25 years ago: Officials at Middlesex Memorial Hospital announced, that Susan E. Abbe, assistant director of the Ona M Wilcox School of Nursing had been promoted to the director of nursing education at the school. Abbe succeeded Mary B. Heath, who had retired after 37 years with the school.
25 years ago: Richard E. Cavanaugh, former Carter Administration official, was announced as the new chairman of Wesleyan University’s Alumni Association. Cavanaugh graduated from the school in 1968 with high honors. Joining Cavanaugh at the head of the 20,000-member alumni body wass James Van B. Dresser, Wesleyan Class of 1963, who was set to serve a two year term as vice chairman.

25 years ago: A memorandum from the state Department of Health Services issued in June 1986, said the agency was alerted to the possibility that submersible pump motors manufactured before 1978 have been contaminated with Polychlorinated biphenyls, a suspected carcinogen commonly known as PCBs. Town officials warned homeowners and instructed them to have their submersible pump motors that predated 1978 tested for the PCB contamination.

25 years ago: An analysis of state health statistics indicated men from the Middletown area were more likely to die from cerebrovascular disease than the average male state resident. The analysis led town officials to develop a community health program focusing on developing plans to prevent strokes and other cerebrovascular problems.

25 years ago: The area north of St. John’s Square and along route 9 was announced to change from a service industrial zone to the city’s first industrial redevelopment area zone. City officials hoped this new development would draw more investment to the area.

25 years ago: The Planning and Zoning Commission in Middlefield unanimously approved an amendment to the town’s zoning regulations to allow the construction of veterinary clinics by special permit. The amendment was drawn up by Dr. Lawrence Brooks, a Middletown veterinarian at the time, who was practicing extensively in Middlefield.

25 years ago: Children at the Young People’s Center for Creative Arts in East Hampton rehearsed for their performance of “Clap Your Hands,” a musical fantasy that they were set to perform in the high school auditorium over the weekend. Players pictured included Nathan Bynum, Nikki Green, Renee Moore and Kris King.

25 years ago: It was announced that a parade, carnival and dances would be part of the festivities planned for the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department’s 75th anniversary that was set to take place Aug. 6-9, 1986.

25 years ago: The Planning and Zoning Commission in Middlefield unanimously voted to order Agway Inc. to suspend construction on a warehouse at its Route 66 retail outlet that had not yet been approved by the commission at the time.

25 years ago: The Deep River Muster took place complete with fifers and parade. It was 114th celebration in the town.

25 years ago: Country singer Kitty Wells, 66, strummed her guitar and sang during the Portland Agricultural Fair.

25 years ago: Selectmen in Haddam received two separate petitions from residents seeking to initiate the legal process for establishing local historic districts in two sections of Haddam along Route 154. One historical district for central Haddam and one for the Shailerville section of Haddam about two miles farther south along Route 154.

25 years ago: Iva Turner was photographer cutting a “birthday cake” in celebration of the opening of the East Hampton CAGM meals program at the town’s new community center. She was assisted in the picture by Winnie Flannery, municipal agent, and Elsie Squier, program manager.

25 years ago: Port Clinton Marina filed an appeal in Middletown Superior Court to try to overturn the Board of Selectmen’s decision to deny a proposed expansion of its dock. The proposal had been denied because of a town ordinance concerning harbor building lines.

25 years ago: New York based actress and playwright Margaret Mary Anderson arrive in Old Saybrook to begin a month-long “Summer Arts Celebration” sponsored by Grace Episcopal Church.

25 years ago: It was announced that 65-100 bicyclists from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Canada and the United States would be passing through the Valley Shore during an event at the end of July called Bike for Peace 86’. Bikers were expected to cross the Connecticut River on the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and proceed through Centerbrook and Westbrook.

25 years ago: Dr. Doreen P. DeLucca joined the staff at the Durham Veterinary Hospital. Delucca was a 1986 graduate of Washington University, School of Veterinary Medicine and a Connecticut native from the New Haven area. She had attended Quinnipiac College earning a bachelor of science degree in laboratory animal technology.

25 years ago: The emergency dispatch center at Town Hall in Portland was disabled by a lightning storm. Two of the radios, the automatic alarms and the plectrons (used to communicate with firemen) were burned out, and the center filled with smoke, this according to dispatcher at the time Pauline Pelkey.

25 years ago: The Acton Public Library in Old Saybook displayed the photograpghs of Westbrook resident William Sanderson for the month of July. Sanderson had been an active member of the New Haven Camera Club for 14 years. The photographs included winter scenes, barns, people and the sea.

25 years ago: Following a recommendation by the University of Connecticut’s Cooperative Extension Service at Storrs, First Selectman James Blois of Middlefield ordered a farmer growing corn on land owned by the town not to apply any more nitrogen to the soil. The nitrogen-based fertilizers were believed to be the probable cause of contamination in 20 area wells.

25 years ago: Jack Kinkelaar of Naalehu, Hawaii exhibited jewelry pieces executed in cloisonné and champlevé enamel on silver at the 29th annual Guilford Handcrafts Exhibition on the Guilford Greens.

25 years ago: Wilma and Alfred Knapp of Old Saybrook donated $10,000 to Middlesex Memorial Hospital and its Shoreline Clinic at Southwinds in Essex. Funds were raised from the sale of Knapp’s book, “Connecticut Yesteryears, So Saith the Wind.” The book was written in commemoration of the state’s 350th anniversary.

25 years ago: The Connecticut River Watershed Council, a non-profit membership supported organization sponsored a canoe clinic and paddle on the Salmon River in East Haddam.

25 years ago: Deer Lake Scout Reservation in Killingworth was back in operation for the summer after four summers of dam repairs and excavation that began with the destructive June 1982 flood.

25 years ago: Dr. Alice Duckworth, who had recently retired from superintendent of schools for Chester, Deep River, Essex and Regional School District 4, was named Woman of the Year for 1986 by the Connecticut River Valley Women’s network.

25 years ago: Jogen Jensen, a bank clerk in Denmark, took a leave from his job there to visit the US and began teaching youths about nature at a YMCA camp in Westbrook for the 1986 summer. Jensen explained that he saw 50 to 60 kids a day and taught them outdoor skills like how to tie certain knots and basic nature watching.

25 years ago: Peter P. Scianna, PD, FASCP, co-owner and president of Brownstone Pharmacy in Portland, was installed at the 106th president of the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association at the association’s annual banquet at the Stratton Mountain Inn, in Vt. Scianna was a 1955 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and a clinical instructor at the school as well as a resident of Middletown.

25 years ago: The Connecticut River Watershed Council announced it would be sponsoring an overnight canoe and camping trip to Selden Neck State Park. The public was invited to attend the two day trip between East Haddam and Essex.

25 years ago: It was announced that Robert H. Kelly, the town of Old Saybrook’s building inspector for the past 16-years at the time, was planning to retire at the end of 1986.

25 years ago: Burr Elementary School students displayed posters depicting the uses of a public library. The students made the posters as part of a contest that was sponsored by the Brainard Memorial Library in Haddam, which students had visited on a town of various buildings in town. Student Jennifer Charest won first prize in the poster contest.

25 years ago: Eaton E. Smith and John Kay erected signs at the entrances to East Hampton. The signs pronounced the town “Belltown of America.”

25 years ago: The Chester Board of Selectman finalized plans to gain more control over bulky waste dump on Cedar Lake Road. The hours at the dump were expanded and the area was also monitored by an attendant. Selectman announced they were hoping to raise some revenue by raising fees for commercial haulers in order to offset costs of operating the dump. Old Saybrook and Haddam also used the dump at the time for an annual charge.

25 years ago: Maureen L. McGuiniss, a 12-year veteran of the Killingworth Board of Assessors was announced as the replacement on the Chester Board of Assessors after Evelyn A. Schneider announced her retirement. McGuiniss was announced to take over as of January 1987.

25 years ago: In conjunction with the national celebration of the Statue of Liberty’s 100th anniversary, the Essex Historical Society decided to host the traveling photographic exhibit entitled, “The Statue of Liberty.” The show was produced by the State of Liberty Foundation and was circulated by the Connecticut Humanities Council Resource Center.

25 years ago: The East Haddam Lioness Club sponsored a bake sale at the Town Hall. The sale was in conjunction with the Lions Club Auction. The proceeds from the sales were used for community projects.

25 years ago: Four-year-old at the time, Siobhan O’Rourke of Higganum, was selected as “Miss Connecticut” for the Little Miss America Pageant. The daughter of Dennis and Barbara O’Rourke of Higganum was selected at the state contest to represent Connecticut in the national Little Miss America contest that was held in Hollywood, Calif., in August 1986.

25 years ago: The Connecticut River Museum at Steamboat Dock in Essex announced it would host its annual Dockside Concert and would feature the music of the British Isles as performed by the musical group the Morgans. The group offered renditions of traditional ballads and sea chanteys. The Morgans used Celtic drums, banjos and penny whistles while performing their music.

25 years ago: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied Port Clinton application to expand farther into the Harbor. First Selectwoman at the time, Virginia D. Sawoy said that the application was turned down without prejudice because of a town ordinance concerning harbor building lines and the fact that the town’s Board of Selectmen voted against the expansion.

25 years ago: The first summer school program between Portland Junior High School and Cromwell Middle School was determined to be “working out very well,” according to CMS Assistant Principal at the time, Carmen Simonetta, and “going great,” according to PJHS Assitant Principal at the time, Fred Shiffer. There were 70 students enrolled in CMS, that included sic students from Portland, and 48 enrolled at PJHS including five from Cromwell.

25 years ago: The town of Portland was cited by the state Department of Environmental Protection for the dust pollution that was caused by sand put down as a cover when the roads were oiled. Town hall and DEP received complaints from residents, and Dr. George Rosenfeld started a petition drive asking town officials to find another method of preserving the roads.

25 years ago: Middlefield Board of Selectmen discussed options for 100 acres of town owned land as open space. The Strickland property along Cherry Hill Road was considered for a wide range of possible uses including the construction of industrial lots and selling the development rights to the land to the state.

25 years ago: It was announced that a musical feast would take place commemorating Chester’s 150th incorporation as a town at the Chester Meeting House. The second annual event was set up to feature a Robbie Collomore Series Concert and a picnic supper. It was also set up to feature historic compositions by musicians who lived, worked or published their music collections in the Connecticut River Valley prior to 1825.

25 years ago: Ellen Kavanaugh, a dog trainer from Guilford, had been giving lessons in canine obedience at the Durham Veterinary Hospital. Her two-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, Chips, performed some special tricks. Kavanaugh had trained 1,500 dogs in her then 12-year career.

25 years ago: Flagmen like Frankie Monte, a state Department of Transportation employee, directed traffic on the western side of the East Haddam Bridge over the Connecticut River. The state provided the flagmen during heavy traffic times to reduce congestion around the bridge while contractors worked on repairs to the bridge.

25 years ago: Eaton E. Smith of Bevin Boulevard in East Hampton was awarded the coveted Harvey W. Wiley Award that was presented annually by the Association of Food and Drug Officials in recognition of eminent service in the fields of food, drug and cosmetic law enforcement. Smith was a retired chief of the Food Division of the Department of Consumer Protection and was presented the award in Williamsburg, Va. during the 90th conference of the association.