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Reporter Jean Falbo-Sosnovich once again hijacked the Microfilm time machine at Seymour Public Library to bring you the very best in local news from 1968!
Monday, Oct. 14, 1968
$5,000 In Clothes Taken From Men’s Store
ANSONIA – Some 50 suits and 75 trench coats were reported missing from the B&L Mean’s Store, 116 Main St., Ansonia, early Sunday morning after an apparent burglary earlier in the night.
Berthold Levi, an owner of the store, told police the value of the stolen goods was estimated at $5,000.
An hour before the burglary was discovered, Patrolman Walter Hartsburg spotted a car with six youths in it on Main Street. When he approached the car, it sped off and turned onto Railroad Avenue, going up the street against one-way signs.
It was not known by police whether the two incidents were related.
2 Gas Stations Burglarized; 3rd Damaged
DERBY – Three Derby service stations were the scene of robberies and vandalism over the weekend.
Raro’s Service Station at Third and Elizabeth streets were illegally entered and $25 in petty cash was taken. The break was discovered yesterday morning. Patrolman Joseph Moore made the initial investigation.
The Reliable Garage and Service Station at 360 Seymour Ave., was also illegally entered. Tires and auto accessories were taken. The amount will not be known until an inventory is completed.
At Johnnie’s Service Station on Roosevelt Drive several windows were broken by vandals.
Police also reported that vandals ripped down a stop sign on Hawthorne and Nutmeg avenues.
306 Voters Added To Seymour Rolls
SEYMOUR – Seymour Town Clerk Richard R. Pearson reported that a total of 306 persons registered as voters Saturday at the final registration session before the Nov. 5 election.
Sixty of the persons were made voters at the Town Clerk’s office during the past month, and the remaining 246 appeared at Saturday’s session. The Republican party registered 46 persons and the Democrats registered 77.
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1968
What Aldermen Did Last Night
ANSONIA – The Ansonia Board of Aldermen last night:
*Referred to the ordinance committee for a public hearing request that the housing code of the city be amended to require new occupancy permits whenever a rental unit is vacated and reoccupied.
*Asked the city engineer and board of public works to investigate a recommendation that a sidewalk be installed on Jewett Street from Beaver Street to Central Street.
*Approved a raise in the hourly pay of voting list checkers on election day be made from $1.50 to $1.75
*Approved a resolution naming relocated East Main Street in the downtown urban renewal areas from Tremont Street south to West Main Street “Father Salemi Drive.”
Early Morning Stroll Ends At Starting Point
SEYMOUR – A two-year-old boy is home safe with his parents, after an early morning walk today.
Dennis Hughes, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Hughes of Chamberlain Road, Seymour, was discovered by a neighbor, as the youngster was heading for a wooded area adjacent to the housing project.
The boy, who awoke from his sleep shortly after 4 a.m. today, had unlocked a storm door at his home and walked out into the yard, according to police.
The neighbor saw the youngster playing with a toy car and then headed for the woods. She called out to the boy who was dressed in his pajamas. She took him to her home and called police. The child had left so quietly, the parents were still asleep when police arrived to return Dennis to them.
Trzcinski Elected
SEYMOUR – Sgt. Walter Trzcinski of the Seymour Police Department was elected first vice president of the New Haven County Detective Association last night at the West Haven Motor Inn. Lt. Richard Payne of Naugatuck was elected president. The association’s next meeting is Nov. 11 at West Haven Motor Inn.
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1968
Hilltop Gets Mail
ANSONIA – Home delivery of mail will begin Saturday for some 85 residents of Hale, Glen Ridge and Condon drives in the Hilltop section of Ansonia, Postmaster Joseph A. Doyle announced today.
Establishment of the routes was delayed for several months by the Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. because of economic moves required by Congress in July. The three roads were accepted by the Board of Aldermen in June, but because of the freeze of funds, the Ansonia Post Office was prevented from establishing the routes, Doyle said. The postmaster said the delivery would be by mounted boxes only.
Chartered Bus For Derby Fans
DERBY – “Mac” Cornachini, Derby sportsman and ardent Red Raider football fan, has completed arrangements for a special chartered bus to the Derby-East Haven game Saturday morning at East Haven. Persons desiring to make the trip on the bus should contact Cornachini at Over-The-Hill Tavern.
Valley Children To Ride “Santa Claus Special”
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Lions Club will sponsor a “Santa Claus Special” for Valley children, a round-trip ride from Derby to Waterbury Dec. 15.
The train will pick up passengers at Derby, Ansonia and Seymour.
Santa Claus and his helpers will board the train at Seymour to distribute candy and gifts.
Thursday, Oct. 17, 1968
“Runaway” Of Police Car Is Halted
ANSONIA – An Ansonia man suffered a minor leg injury last night as he stopped a “runaway” Derby police cruiser.
The incident occurred in the Valley Shopping Center parking lot.
Sgt. Thomas Pepe and Patrolman Geroge T. Dunne had responded to an emergency call reporting that a woman had collapsed in Woolworth’s Department Store.
Dunne, who was driving, put the car in park, and with Pepe, jumped out and ran into the store with a portable oxygen tank.
The next moment, persons were yelling that the car was starting to roll away.
Before Pepe could get back to the car, Albert P. Jesulaitis of Silver Hill Road, Ansonia, ran after it and was able to stop it before it caused any damage.
Officials Consider Bikes For Police
DERBY – Scooter bikes for Derby patrolmen?
This is a question that the Derby Board of Police Commissioners is pondering today.
Arthur Bacchiocchi, Republican police commissioner, told an informal meeting of police officials and the Board of Aldermen last night at City Hall that Hamden is using scooter bikes on patrol work.
“The scooters are radio equipped,” he said.
He also emphasized:
“You can triple your police coverage by using one piece of mechanical equipment.”
He said a patrolman on a scooter can cover a greater area in less time than a man on foot.
107 Oppose Dog Pound Location
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Board of Selectmen took under advisement a petition containing 107 names opposing the proposed location of the regional dog pound. The proposed location is adjacent to the town’s sewage disposal plant off Route 8.
The petition was submitted to the selectmen last night in Town Hall by Dominick Gugliuzza, Sr., of Richards Street, Seymour.
“We feel that locating the dog pound in this area will constitute a public nuisance to residents in this heavily populated district on both sides of the Naugatuck River,” he said.
Friday, Oct. 18, 1968
Candidates’ Night
ANSONIA – A meet-your-candidates night will be held for Ansonia Democrats at 8 p.m. Oct. 26 at Hilltop Hose Company on Pulaski Highway. There will also be dancing and a buffet. Tickets will be available at the door.
Bartimole To Direct Biddy League
DERBY – John L. Bartimole was elected director of the Derby Biddy Basketball League at last night’s meeting in City Hall. He succeeds Stephen F. Marcucio, newly elected Democratic alderman from the Third Ward, who succeeded Alderman Nardi Benanto.
The league season will begin next month.
Registration of boys will be held Oct. 28 and 29 at Bradley School and at Derby Veterans Memorial gymnasium.
Addresses Sought For Overseas Gifts
DERBY – Names and addresses of Valley servicemen in Vietnam have been requested by Mrs. Marie Smith of the Ladies Guild of the Church of Christ, Derby.
Mrs. Smith said that the guild, St. Mary’s Parish and the Derby office of the Southern New England Telephone Co., have collected items and have 50 packages ready to be mailed. If more than 50 names are received, additional packages will be prepared, Mrs. Smith said.
32 Arrests In September
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Police Department made 32 arrests and investigated 72 complaints during September, according to the monthly report of Police Chief Kenneth Connors.
The department responded to 41 ambulance calls, investigated 30 accidents and 2 breaking and enterings and 1 attempted burglary, recovered a stolen car, issued 229 courtesy notices and 36 waning notices and logged 14,057 miles in patrol cars.
