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This Week In Valley History: 1983

by | Feb 17, 2025 10:07 pm | Comments

This week, we take a trip back in time to 1983!

This were the top five songs playing on the radio in the U.S. this week:

1. Baby, Come To Me” – Patti Austin

2. Down Under” – Men At Work

3. Shame On The Moon” – Bob Seger

4. Stray Cat Strut” – Stray Cats

5. Africa” – Toto

In race car news, Cale Yarborough, of South Carolina, won the Daytona 500. This was the first time an in-car camera went into the victory lane before a national CBS Sports audience.

Baseball Hall of Famer Fernando Valenzuela wins his salary arbitration of $1 million. The L.A. Dodgers pitcher became the only player in MLB history to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season, as well as leading the Dodgers to a World Series championship.

Tootsie,” which found actor Dustin Hoffman disguising himself as a woman to play a role on a trashy soap opera, was the top movie on the silver screen.

The Top 10 Baby Names of 1983 were:

Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Ashley, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, David and Joshua

Fun Fact: Austria does not usually allow dual citizenship, but they made a special exception for Arnold I’ll Be Back” Schwarzenegger in 1983 when he became a U.S. citizen.

Here is what was happening in our Valley, as stolen from the microfilm edition of The Evening Sentinel!

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Coffee Chats With Rep. Rochelle, Feb. 2025

by | Feb 17, 2025 11:49 am | Comments

State Rep. Kara Rochelle will hold her monthly in-person community coffee events on Monday, Feb. 17, from 6 – 7 p.m. at Copper City, 82 – 84 Main St, Ansonia and Friday, Feb. 21, from 8 – 9 a.m. in the private room of the Valley Diner, 636 New Haven Ave, Derby. 

Residents from Derby and Ansonia are welcome to attend these events. They are encouraged to come share their thoughts, ask questions, and provide feedback on state policy issues. 

These events are part of a monthly series of in-person conversations that Rep. Rochelle holds to build strong relationships with members of the community. People who cannot attend can call Rep. Rochelle’s office at 860 – 240-8585 or email her at Kara.Rochelle@cga.ct.gov to share their thoughts or schedule an alternative time to talk.

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Ansonia Nolan Park Redevelopment To Go Out To Bid

by | Feb 17, 2025 6:34 am | Comments

City of Ansonia

A screenshot of the improvements plan. Slight changes have been made to the field on the right.

ANSONIAAn Ansonia committee Jan. 30 approved a $9.1 million plan to redevelop Nolan Field.

The Ansonia fields subcommittee” – made up of members of the board of education and board of Aldermen – voted to send the plan forward to the city. The next step is for the city to put it out to bid.

The plan is the centerpiece of a $10 million proposal to redevelop four fields throughout the city. 

While the Nolan Field plan was approved, the three other fields – Abe Stone Park at Colony Pond, Nelligan Field, and the Ansonia Nature Center – will need to be approved separately.

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Route 8 Construction Update For The Weeks Of Feb. 17 & 24, 2025

by | Feb 14, 2025 1:15 pm | Comments

Connecticut DOT

The following is copied from the Connecticut DOT website:

Why is Route 8 asphalt being removed? Visit our FAQ page here to find out.

Work will be in the daytime, 7AM to 3PM, Monday through Friday.

  • Both northbound and southbound traffic lanes have moved to the right shoulder to create a work area for median barrier replacement between Exit 20 and 22 (New Exits 17 – 18).
  • Median barrier and median drainage are being replaced.
  • Pipe repair and lining activities will continue throughout, Northbound and Southbound from Exit 15 to 22 (New Exits 12B-18).

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Ansonia Dog Saved From Icy Banks Of Naugatuck River

by | Feb 14, 2025 5:49 am | Comments

Jo-Jo.

ANSONIAIf guardian angels exist, then Jo-Jo the Australian silky terrier came face to face with hers this week.

The 10-pound, 14-year-old dog escaped from her yard on Columbia Street Tuesday morning (Feb. 11) and came close to plunging into the icy cold waters of the Naugatuck River. 

Had it not been for the bravery of 21-year-old Jessica Ames, a bystander who saw Jo-Jo near the water, the dog’s owner said the outcome could have been much different. 

Jo-Jo, who is partially blind and deaf, escaped her backyard through a stuck-open gate, according to her owner, Carol Lexa.

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Derby-Shelton Rotary Scholarship Applications Open

by | Feb 13, 2025 12:51 pm | Comments

DERBY/SHELTON The Derby Shelton Rotary Scholarship applications have been updated in Naviance and are now accessible for students. Please ensure that you apply before the deadline: May 6.

Seniors from Derby and Shelton can apply for the following scholarships:

  • Derby Shelton Four-Year Scholarship: $8,000
  • President’s Scholarship: $1,000
  • Deceased Rotarian One-Time Scholarship: $1,500
  • Derby Shelton Rotary One-Time Scholarship: $1,500
  • Derby Shelton Rotary One-Time Scholarship: $1,500

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City Of Ansonia Offering Preview Of Opera House Restoration Feb. 18

by | Feb 13, 2025 12:25 pm | Comments

Emery Roth

A photo of the Ansonia Opera House interior.

ANSONIA - The City of Ansonia has scheduled a public preview of its visions and plan for the historic, long-abandoned Ansonia Opera House, to take place Tuesday, February 18 th , 2025 at the Ansonia Senior Center (65 Main Street, 2 nd Floor) at 5:30 p.m. This event is open to the public and press.

The Ansonia Opera House – constructed in 1870 — is located in the heart of downtown Ansonia, where it once served as the premiere theatre and public hall in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Vacant since the 1970s, the location has been proudly owned and preserved by the Kendzierski family for decades.

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This Week In History: 1958

by | Feb 13, 2025 5:16 am | Comments

AI image made at Canva.com

This week, we head back to 1958!

Gunsmoke was America’s most popular TV show.

In 1958, the average household income in the U.S. was $4,650, a gallon of milk cost $1.01, eggs were 55 cents a dozen and a loaf of bread cost 25 cents.

The average cost of a new home was $10,450, and the average monthly rent was $92.00, up from $90.00 a year earlier.

The price for a gallon of regular gas averaged 25 cents.

A first-class stamp cost four cents.

The federal minimum wage was $1.00.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was president. His campaign was noted for the simple slogan I Like Ike.”

These were the top five songs in the U.S. this week:

1. At the Hop” – Danny & The Juniors

2. Get A Job” – The Silhouettes

3. Short Shorts” – Royal Teens

4. Don’t” – Elvis Presley

5. Sail Along Silvery Moon” – Billy Vaugh and his Orchestra

Here is what was happening in our Valley, as stolen from the microfilm edition of The Evening Sentinel!

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Budget Season Kicks Off In Seymour

by | Feb 13, 2025 5:05 am | Comments

Members of the Seymour Board of Finance, the group of volunteers who review spending and revenue projections.

SEYMOUR – Budget season is officially underway with the police department submitting spending plans last week for review by the town’s board of finance.

The budget is the document that determines how much you’ll pay in taxes for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Members of the Seymour Board of Finance held their first budget workshops Feb. 3 and Feb. 5. 

The board will continue meeting with town department heads to discuss their individual budget requests throughout February and March. The meetings will take place at 7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at Seymour Town Hall. Click here to see agendas published to the town’s website.

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Amid Middle School Land Negotiations, Ansonia Landowner Sues City

by | Feb 13, 2025 5:00 am | Comments

Pulaski Highway, in between Fitzpatrick Road and Farrel Drive.

ANSONIAAn Ansonia landowner is accusing the city of twisting the rules to devalue land the city wants to purchase for a new middle school.

In a lawsuit brought before U.S. District Court in Connecticut, Ansonia Orchard LLC sued the city over a zoning regulation change that it says allowed the city to shave a property’s value from $5 million to $1.5 million. It said the city is attempting to take its land without paying them fairly.

The property in question is a 25-acre tract of land at 64 – 78 Pulaski Highway. Half a mile from Ansonia High School, city officials have been eyeing it as the possible site for a new middle school for years.

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Ansonia Aldermen Want To Crack Down On Out-Of-State Plates

by | Feb 12, 2025 5:52 am | Comments

Made with Canva.com

ANSONIACity officials in Ansonia say they’ll be stepping up enforcement on out-of-state registrations.

At an Aldermen subcommittee meeting on Feb. 5, corporation counsel John Marini said the city’s code of ordinances gives them the authority to fine owners of vehicles with incorrect registrations. He said during the meeting that an enforcement campaign is coming soon.

If you have an out-of-state plate in Ansonia, and we have a good faith basis to believe that you’re basically living here in Ansonia or in this state with that out-of-state license plate – in violation of state law – we now have the ability to give you a citation,” Marini said.

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Janesky Opens Manufacturing Building In Seymour

by | Feb 12, 2025 5:40 am | Comments

Contributed Photo

Larry Janesky at a new manufacturing plant in Seymour.

SEYMOURThe latest addition to Larry Janesky’s Contractor Nation campus in the Silvermine Industrial Park was unveiled Tuesday (Feb. 11) during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

About 100 people attended the event as Janesky toured his new, 20,000 square-foot manufacturing facility at 88 Cogwheel Lane. 

The facility will be dedicated to the production of products designed to improve air quality in homes, help homeowners avert damaging flooding in their basements and provide back-up protection from water damage.

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Ansonia Democrats Seek Nominees For Public Office

by | Feb 11, 2025 1:08 pm | Comments

Ansonia DTC Facebook

ANSONIA The Ansonia Democratic Town Committee is hosting an informational event this Thursday, February 13th, for residents who may be interested in running for local office this year. The event will be held in the private room at Norwood Athletic Club, 35 Maple St. in Ansonia, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

If you are a team player who wants to be more involved in your community, this event is a great opportunity to learn about the positive impact you can have by serving in local office. People of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences are encouraged to attend — our community is stronger with a variety of viewpoints in the conversation.

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