First and foremost, this list is meaningless, especially in light of the soul-shattering events that unfolded Dec. 14 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
That horror and its affect on us all is, obviously, the most important story happening in our communities.
Please keep that in mind when reading the list below, which is simply one reporter’s list of the top 10 stories in the lower Valley in 2012.
It is in no way an exact science. In fact, immediately after I wrote it, I changed my mind, as you can hear in this podcast:
Click here to read reporter Ethan Fry’s top 10 list.
Click here for the list of the Valley Indy’s most-read stories from 2012.
THE LIST
10. Derby Aldermen debate whether Derby Alderman’s property should be on the blight list
The Derby Board of Aldermen spent months trying to decide whether a dilapidated and damaged property owned by Alderman Stephen Iacuone warranted being on the city’s blight list, where owners are subject to $100 a day fine.
Neighbors who lived next door said the answer was obvious — it should’ve been on the list.
However, Iacuone and fellow Alderman/his attorney Barbara DeGennaro argued the property was damaged because of a failed city drainage system in that neighborhood.
In the end, the property was never declared blighted and the Aldermen voted to buy it for $90,000.
9. No progress on Derby’s downtown redevelopment
FILE PHOTO Eclipse Development's Doug Gray, left.
But the downtown project has been a major campaign point by both Democrats and Republicans in the last two elections.
The fact nothing really happened in 2012 — other than the city’s preferred developer announcing they wanted to scale back the project — is significant.
8. Seymour kids have their Radio City dreams dashed, then, wait, hold on, HAPPY ENDING!
A very human Peter Pan bus driver got lost and cost a bunch of Seymour kids their chance to sing at Radio City Music Hall.
Parents made an appropriate stink on social media and reporter Ethan Fry wrote a story.
Peter Pan, to their credit, immediately apologized — then more than made up for the goof.
Now does anyone know if they gave out GPS devices as Christmas gifts to their drivers?
File Photo The Ansonia Housing Authority.
Former staffer Jodie Mozdzer spent months simply trying to find out why the city’s former housing honcho stepped down. The position is funded by our tax dollars — and the subsidies given to residents is also funded by you and I.
Mozdzer, using blind luck and the Freedom of Information Act, was able to get a copy of a recording that pretty much laid out what had transpired.
6. Superstorm Sandy!
Mother Nature was again off her rocker this year, sending a freakin’ “Frankenstorm” at us, beating parts of New York City into submission.
The Valley didn’t get hit nearly as hard as other parts of the region. We’re grateful for the tremendous professionalism, efficiencies and communication shown by all our local governments, police, fire departments, EMS and emergency management volunteers.
This is why I think if the zombie apocalypse hits, I think the Valley will be OK.
5. Ansonia captures second straight state title
How were they not voted the no. 1 team in the state considering the dominance they’ve showed for two straight years?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever sports writers.
4. Shelton development keeps chugging along AND THEY complete a massive walking trail?
Shelton keeps chugging along with new residential housing downtown, uptown, across town, you name it. Plus they have the most well-maintained trail system in the Valley. And the unemployment rate is low. And the schools are in good shape. ALL HAIL, PERFECT SHELTON!
(Although they do have that little habit of state police and FBI sniffing around town on occasion)
3. The murder of Javon Zimmerman allegedly at the hands of a police informant
2. Oxford’s Brandon Giordano dies in car crash.
Just a terrible tragedy.
Transparency in local government prevents corruption.
If a local government isn’t transparent, what are they hiding?
Far too often we run into stumbling blocks in the lower Valley trying to get basic information.
When a resident asks a question and doesn’t receive a straight answer, or is wholesale ignored, 2012 proved that we should all be worried.
Also, elected officials, public employees, and appointed members of commissions in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton should be required to fill out a form like this.
