Sterling Gets Unique Signage

Mayor Anthony Staffieri and Andy Cota in front of the new signage

Mayor Anthony Staffieri along with Andy Cota, former Derby Police Chief and Blight Officer for the City of Derby unveiled a new sign for the Sterling Opera House on April 1.

Andy Cota spends some of his spare time creating beautiful hand made wood carvings. A couple of years ago he carved and donated a sign that replicated an earlier Sterling Opera House sign that once hung on the walls.

“Andy is a bit of a perfectionist and told me he wasn’t satisfied with the sign he had originally made. He promised to make a new, larger and more elaborate sign that would reflect the beauty and historic significance of the Sterling Opera House and that is exactly what he did. I am amazed at his talent and attention to detail. Andy is not alone. There are many Derby residents, including our Save Our Sterling volunteers and Valley Arts Council members who have devoted time and effort into helping restore the Sterling Opera House and it is this dedication and effort that will see us through to its complete restoration.” Said Mayor Staffieri

The sign is 8’X32” tall with 11’ wording which reads “Sterling Opera House”. The design was inspired by a turn of the century Sterling piano warrantee under the lid of a Sterling piano that is located inside the Derby City Hall lobby. The piano was built around the same time period as the Opera House and the warranty contained a musical theme. The sign is 100 percent hand carved and an almost exact replica of a sign done in the same time period.  

“It is an honor for me to have made this sign and to donate it to the City of Derby. This is a magnificent building and I thought it would be very fitting to have a hand carved sign now that the entire exterior is completed. A lot of people ask which building is the Sterling Opera House and now this sign will clearly point out our historic treasure.” said Andy Cota.

Story posted on April1, 2010