From The Files Of The Evening Sentinel, It's 'This Week In History!'

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Reporter Jean Falbo Sosnovich broke into the time machine at the Seymour Public Library to bring readers back to 1986!

Please note we’re not publishing the names of people who were accused of crimes and such 38 years ago because we were in sixth grade and not allowed to follow the cases in court. 

So some of the posts below have been modified.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1986

Larceny Charge
ANSONIA – A 17-year-old, was charged Monday with first-degree larceny after allegedly stealing a motor vehicle, police said. He was also charged with misuse of license plates, driving without a license and failure to have insurance, according to police. He was held in lieu of $5,000 bond and was scheduled for arraignment in Derby Superior Court Tuesday. The vehicle was recovered, police said.

Restaurant Set To Open
DERBY – Area residents who have missed the former Romano’s Restaurant can take heart – a new eatery will be open there shortly. Lina Lucarelli, owner of the building, said the new place –Waterfront Restaurant and Caterers – should open by the end of the month. The Roosevelt Drive restaurant will provide continental cuisine, featuring seafood.

Seymour Frosh Nip East Haven
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Wildcats raised their record to 1 – 1 by scoring a come-from-behind 20 – 14 victory over East Haven in a freshman football game. Quarterback Michael Luciano led the Cats throughout and opened the scoring with a first-quarter 50-yard pass play to flanker Rosario Valenti.

East Haven came back to gain a 14 – 6 halftime lead by means of a 60-yard halfback dash off left end and 30-yard halfback sweep wide left. Seymour mini-fullback Dave Cosciello spurted through the line and cut left to cover the 20 yards to the end zone. With only three minutes to go in the game, QB Luciano kept the ball and sprinted just inside the right side goal line marker from the 10.

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1986

Board To Consider Charges Against Two Police Officers
ANSONIA – The Board of Police Commissioners will consider the disposition of charges on the disciplinary hearings of two police officers at 8 p.m. today at the police station.

The two were charged in June by Chief James McGrath with violating departmental regulations. They were charged with performing an act disrespectful to a superior officer, conduct unbecoming an officer, communicating to the press information relating to police work without permission and acting contrary to the good order and discipline of the department.

McGrath said he filed the charges because the officers should not be allowed to make disparaging remarks in the press about their commanders. One officer has maintained her first amendment right of freedom of speech has been violated. The other corroborated her comments in the press.

Local Birth Center Near Completion
DERBY – Griffin Hospital’s $700,000 birthing center in the former Farrell Pavilion is expected to be completed next month. That was the word this morning from Mark Chudwick, a Griffin Hospital spokesman. The center will have two traditional delivery rooms, five private birthing rooms, eight post-partum rooms as well as a family function room and a full nursery. The work began several months ago and is being done by O&G Construction of Torrington.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 1986

Charter Revision Commission Seeks Vote On 15 Questions
ANSONIA – The aldermanic charter revision commission agreed in their rescheduled meeting Wednesday to ask the Board of Aldermen to hold a special referendum to vote on 15 charter questions.

The committee will make its recommendations Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the monthly meeting of the full board.

Charter revision proponents and members of the former Charter Revision Commission have urged that the referendum be held in conjunction with the Nov. 4 elections, both to save the city money and to ensure a sizeable voter turnout. In order for any referendum to be binding, a turnout of 15 percent is necessary.

Italian Night
DERBY – The John H. Collins Post, American Legion, will hold its annual Italian Night, Saturday at the legion hall on Caroline Street. A porketta and ziti dinner will be served at 7 p.m., and dancing will begin at 9 p.m. to music by the band, Destiny. 

Friday, Oct. 10, 1986

Rummage Sale
ANSONIA – The Assumption School fall rummage sale will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 and from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the school basement., 51 North Cliff St. Prices will be $1 and less and the sale will include some furniture. Donations are being accepted and should be left at the school during school hours.

Motorcyclist Charged
SEYMOUR – A 16-year-old was charged Thursday with operating a motorcycle without a motorcycle operator’s license, failure to wear face protection while operating a motorcycle, misuse of markers, operating an unregistered vehicle and failure to carry insurance. He was released on a written promise to appear Oct. 24 in Derby Superior Court.

Typewriter Taken
SHELTON – A typewriter valued at $1,000 was reportedly taken by intruders at the Data Switch building on Enterprise Drive Thursday, police said.

Saturday, Oct. 11, 1986

Mayor Asks Funds For Area Crime Unit
ANSONIA – Mayor William J. Menna said today he has requested that the Board of Aldermen approve $10,000 for the Valley Street Crime Unit to fund drug investigations.

Seymour First Selectman Robert Koskelowski first led the call for additional money for the investigative unit and that town has already put up $10,000. Derby and Shelton have also been supportive of Koskelowski’s initiative.

The Ansonia board will consider Menna’s recommendation Tuesday at its regular monthly meeting. If the aldermen approve funding in a resolution, it also must be approved by the Board of Apportionment and Taxation.

Housing Moratorium Extended Two Months
DERBY – The Board of Aldermen has extended the city’s six-month moratorium on multi-family housing until Jan. 1.

The decision to continue the moratorium, which was set to expire Oct. 31, was reached Thursday evening at the board’s October meeting at City Hall.

Planning Consultant Robert Bryan recommended the moratorium be extended so that he can propose specific changes in the zoning ordinances. Bryan pointed out that current zoning regulations allow 17.4 units per acre in R‑5 districts. He said he would like to reduce that to 11.6 units per acre.

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