December 1965 saw the release of “Christmas Time Is Here,” the now classic tune by the Vince Guaraldi Trio off the ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ television special.
God bless us all!
Here is what was happening locally this week in 1965.
Thursday, Dec. 23, 1965
Midnight Masses In Churches
ANSONIA – Midnight Masses will be celebrated at four Catholic churches in Ansonia Christmas Day.
A solemn high Mass will be said at midnight in the upper church at the Church of Assumption. A low Mass will be said in Sacred Heart Chapel.
Masses will also be said Christmas day at 7 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. in the upper church and at 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and noon in the lower church.
Midnight Mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Church, as well.
Holiday Weekend At City Hall
DERBY – City Hall offices will close at the end of the business day today and will not reopen until Monday at 9 a.m., giving employees a long, holiday weekend.
Stankye Praises Officer Herbette
DERBY – Derby Police Commissioner Joseph J. Stankye said today that “Policeman Leo Herbette’s quick action in grabbing John D’Aiuto to keep him from smashing through a plate glass window after he had been struck by a car is just another example of the high caliber of police work recorded almost daily by the department.”
Commissioner Stankye said that several businessmen who witnessed the D’Aiuto incident have called him to praise Officer Herbette’s quick reaction to the sudden emergency.
Fire Marshal Receives $200 Salary Hike
SEYMOUR – A $200 raise in salary for Fire Marshal Louis M. Andrews, Sr. was voted by the Seymour Board of Selectmen last night.
Andrews’ salary will be hiked from $200 to $400 a year. He was also granted a car allowance of $100. The fire marshal claimed his request was not out of proportion as the job paid the same in 1934 when Chief James Swan was fire marshal.
Friday, Dec. 24, 1965
Light-Fingered Gent Pilfers Light Bulbs
ANSONIA – Somebody effected a blackout on John Hero’s Christmas decorations. Hero had decorated the outside of his home at 1 North Westwood Rd., Ansonia, with colored electric light bulbs. Somebody swiped them, he reported to police yesterday.
Santa Claus will just have to find his way to the Hero house in the dark.
Doctor Douses Blaze In Home
DERBY – Fire at the home of Dr. Bernard Shield of 5 Spring St, Derby, summoned Derby and Shelton firemen this morning at 10 a.m.
The blaze was extinguished by Dr. Shield before firemen arrived. He used a hand extinguisher.
The fire started in the bedroom of the home. A short circuit in the switch of an electric blanket is believed to be the cause.
Churches To Observe Nativity
SEYMOUR – Candlelight programs, Christmas services and Masses will mark the birthday of the Christ Child at Seymour churches.
A midnight Eucharist will be held tonight starting at 11:30 p.m. at Trinity Church. Mrs. Cameron Congdon will direct the senior choir and Clifford Hoyle, organist, will play special Christmas music.
A solemn, high midnight Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s Church. Parents are asked not to take children to this Mass.
Saturday, Dec. 25 and Sunday, Dec. 26 1965
No Paper Published
Monday, Dec. 27, 1965
Grandmother Twice Christmas
ANSONIA – Mrs. Charles Johnson, of 72 Prospect St., Ansonia, became a grandmother twice on Christmas Day when her two daughters, Mrs. Martin Munday and Mrs. John Ashelford each gave birth to a son.
Ambulance Corps Members Busy
DERBY –Busy as Santa Claus over the holiday weekend were members of the Storm Ambulance Corps.
Saturday at 2 a.m. the corpsmen were called to a home 200 Derby Ave., Derby, and transported a man to the Veterans Hospital in West Haven. At 7 a.m. the corpsmen were called to a home at 5 Lafayette St, Derby, where a resident was found dead when they arrived. On Christmas Day the ambulance crew was busy transferring convalescent home patients to their homes for the Christmas holiday, returning them to the hospitals later in the day.
Four Christmas Babies Born
DERBY – Four babies, two boys and two girls, were born at the Griffin Hospital, Derby, on Christmas Day.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Ashelford of Shelton at 5:43 a.m.
At 6:50 a.m., a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Moore of Derby.
At 7:09 a.m., a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wilhelmy of Seymour.
At 7:37 a.m., a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schumacher of Ansonia.
Boy, 10, Strikes Again, Nabbed In Store Robbery
SEYMOUR – A ten-year-old Ansonia boy was taken into custody by Seymour police Saturday afternoon for questioning in connection with a robbery at Stop and Save at the Tri-City Plaza, Seymour.
The youth was inside the store when apprehended by Seymour Policeman Carl Trybus. Police said he is the same boy involved in 20 breaks in Ansonia and one in Derby that had officials baffled over means of entry until they learned he squeezed between narrow bars.
Police said the boy used several milk crates in the rear of the building and crawled through a one-foot opening above the rear door of the meat locker.
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1965
Skating Tonight At Nolan Field
ANSONIA – Mayor Joseph A. Doyle announced this morning there will be skating until 10 p.m. tonight under the lights at the Nolan Field rink, the outdoor basketball court.
He said the skating surface is in tip top shape. The mayor said skating is prohibited at Abe Stone Park until the ice is safer.
Sends Thanks From Vietnam
DERBY – Army Second Lieut. Louis R. Pepe, on duty in Vietnam, is one of the first Derby servicemen to send a letter to Mayor John L. Bartimole and the Derby Servicemen’s Fund for the check received as a Christmas gift.
He wrote: “Being remembered by the fine people of Derby in such a manner is a tremendous morale booster. Although this Christmas will be a somewhat bleak and lonely one for thousands of other servicemen over here, acts of thoughtfulness such as yours serve to reassure us that our efforts are worthwhile and appreciated.”
Second Lieut. Pepe is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pepe of Caroline Street. Derby.
Concordia Group To Welcome 1966
SEYMOUR – The Concordia Singing Society will hold its New Year’s Eve party Friday at Concordia Hall, Seymour. There will be a buffet, dancing and noisemakers. Reservations should be made early.
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1965
Tax Board To Organize January 17
ANSONIA – The Ansonia Board of Apportionment and Taxation will hold its organizational meeting Jan. 17 at City Hall.
Thomas F. Elliot and John Biggs are expected to be reelected president and secretary, respectively.
Prior to the meeting, the oath of office will be administered to four members who were appointed to three year terms beginning Jan. 1 They are Mr. Elliot, Gerald J. Heffernan, Raymond Wilkinson and Frank A. Princevalli.
Chamber Plans ‘Last Try’ To Save Sterling Theater
DERBY – A sort of “one last try” to save the Sterling Theater is in the hands of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Romolo Tedeschi, executive vice president, said today that the theater files from the Derby Historical Society have been turned over to the chamber conservation committee.
The committee will investigate the possibility of having the theater included in the Connecticut Historic Landmarks, which is qualifying for a federal conservation grant.
The historical society has been concerned about the theater for several years and many efforts have been made to enlist interest in its preservation. However, because of the narrow lot on which it stands, and the high cost of making the building conform to state fire code, all efforts thus far have failed.
The Derby Redevelopment Plan for the area includes the razing of the theater.
Newcomers Seek Baby Supplies
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Newcomers’ Club plans to send a baby bundle to help the women and children of Vietnam.
The Army is asking for supplies for a hospital it is opening and members of the Seymour Club have been asked to donate diapers, gowns for the mothers, infants’ clothing, which may be used but in good condition, powder, baby oils and mild soap, all of which are not supplied at Army depots.
