Ethan Fry’s Top 10 Stories Of 2012

Here’s a list of the top 10 Valley stories of 2012, straight from the mind of staff writer Ethan Fry.

1. Valley Corruption Scandals

Allegations of corruption and/or misdeeds among public officials spread throughout the Valley in 2012.

In Oxford, the criminal case against former Tax Collector Karen Guillet concluded in November when a judge sentenced her to serve four years in prison.

Meanwhile, in Ansonia, a Valley Indy investigation raised questions over the way its tax office handled motor vehicle clearances, where Tax Collector Bridget Bostic, who has since resigned, gave clearances to family members and city employees even though they hadn’t paid their motor vehicle taxes.

And in Shelton, news broke in August that Sharon Scanlon, the city’s assistant finance director, was under a cloud of suspicion in connection to the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars. A civil lawsuit and state police probe are underway.

2. Oh Sandy, You Came And You Gave Us A Shaking

The end of October brought the Valley (and the rest of the Northeast) Sandy, an unprecedentedly strong ​“Superstorm” that took a left turn off the coast of the United States and battered the region.

Area municipalities went into emergency mode in preparation for the disaster, and though damage here wasn’t as bad as in New York and New Jersey, tens of thousands still lost power, some for nearly a week.

Click here for a photo gallery showing storm damage in the Valley.

3. Oxford Crash Claims Life Of Beloved Teen

By all accounts, 15-year-old Oxford resident Brandon Giordano was a model student and friend, one that would always look out for his friends or crack a joke to make someone else smile.

He was also a popular member of Oxford High School football team.

Which made it all the more painful when news spread of Giordano’s death in March in a car accident off Route 67. The shock resonated throughout the community, which responded with dignified support for Giordano’s family and friends.

The driver of the car Giordano was riding in, Eric Ramirez, was eventually charged in connection with the crash. The case is pending at Superior Court in Derby.

4. Zimmerman Drug Investigation/Murder

In mid-May the city of Derby was rocked by the shooting death of Ansonia man Javon Zimmerman at a bar on Elizabeth Street.

Just over two weeks later, Ansonia police revealed that Zimmerman had been a major target of a months-long drug investigation before being killed. Later that month, Derby police charged a distant relative of Zimmerman’s, Cordaryl Silva, with the murder.

And in a subsequent bombshell, documents connected to that probe revealed that Silva was working with police investigating the Zimmerman family’s alleged drug connections.

The murder charge against Silva is pending. Last month he rejected a plea offer that would have seen him serve about 30 years.

5. Ansonia Housing Authority Controversies

First came revelations in February that James Finnucan, who had been the director of the Ansonia Housing Authority, was collecting rents on Section 8 apartments in violation of federal housing rules.

Then, after the authority hired a new executive director several months later, the commission governing the authority decided to let her go during a bizarre meeting at which residents claimed the director was being ​“shafted.”

Will the controversy there ever end?

6. Domurad v. Staffieri

Finance Director Henry Domurad’s employment with the city of Derby ended in April.

That much we know for sure.

But further details are clouded in controversy, controversy that exploded in May when Domurad sued Mayor Anthony Staffieri and his lawyer alleged that a resignation letter released by the city was a forgery.

A judge ultimately ruled that Domurad’s testimony wasn’t credible and denied his request.

7. Dog Controversies

People everywhere love their dogs, and the Valley is no exception.

So when Ansonia police killed a pit bull they said had been acting aggressively and charging at officers, many responded with disbelief.

People were also in disbelief a month later when Derby’s animal control officer quit his job abruptly, leaving a pound full of dogs. Derby officials eventually reached an agreement with the town of Woodbridge to use their pound and animal control officer.

The pit bull controversies continued in June, when an Ansonia man drew attention to bounty hunters who had shot his pit bull while arresting his son.

Thankfully, not all of this year’s dog stories were so sad: an October ​“Pit Bull Awareness Day” in Ansonia drew hundreds of enthusiasts and dozens of vendors.

8. Ed Cotter Dies After A Life Dedicated To The Valley

In mid-January a Valley icon passed.

Ed Cotter, a Storm Ambulance Corps founding father and a legendary photographer for the former Evening Sentinel, died Jan. 21 surrounded by his loving family.

Cotter’s influence on emergency services and journalism in the Valley cannot be overestimated.

A measure of the mark he left on all he touched could be seen in the tributes that flooded in after his death, from his election to the Hall of Fame of the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists to the city of Derby re-naming O’Sullivan’s Island in Cotter’s honor.

9. Shelton Robotics Team Takes National Prize

In June a team of Shelton middle schoolers won an international contest, the First Lego League’s Global Innovation Award, for inventing the ​“Smart Sticker,” an innovative solution to protect consumers from contaminated eggs.

Their prize? Oh, just the chance to be featured on a national TV show about inventors and $250,000 worth of product development advice from experts.

The team, which shared the award with a team from Dublin, Ohio, beat out more than 250 teams from 13 countries to take the prize.

10. Vandalism At Nolan Field In Ansonia

In late July a vandal or vandals drove over Ansonia’s Nolan Field, causing $15,000 in damage.

Many groups stepped up to repair the driven-on field in time for the football team’s season, but the outrage was palpable.

In a case of all’s well that ends well, the Chargers ended the season by winning their 18th state title. Onward!