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This week we go back to 1979!
Some fun facts about this week in ’79:
* The Village People’s “YMCA” hit no. 1 on the single charts in England.
* The Bruins retired Bobby Orr’s number.
* “Superman,” starring Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman, was in its fourth week of release.
* ABC ruled the TV ratings with “Lavern & Shirley,” “Three’s Company,” and “Mork & Mindy.”
Here is what was happening in the lower Naugatuck Valley:
Saturday, Jan. 6, 1979
First Snow Of ’79 Greets Valley
VALLEY – The first snowfall of 1979 that began after midnight is expected to cover the Valley with from three to four inches before ending by early afternoon.
The snow caused several minor automobile accidents in the area, but no serious mishaps were reported. Police advised motorists to drive with caution, especially in the hilly, outlying areas. Driving conditions were reported as slippery.
Named In Book
ANSONIA – Matthew Milardo of 26 Berkshire Rd., Ansonia, a student at Sacred Heart University, Bridgeport, has been selected for inclusion in the 1978 – 79 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.”
Milardo is an active member of Sigma Tau Omega Fraternity and has served on the University Senate. During his freshman year, he served as vice president of his class. He is studying for a B.A. degree in social work.
Health Plan Perils Griffin’s Child Unit
DERBY – Griffin Hospital could lose its pediatric unit in 1983 if the Health Systems Agency of South Central Connecticut, Inc. does not require a five-year health plan for the area.
That agency has prepared a 3‑inch thick preliminary health plan report in response to 11 guidelines established in March 1978 by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Those guidelines require at least 20 beds in a pediatric unit and specify a 65 percent minimum average occupancy for units.
Griffin only has 18 beds and does not meet the average occupancy rule.
School Board To Defend Budget
SEYMOUR – In spite of a call by the Board of Finance for austerity in budgets for 1979 – 80, the Board of Education said Thursday it would be prepared to defend its $350,000 requested increase.
The school board will meet with the Board of Finance to review its requested budget at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30. The board is asking for $1 million to operate the school system next year.
Seymourite Named
SEYMOUR – First Selectman Daniel R. Brandon has appointed Norman L. Ray, executive director of the Seymour Housing Authority, as a member of the citizens advisory committee for public housing activities.
Sunday, Jan. 7, 1979
In those days the Sentinel did not publish on Sundays.
Monday, Jan. 8, 1979
Dog Track Challenged
ANSONIA – “We don’t have a fancy office. We don’t have hired professionals. This is a grassroots movement to challenge inaccuracies in propaganda that a dog track will solve all the city’s problems.”
These comments were made by Michael Barbieri, one of about 100 opponents of a proposed $15 million dog track who attended a public meeting Saturday.
The meeting was sponsored by the Citizens Against the Track in Assumption Church hall to discuss issues involved in the proposed development of a greyhound dog-racing facility. The track is planned on a site off Route 8 and Great Hill Road near the Seymour line.
Nutmeg Kennel Club of Bridgeport is trying to get a license from the state Gaming Commission to operate the state’s second greyhound track on the Ansonia site.
Pastor Appointed In Derby
DERBY – Archbishop John F. Whealon, Archdiocese of Hartford, has announced the appointment of the Rev. Henry Czekala of Utica, NY, as pastor of St. Michael’s Church.
Czekala will succeed the Rev. Edmund R. Kowalski. The appointment is effective Feb. 16.
A native of New Haven, Czekala was ordained in 1944. He was assistant pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, Ansonia, after he served for many years with the Vincentian mission order in Whitestone, N.Y. He has been with the mission in Utica since 1975.
Girls League Planned in Seymour
SEYMOUR – The Recreation Commission will sponsor a Girls’ Basketball League, Thomas Bartimole, winter director, said. League play will begin Wednesday.
The league will be divided into two sections, a Pee Wee division for girls eight to 10 years and a Biddy division for girls 10 to 13 years.
Games will be played at Chatfield School gym under the direction of Geri Walsh. There will be a $1 registration fee for each girl, payable at the first session.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1979
Heavy Rain Causes Floods In The Valley
VALLEY – Parts of the Valley were covered with flood waters Monday after three days of rain, snow and sleet which dumped close to 3 inches of precipitation in the area.
The rising waters of the Housatonic River had flooded the Maples and Birchbank areas and Indian Well State Park in Shelton and McConnie’s Grove in Derby by early Monday afternoon.
Valley police departments were warned Monday morning that water was being let over the Stevenson Dam in Oxford at a depth of 18 feet.
Reportedly, it was feared that if the large amount of water was not let over the dam, the pressure would be too much for the dam to hold.
A spokesman for the Connecticut Light and Power Co., which owns the dam, said the flood gates were opened Monday morning and it was “a normal procedure.”
The communities were warned that the Housatonic would rise at a rate of at least two feet per hour.
Fire Damages Ansonia Store
ANSONIA – Fire believed to have been started by an electrical short circuit in the cellar badly damaged Burke’s Package Store, 260 Wakelee Ave., Monday.
Lawrence Burke of 25 Glenn Drive, Ansonia, the proprietor, and a mailman were in the package store when the fire broke out.
“We were chatting when we saw smoke and flames around a heat duct. In a matter of seconds, the building was full of smoke,” Burke said.
When firefighters responded to a box alarm, they found smoke pouring from the building and fire burning in the cellar.
“We held the fire to the cellar and surprisingly the building itself suffered very little damage. I’m sure it’s still structurally sound,” Fire Chief Donald Seccombe said.
Tax Board To Hear School Unit Request
DERBY – The Board of Apportionment and Taxation will hear today the Board of Education’s request for a $3,148,183 budget for 1979.
The Board of Education’s request this year is $323,183 higher than its 1978 appropriation of $2,825,000.
Top school officials say the Board of Education is in relatively good financial shape with a “slight surplus” expected when the books close Jan. 15.
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1979
Three Alternatives Proposed For Improvement of AHS
ANSONIA – The school building committee will meet at 8 p.m. today at City Hall with Theodore Chase, an architect, to discuss three plans that would expand high school facilities.
The plans were prepared after a recent threat of loss of accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
The organization, late last year, put the school on probation, saying that its facilities were inadequate.
The NEASC granted Ansonia temporary accreditation this year with the understanding that Ansonia produce an acceptable plan for improvements by March.
A school’s lack of accreditation could affect students’ acceptance at college.
Two of the plans call for additions to the building. The third plan is for a new school on other property at an estimated $10 million.
Caldor, Inc., Continues Record Gains
DERBY – Caldor, Inc. continued its year-long record of sales gains with a 21.3 percent increase in holiday sales for the five weeks ending Dec. 30.
A Caldor department store is located in East Derby.
Sales of $95,584,000 were reported for the five weeks, which compares with last year’s $78,776,000.
Young Marines Plan Dance
SEYMOUR – A Valentine “Fifties” Dance will be sponsored by the Young Marines of the Valley Feb. 10 at Marine Corps League Hall, 56 West St.
There will be a buffet dinner at 7:30 p.m. and dancing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Music will be provided by Echoes of the Past.
Several dance contests will be held. Prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $15 a couple.
Thursday, Jan. 11, 1979
Friends Of Animals Oppose Track Plan
ANSONIA – The Connecticut Branch of the Friends of Animals, Inc., today announced opposition to the $15 million greyhound racetrack proposed here.
A referendum will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the track proposed by the Nutmeg Kennel Club of Bridgeport.
Doug Moss, assistant director of the Friends of Animals Chapter in Westport called greyhound racing “a cruel, obnoxious exploitation of animals for profit.”
“We particularly object to the training event known as coursing in which live rabbits are thrown out as bait for a pack of hungry greyhounds to tear up. In some states, the training event is open to the public, but in most cases this gruesome spectacle is hidden from the public.”
The group said that because of a desire to produce faster animals, the dogs are overbred.
(In case you’re wondering, residents rejected the dog track by a vote of 2,306 to 1,818)
AHS Jayvees Snap Slump
ANSONIA –Ansonia High School’s junior varsity basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the Torrington jayvees 79 – 63 at the AHS gym.
“Our pressing defense in the fourth quarter proved the difference,” said Ansonia jayvee coach Ed Strumello, whose Chargers outscored the Big Red 26 – 8 in the final period.
Kasden, Derby Oil Merge
DERBY – Derby Oil Corp, of 38 Commerce St., Derby and Kasden Heat and Fuel, Inc. of 552 Main St., Ansonia, have merged, according to company sources.
Stuart Metz, a manager at Derby Oil, said there will be few changes at the two fuel oil companies, and the two company names will be retained “for now.”
Metz said the merger would not affect workers.
“This is heating oil season, we are all working like crazy,” he said.
