This week we’re going back to 1992, when NASA’s maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour launched and the riots that engulfed Los Angeles following the Rodney King verdict have come to an end. People were watching popular shows like “Matlock,” “Seinfeld” and “Star Trek- The Next Generation.” Texting is not a thing yet. Instead, people are using landline phones and pagers.
These were the top 5 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:
“Jump” – Kris Kross
“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
“Save The Best For Last” – Vanessa Williams
“Tears In Heaven” – Eric Clapton
“My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” – En Vogue
Here is what was happening in our Valley, as stolen from the microfilm edition of The Evening Sentinel!
Tuesday, May 5, 1992
Krueger Again Heads Ansonia Democrats
ANSONIA – Richard Krueger was again elected chairman of the Democratic Town Committee at a recent committee meeting and said he attributed the strength of the party to the diversity of the membership.
“We have some people who have been on the town committee for 25 to 30 years while others just came on this year,” he said. “We have retirees to college kids. It’s a good cross-section of people living in the Valley. Another asset we have is that not one group dominates.”
Tax Board Funds Two Police Positions
DERBY – The Board of Apportionment and Taxation tentatively agreed Monday to restore funds for the administrative lieutenant and the detective sergeant’s positions in the Police Department budget.
The board had agreed during earlier deliberations to cut funding for those positions for the 1992 – 93 fiscal year.
Beverly Moran, tax board chairwoman, said the board was recently advised by Corporation Counsel James E. Cohen not to eliminate funds for the administrative lieutenant because of a court settlement several years ago between the Derby Police Union and Board of Aldermen.
Moran also said the city charter requires the position of detective sergeant.
Koskelowski Offers New Budget
SEYMOUR – First Selectman Robert J. Koskelowski will present a budget proposal to the Board of Finance today that would require a 1.2 mill hike in the current tax rate of 51.8 mills.
Koskelowski said his spending plan, the details of which he will explain to the finance board, totals $22,344,065 and would meet all of the town’s current contractual obligations. He said his plan would maintain all current services and would not require layoffs in any departments under the general government portion of the budget.
Sheltonites Hit $1.3M Lotto
SHELTON – They say money can’t buy you love, but it can buy, among other things, a jacuzzi, instead of a bathtub.
Thanks to a $1,361,346 Lotto win, Todd and Bethany Stockmal of Shelton will be able to buy just about anything their hearts desire for the home they are planning to build.
The couple, which have been married two and a half years, visited the Connecticut State Lottery headquarters in Newington Monday to receive the first of their jackpot checks for selecting winning numbers drawn Friday.
Bethany said she and her husband play Lotto twice a week, buying one ticket for every Tuesday and Friday drawing.
The numbers they play, 4 – 10-12 – 17-21 – 29, were chosen for sentimental reasons: they were married April 21, they started dating Oct. 12, Bethany’s birthday is the 17th and Todd’s is the 29th.
Wednesday, May 6, 1992
Ansonia Native Makes Olympic Team
ANSONIA – It’s been 36 years since a native son from the Valley has appeared in a world Olympics (John Cook, part of the Yale eight-man crew won a gold medal in Australia in 1956), but that will be rectified this year in Barcelona.
Ed Jerolmon, a 1986 graduate of Ansonia High School, was selected Sunday to be part of the American Jai Alai team.
“Jai Alai is a demonstration sport this year,” he said. “Only four teams from around the world have been chosen through a series of eliminations to compete.”
Derby High Closing Among Options To Cut Educational Costs
DERBY – Dramatic cuts and the closing of Derby High School are among the options being studied by Superintendent of Schools Nathan Chesler in the event Mayor Gino S. DiMauro Jr.’s recommended education budget is approved by the tax board.
Chesler outlined possible reductions totaling $1.1 million during a Board of Education special meeting at Derby High School.
DiMauro has recommended a $7.8 million education budget, compared with an $8.9 million request by the school board.
Lions Club To Celebrate Its 40th
SEYMOUR – The Seymour Lions Club has several events planned in May, including a dinner to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding in 1952.
Scholarship Night will be observed at a dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 20 at the Oxford House. The recipient of the Lion’s annual $1,000 scholarship will be announced.
Thursday, May 7, 1992
Finalist
ANSONIA – Angela Merlone, 15, has been accepted as a state finalist in the Miss American teen pageant set for June 13 in the Lincoln Theater in Hartford.
Merlone is the daughter of Joseph and Irene Merlone. Her hobbies include playing the piano, dancing, reading and tennis. Merlone is a carrier for The Evening Sentinel.
Scouts Presenting Annual ‘Gang Show’
DERBY – The Cubs of Pack 3, Scouts of Troop 3 and Explorers of Post 33 will combine to present their annual Gang Show Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The show will be held at the Derby Methodist Church on Elizabeth Street.
The theme of this year’s show is “Think and Grin.” Most of the songs featured are from the 20s and early 30s. About 150 Cub Scouts and Explorers take part in the show, which features 28 acts.
Dunkin Donuts Coming To Oxford
OXFORD –Dunkin Donuts is coming to Oxford.
According to Building Inspector Zigmund Korowotny, Simian, Inc. of Seymour has taken out a permit valued at $35,000 to remodel a unit of the Great Hill Shopping Center, 71 Oxford Rd., for a Dunkin Donuts shop.
Dunkin Donuts will join other businesses which have been slowly filling up the Great Hill Shopping Center with the Naugatuck Savings Bank branch serving as an anchor.
Friday, May 8, 1992
Silberberg Approved As School Physician
ANSONIA – The Board of Education Wednesday night approved the Superintendent of Schools’ recommendation that Dr. William P. Silberberg be approved as the school physician from September 1992 to August 1995.
Silberberg indicated the salary negotiated remain at the same $10,803 level of funding. This is a two-year extension of his current contract.
Fish Stolen
DERBY – Police have a gold ’fishnapping’ on their hands. Someone stole 14 goldfish from a teacher’s homeroom at Derby Upper School.
Honoring
SEYMOUR – Emil Senger Post, American Legion, held a flag-raising ceremony in the yard of the post headquarters, Bank Street, last Thursday honoring the memory of George Tiano of Seymour, a veteran of World War II who died Dec. 7.
The flag was given to the post by Tiano’s widow, Ollie Tiano, who attended the ceremony. The flag will be flown from the flag pole at Emil Senger Post headquarters throughout May.
Purse Theft
SHELTON – Police are investigating the alleged theft of a purse at Shelton High School Wednesday, some time between 8 and 8:36 a.m., Wednesday.
Radio Stolen
SHELTON – Police are investigating the theft of a car radio from a vehicle at 63 Toas St. The alleged theft was reported to police Wednesday.
Saturday, May 9, 1992
Valley To Get State Ed Hike
VALLEY – Amidst the dust settling around the state Legislature this week, a few numbers have emerged, eliminating some of the guesswork in the local budget making process.
According to the numbers being reported from the state Capitol, Ansonia, Derby, Oxford and Seymour will receive an increase in state aid to education next year.
Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. was expected to sign an $8.8 budget today.
Shelton’s aid to education will be cut by 38.9 percent next year.
Ansonia Firefighters Plan Boost Driver
ANSONIA – Members of the Fountain Hose Company will canvass the 4th and 5th wards for their annual booster drive Monday and Wednesday.
A canvass will also be held May 20. Members will meet at the firehouse at 191 Howard Ave. at 6:30 p.m.
Scholar-Athlete
SEYMOUR – Two Seymour High School students were named Connecticut Scholar Athletes for 1992, Principal Anthony F. LoPresti said.
Rebecca Velez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Velez, and Joel Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Smith, were designated by the school for the honor.
They were among students whose achievements were recognized at a statewide awards banquet at Aqua Turf Country Club, Southington.
To be eligible for the award, a student must have a cumulative scholastic average of 3.5, must have participated in a CIAC-sponsored varsity sport for at least two years and have demonstrated outstanding school and community citizenship.
