This Week In Valley History: 1992

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Oh, 1992, what a year!

Steven Spielberg made a bad movie called Hook” in 1992, yet it still managed to capture the top spot of the box office this week back in the day!

The Simpsons” aired against The Cosby Show” this week in 92 — and lost in the ratings!

The no. 1 song in the U.S. this week in 1992 was Michael Jackson’s Black or White.” 

Fun fact: Nirvana’s first hit, Smells Like Spirit,” jumped from no. 13 to no. 6 and was the only rock tune (then called alternative’ and later, grunge’) in the top 10.

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

Monday, Jan. 13, 1992

13 Youths Honored For Becoming Eagle Scouts
ANSONIA – The 18th Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner, sponsored by the Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America, was held recently at Rapp’s Paradise Inn.

Thirteen young men who achieved scouting’s highest honor in 1991 were honored.

They were: Christopher Bashar, David Cayer, Nicholas Googin IV, Paul Uhrynowski, Jr. and Joseph Welch, all of Troop 28 in Shelton; Ronald Buchanan and Jamie Johnson of Troop 1 in Oxford; Mark Cirkot, Charles Hemstreet Jr., Robert Kluk and Joseph Solis of Troop 3 in Derby; Richard Bright Jr. of Troop 65 in Oxford and Matthew Glenn of Post 130 in Ansonia.

Ladies Guild
DERBY – The St. Michael’s Church Ladies Guild will hold its monthly meeting at 7:45 p.m. Jan. 20 in the church hall.

Plans will be made for the Lenten supper, which will be held March 7.

Truck Hits Bridge
SEYMOUR – A Florida truck driver was charged with failure to obey a state Traffic Commission height restriction sign after a tractor trailer truck he was driving on Route 67 hit a Metro North railroad bridge at the intersection of Main Street Friday.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1992

Shouting Match, Walkout Mar Caucus of Ansonia GOP
ANSONIA – The Republican Town Committee managed to elect ward members at its caucus Monday despite a heated dispute among some 6th Ward nominees.

Several 6th Ward nominees left Rapp’s Paradise Inn after angry words over a procedural motion erupted into a shouting match.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Jeffrey Burkitt characterized the dispute as unusual.

This is really out of the ordinary. It’s unfortunate that people acted the way they did.”

The rules committee decided that only those present could be nominated and nominees must garner a majority vote from their wards. But only nine of the original 17 nominees in the 6th Ward actually remained by the time votes were cast. All nine were elected.

Baby Makes Entrance On Route 34 Connector
ANSONIA – The term baby delivery’ took on a whole new meaning for Michael Dawson as he was taking his wife to the hospital for the birth of their first child Thursday night.

He did not count on the fact that his daughter decided not to wait for the comfort and safety of a hospital bed to be born. Instead, she chose the Route 34 connector in New Haven for her debut.

Dawson said when his wife Ann shouted that the baby was about to be born, he yelled back, No!” and kept driving. But that didn’t stop his daughter from being born.

As soon as he was certain his wife and daughter were safe. Dawson said he continued his drive to Yale-New Haven Hospital and let the experts” take over. 

His daughter, named Gabrielle, weighs six pounds and seven ounces.

Truck Damaged
DERBY – The owners of New England Engineering Co. on Francis Street complained that a window on one of their trucks was smashed.

Plan Won’t Affect Local Ames Store
SEYMOUR – A reorganization plan by Ames Department Stores., Inc. to help settle a nearly two-year-old bankruptcy claim should not have a negative impact on the local Ames Store at the Tri-Town Shopping Center in Seymour, according to a company official.

Despite published reports which state that the reorganization plan may involve the closing of some of the company’s remaining 371 stores, Ames Public Relations Manager William Roberts said today that plans to pay off $1.6 billion in debt with new cash and stock was based on the operation of 371 stores.

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1992

Flag-Raising
ANSONIA – The public is invited to the raising of a flag donated by Mrs. Joseph Brochinsky in memory of her husband, Sgt. Joseph Brochinsky, at Vartelas Park on Mape Street at 1 p.m. Friday.

Mayor Thomas Hallihan is expected to attend.

Brochinsky said her husband grew up in the Maple Street area. He served with the 543rd Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron in the Pacific Theater of operations during World Ward II. He received several decorations and citations.

Fur Flies As Those Dems Vie
DERBY – The wounds of the Democratic Party were reopened Monday evening during a raucous party caucus to choose town committee members.

The circus-like atmosphere was complete with charges of unfair political maneuvering, threats of challenges and primaries and enough infighting to dumbfound even the veteran politicians.

In the end, the endorsed slate of 45 Democratic Town Committee members was approved during the caucus at Lincoln School. But numerous prominent Democrats came away with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Future Role Of Attorneys To Be Studied
DERBY – Mayor Gino S. DiMauro Jr. said he plans to decide soon whether or not the city should continue to hire numerous attorneys for specific purposes or rely more heavily upon the corporation counsel.

Board of Aldermen members recently debated that question during a meeting at City Hall.

The matter was raised by Alderman Dominick Jeanetti, who questioned the need for several attorneys.

Jeanetti said the cost factor was one reason he was opposed to the idea.

Alderman Marc Garofalo said hiring outside attorneys was a benefit to the city in some situations.

It costs money,” Garofalo said. But those who volunteer their services to negotiate contracts for the city, but lack professional experience, are negotiating with barracudas.”

Garofalo was referring to the more experienced negotiators for the unions, who are usually trained in their field.

Thursday, Jan. 16, 1992

Reappointed
ANSONIA – Howard F. Tinney Sr. has been appointed by the Board of Aldermen to serve another two-year term on the Board of Police Commissioners.

The announcement came at the police commissioner’s meeting night at police headquarters.

In other business, John A. Sabulis was elected president of the police commissioners and Tinney secretary.

Derby Teachers Ratify 3‑Year Contract
DERBY – Teachers overwhelmingly ratified a proposed contract Wednesday with the Board of Education that calls for a 10 percent salary increase over the next three years.

The current contract expires June 30. The new pact would run from July 1, 1992 to June 30, 1995.

Neither the Derby Education Association teachers’ bargaining unit nor school officials would release specifics about the proposed package.

However, the Sentinel has learned that the tentative agreement would grant teachers a 3 percent increase for the first two years of the contract and a 4 percent hike in the third and final year, exclusive of any step increments.

The proposal provides some insurance givebacks to the board, including a clause that would require teachers to co-pay 10 percent of their own insurance costs in the third year.

Sewer Use Cost Hearing Jan. 29
SEYMOUR – A sewer use tax which will be implemented by the Water Pollution Control Authority will be based on a proposed rate of 75 cents per gallon per day per year.

The rate is among the matters that will be discussed at a public hearing of the WPCA set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Seymour Public Library.

Townspeople will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed rate as well as modifications and revisions to the regulations on charges for the use of the sanitary sewer system.

Friday, Jan. 17, 1992

Shoplifting
DERBY – A female shoplifter got away with a large amount of merchandise from a store in the Caldor Shopping Center.

Taxpayers Have Option Of Saying Charge It’
SEYMOUR –Town taxpayers will now have the option of paying their tax bills with plastic.

Equipment installed in the office of Tax Collector Marie Somma at Town Hall was put into operation Thursday so that anyone who wants to charge their taxes to their MasterCard of Visa account can do so.

The system, installed by Card Linx of Boston, will be given a six-month trial through July when the Board of Selectmen will decide whether to continue it permanently.

This gives taxpayers another way to pay their tax bills beside cash or check,” First Selectman Robert J. Koskelowski said. Some people who might be short of cash temporarily might find it helpful in keeping their taxes current.”

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