallurgical engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in metals fabrication, would run the factory under a plan that is being put together, he said today.
Varga entered the picture in April to oversee operations at the wire mill after Premier Commercial Services Inc. of White Plains, NY, agreed to purchase the financially troubled company and assume its debts.
But the deal fell through and an involuntary bankruptcy action was filed in August by several creditors when the Los Angeles-based Foothill Capital Corp attempted to sell the equipment in the mill.
Foothill maintains it is owed about $952,000. The company claims the debt is about $750,000.
Columbus And The Pumpkin Link
SHELTON – In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. In 1992, he docked at Pumpkinseed Hill.
Well, not Columbus, but one of his ships.
The Jones family tied in the 500th anniversary of his voyage with their annual pumpkin harvest. They designed and built a tall ship and a small Indian village on the outskirts of the fields to bring the history lesson to life.
Jean Jones said this year’s display is more elaborate than usual.
“We also wanted to emphasize the exchange that took place when the Europeans met the native Americans,” she said.
One large booth showcases native American foods that Europeans had never heard of before coming to the New World, such as peanuts, coconuts, cranberries, tomatoes, plums, wild rice and maple syrup.