The Observer - Southington Library and Museum

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PAGE 6 An independent newspaper, open to ( , / all parties, mfluenced by none. Pubhshed by The Step Saver, Inc. Jennie M. Umllo, secretary treasurer Frankd Potrot, Ed=t r m-Chief Kenneth DtMauro, famdy h mg Robert Mayer, p )r ixtor News & Edxtonal PO Box 648 213 pnng Strt t Southmgton. CT 06489 lephone ,203 621-b751 A£verhsing & Circulation PO Box 548,213 Spnng Street South ngton. CT 06489 ED T(vRIALS Hopefully, a billion serve(t Recently the Queen Street McDonald's Restaurant decided it would do its pan in tackling the state's, and In turn. (he nation's, mounUng problem of poilu tlon. Ttxe_r staurant's_ste n was small on the surface. l has begunkorovidtng separate trash bins for discarded plastic - including plastic foa n - and fc and paper waste The step is small only because it is half a step. The completed route will occur when patrons ogtthe restaurant slow their pace enough to recognize the change and comply i..ith its implicit request. According to one manager of the Meriden Waterbury Road McDonald's. which has yet to distinguish its refuse receptacles, the parent company Is m the process making this preliminary step In recycling more widespread. ['he Queen Street eatery is to be commended for adopting an approach that not only can help reduce the amount of plastic that winds up m the grouud, bul one that also begins pointing the way for the handling of refuse in 1991. when the state mandates recycling Other venues, not simply fast food outlets, should follow its lead C.S.D. Master plan seen as panac(:: Most of the candidates runmng for seats on the planning and zoning commission are pointing to the master plan of development as the answer to growth questions as Southington nears the turn of the century The plan is being drafted and is not expected to be completed for another nine months In the remaining time committee members are seeking ad'nce from various board and commission members whose groups will grapple in some way with aspects of a growing population - increased water service, expanding .school enrollment and sewer services, to name a few •he incumbent candidates with experience on the commission have ex pressed some frustration with the hmtied amount of discretionary powers the current zoning regulations leave them when facing an applicatlnn for a subdlwislon They add that the master plan could help In this area by identifying wetlands and buffer zones or lafid the town may not want to see developed so that the rural aspects of town are maintained While a strong plan will give the zoners a firm basis for decmtons there are two hurdles yet to be cleared The first and most threatening is getting the plan approved by vote . The last time this was attempted was about 20 years ago and tt was turneffdown at the polls The . ond h rdle, assuming voters approve the plan. is compliance and that will test the wills of the new commissioners and their commitment to controlled growth as plotted in the master plan F.J.P. PLASTER PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT FOR SOLITHINGTOAI ' N THE CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON AND OFF THE RECORD STATE CAP TOL REV EW OBSERVER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1989 American responsibility to Poland Two hundred years ago. when the t olonlsts joined together to pl:oclalm their freedora, Poland was quick to offer assxstance Recently. as [ part clpated in the ",Jew Britain lhMaski Day parad( I recalled how the Poles" unhesitatln support has been Crltical Io our vIci ry. Two centuries later, the deep ties between our nations remain We now face the opportunity to help our Polish frh.nds, and Congress s finally acting oi a strong package that will recapture the momentum of the President's /[ramatic July visit to Poland. Months tgo. the 12 nations of the European = ctmomic Community [EC] put together St20 rnigion in food assistance and arc already delivering it. thus the U.S. cannot debate an)' longer -pproved, the package now moving through Congress would prowide at least $125 million in food aid. $200 million for free enterprise assistance, apd other amounts for environmental, medical, and scholarship aid. Food is critical for both humanitarian and economic reasons: The average Polish monthly wage is $125 and galloping food prices are not only hurting Polish families but also putting pressure on the new government to re-ignite the inflation spiral by hlkmg wages. U S. food aid will help keep the cost of living in check while Polish farming, which is already 80 percent privately-run, expands production. While food assistance can help meet immediate needs, an economic assistance program must help foster longer-term restructuring of the Polish economy. Economic assistance without economic reform was the recipe for Poland's crash decade ago and U.S. free enterprise assistance must be accompanied by insistence on major economic reform. To its credit, the Mazowiecki government has proposed an ambitious and tough package to revitalize the Polish economy. However the government's plan would move slowly on privatization in certain sectors, and would allow a proposed government bank to control 20 percent of the shares of newly "privatized" state businesses. This continued centralization of management authority would compromise Western European and U.S. freeenterprise efforts in Poland. We must provide incentives for a faster pace of change and a stronger Polish commitment to free-market reforms. Direct economic assistance Is important, however the U.S. has other resources that must be tapped, including U.S. busmesses themselves. The Polish government is actively seeking Western private-sector partners for Joint ven tures to attract both capital and management experience and U.S. firms are far behind their European counterparts. Some American businessmen led by New Britain's Don Davis have shown that the know-how and interest in helpLng Poland Is there, but our government should not expect Davis and others to provide all the initiative and bear all the risk. The U.S. can help entice its companies to plunge in to Poland by sharing some of that risk. Government insurance programs like the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (ePIC} would spark Poland's economic development and provide many benefits on both sides of the Atlantic. But ePIC has been waiting since June for congresstonal approval of the legal authority tc guarantee loans for ventures to Poland while ePIC's European counterparts have helped their businesses more qnickly on the best opportunities. Here again, the Europeans are ahead: Wes" Germany. for instance, has formed 160 Joint ventures in Poland this year alone. Congressional action approving aid to Poland Is long overdue, but the tough Job of following through Is even more cHflca] ff t'hat ald 1"s to have--a lasting effect. Poland's economy cannot be transformed by quick fixes or even a blank check and. ff Congressional leaders truly hope to help our Polish friends, they will work for prompt action in the short run and cooperate with the President in the longer term for a policy that will be a lasting legacy for both the United States and Poland. U S Rep Nancy Johnson. R th Dist. is a regular contributor to lhe Observer eoitonal Rowland shuts out opposition It s not over for him because they like his mostly tar Democratic governor, had anuntil it S over So conservative views on issues, nounced his retirement. After winning goe.s the cllchq. But 'the battle for the Rcpubhcan gubernatorial nomination may be over nuw that U S Rep John Rowland, RS. is ready to announce that he's a candidate. Yes, there are other contenders for the GOP gubernatorial nomination They include House Minority Leader Robert Jaekle of Stratford. Senate Minority Leader Reginald Smith of New Hartford and millionaire New Haven developer Joel Schiavone. Inside and outside, the Republican Party. however, the political watchers have been speculating that Rowland is the man to beat for the Republican nomination Rowland brings a political base. a following, youth, an aggressive style and three terms in Congress during which he has learned well the political lessons Connect lcut .Republicans don't have any cand[.date with instant statewtde recogni'flon. But Rowland is better known than the other contenders A lot of Democrats have voted Remember the _ comic strip called "Pogog" In one famous story line. a scoul Is sent ou.t to find the gang threatening the good guys The antagonists turn out to be donbles of the protagonists..twins. The scout, ieturning to the camp. utters the famous line, "1 met the enemy and they I usl" A couple of weekends ago, I met friends and enemies at a legislative conference in Washington. D.C. where a group of lawmakers from around the country gathered to discuss strategies in what has come to be known as the "war on dongs." I met for hearly an hour with "Drug Czar" William Bennett. spoke with chiefs of police and attorneys general from cities and towns from far and wide. There were lectures and discussions and scmlnar , all about fighting drugs. When I grow old. I won't tell my Rowland still may face opposition from the inside the GOP. In particular. Schiavone's checkbook could keep him in the race. ttowever. Jaekie has indicated that the nomination probably will be Rowland's if he runs That would force Jaelde to have second thoughts about daekle also is considered a serious candidate for lieutenant gowrnor, running with Rowland For Republicans. who have struggles with gubernatorial tickets, a Rowland-Jaelde ticket would be attractive. Jaekle is considered one of the best lawmakers in the General Assembly. His knowledge of state issues could be an asset ff Rowland runs for governor. Rowland has to be credited for taking what still must be regarded as a long-shot bid for governor. He is giving up a safe congressional seat when most politlcta.ns would be happy to stay in Washington forever. Republicans have not been able to elect a governor since 1970. So Rowland can't feel encouraged by looking to the recent past. The last Republican governor was Thomas Mesklll, who was blessed with perfect timing. John Dempsey. a popu- Meeting the enemy a primary. Meskill defeated a laclduster candidate. Emilio Daddario.the former congressman who won the Democratic nomination. It's possible that Rowland might be running for governor next year against someone other than Gov. William O'Neill. O'Neill keeps saying that he will run again, and his troops are starting to raise cmmp21gn cash. But untll O'Neill makes it official, the whispers wig continue thal he Is not running. If O'NeLU doesn't run. a political war will break out among Democrats. Rowland could find himself running against U.S. Rep. Barbara Kennelly. D- 1. U.S. Rep. Bruce Morrison. D-3. or even someone else. The guess here Is that an announcement by Rowland virtually will close the door to other Republican contenders. That should help party leaders to conce on fund-raising and is- Row and his supporters will learn next year whether their timing is good. They can only hope that 1990 turns into a rerun of 1970. Bob Douglas is public-offa commentator for Connecticut Pubhc Television. grandchildren about meetings, but I was crack?" most certainly have a story for them "Why did people t ke drugs back I will tell them how it feels to wear a then?" bulletproof vest. It sounds exciting. It "I'm glad It's not like that now." isn't. A vest is hot and bulky and uncomfortable and the reason you wear It is to avoid getting killed. I will tell them how. for a few fright- Record on water ening hours a weekend night in 1989. I lived on the edge. I met the enemy. I Joined the Washington D.C. Police on a drug raid at a crack house. improvements ! will tell them how the enemies were people. Just like us. but hooked on drugs or money or power or all of set straight that. They were us...Just the smallest A page 6 editorial in the Oct. 19 is- bit different. That was disturbing. That sue of The Observer Incorrectly com- reminded me of the saying that there. pared the cost of Phase 1 improve- but for the grace of God. go all of us. I will tell them how it looks when a man gets abet. I will tell them, too, how it moved ments to the town's water system with the total cost of the five year project. The comparison incorrectly stated a significant increase in the estimated me, as a state senator, to push for cost of the proJebt. In fact, he total alronger laws against the sale of drugs. cost, $12.3 mllllon, has remained con- Then. two score or so years from stant since a private consulting firm now. maybe ff we work hard now. and charged with assessing the system's face the challenges of ridding our society of the things that drives us to the needs completed its study. We regret this errm in fact and apologize 0r th extremes, my yet-to-be-born grandchilwill look tip at me and ask, "What misunderstanding of the town water board's improvement project.
THE OBSERVER THURSDAYa OCTOBER 26 1989 EN BY THE WAY., . Women of substance pose a challenge to others It was my distinct pleasure to meet and talk to a few exciting women, bent upon changing world. the On Sunday, October 15. my daughters recognized the "Walking Grandmother" on her way to Boston. We stopped the car to chat. I never did get her name, but she told me about her cause. It wa.q one I could easily support. S_he i_s _51 years old and has walked twenty miles a day for the last twenty months. She hiked from San Francisco as far as Connecticut raising awareness of the needs of infants born with AIDS. Neither a fund-raiser, nor a publicity hound, this quiet mother of 10. merely stopped to chat with folks interested in her and her cause. She wore through at least a dozen pair ol shees she said, Only twice she went hungry, but every evening a family or church group graciously took her in. Today, October 26, is the date she should arrive in Booton, her final destination. Then she will return to California and write about her experiences. "You see, " I told my daughters. "There are ways one person can make a change in the world." So far, the Walking Grandmother said, three communities have created shelters and programs for children Tuesday I lunched with Joyee Anlsman-Saltman. She is soon to be a speaker for the Junior Women's Club of Southington. Her program is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27 at Southlngton High School. We seemed to have a lot in common. We talked about outrageous things we had done or seen and laughed a lot. Joyce is known for her laughter. She's got to be the funniest psychothe 'aplst in the country. Her point of view about life Is well worth contemplating. W4e give permission to people to do the things they have always wanted to do, but were afraid to tzy, " she said. While neither complicated nor profound, her llfe's thrust is noble because it brings out the best in those around her, including me. I told Joyce about another friend, MarJorie Low. MarJorle is a free-lance writer for The Observer . Marjorle is having an art exhibit at Central Connectlcut State University In November. Her interest is helping the home- Read any good books lately? Book lovers browsed tables of pre-owoed volumes Saturday at the Friends of the Library book sale in Central Elementary School gym. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PAGE 7 Parents reminded of rules for trick or treaters by Peg Donohue It was a silly thing to do. Yet when I opened the door to find the wide-eyed cub scout standing in the early evening dampness. I followed my first instinct I invited him to step in while I got my wallet to buy some candy He looked at me, and flatly stated "I can't." It took alew seconds for his response to register, but it dld Very flustered and embarrassed, I merely said In return. "Of course not-I,'ll be back In a second." I left him standing outside while I hurried to find my purse. The math behind noise pollution at Lake Compounce To the editor. I want to present a statistically factual discussion of the significance of lobbyists obtaining a I0 decibel waiver for the park through Bristol political efforts. This subject can not be described to a layman without a discussion of the math behind a 10 decibel waiver so please bear with me. Addition, subtraction or percentage have no application in the math of sounff (noise} levels. Wher the state law level of 53 decibels was allowed to creep up to 63 decibels by waiver under the grandfather clause that should have been called a godfather clause, it was estimated to the uniformed that this is a 19% increase in noise level which is not the case at all. The math of noise level measurement is a log arithmic exponential such that noise level is doubled any time there is an increase of 3.0103 decibels and is cut in half any time there ts a decrease of 3.0|03 decibels and a second sequential change in either direct.lon, indicates a noise level change of 4 to I getting into a very strong noise pollution realm any time there is an increase of I0 decibels. Take 53 db. as the legal base without any waiver. Increase 53 by 3.0103 getting 56.0103 db. represents twice the noise at 53. Increase by another 3.0103 db. getting 59.0206 db. represents four times the noise at 53. Increase by another 3.0103 db. getting 62.0309 db represents eight times the noise at 53. Here we have pretty much used the I0 db waiver but have a noise level over 8 times the 53 db basic by the time 63 db is reached. One newspaper write-up stated filegal Compounce noise level of 73 db 23 times before I0 pm. and the reader can do his math to show that 71.0615 db represents 64 times the noise level of 53 db which is an extreme intrusion to the health (ear problems] and well-be- The sun never less of Connecticut. A percentage of her came out that Halearr will go to that cause. -\loween. The day MarJorie has Just completed more awned dark and than 40 new works, many reflecting rainy and stayed the theme of the show. Her drawings, that way until sunsketches, and paintings have their own set. unique style. They are an interesting Time seemed to blend of color and line that convey a drag at work that mnesa in ve fnuch like th' ' y w out the sun. painter's personality. 1 applaud her energy and her focus. Finally I spent an evening with Sister Emmanucla who Is temporarily living in New Britain, aiding an ailing relative. She told me about her career as a Dominican nun and a nurse. At 81 she is spry and has her wits about her. Her main goal these days is interceasory prayer. She takes it very seriously. If she prays for you or your family. you know it. I watched her kiss her cape before throwing It over her shoulders that rainy night. She told me about the ritual of kissing each garment of the habit each time it tS used as a prayer of dedlcation, It was something new to me. All around, in the closest of places, When it was finally time to leave, I was exhausted. My eyel/ds Insisted that it was past my bedtime as they began to blanket my vision. I stretched them open w/de and darted my eyes left and right until I realized I was drawing attention. I muttered good nlghL grabbed my coat and umbrella and headed for the door Laughter and shouts of "Happy Halloween" followed me out. The rain was solid as I tried to cut my way to the car, ducking my head low against he wind. It seemed to be talcing a long time to get to my u'. but it wasn't until I tripped on a tree root that I realized I was no longer in the parking lot. In the downpour all I could make out were trees, everywhere. Where were the build/ng and the parking lot? After turning around a few times, I real£zed I had no Idea at the most unexpected times, are ded- which direction I had come from. I also real- Icated women whose lives make a dlf- Ized It was pretty dark in those woods and ference. " getting darker. They challenge us to seek and keep The sound of the rain seemed to grow lofty goals and to be persistent in Utile louder, echoing against the wall of trees surthings, rounding me. Then the drumming of the rain ing of neighbors lacking 8 hours of night blast of ESPN as that organiza- p aceful sleep. There is an added complication in that ff Compounee were located on the great plains of the Midwest, there would be hemispherical dissipation of this noise level in each direction from the source of the noise [n the case of Compounce. which is nestled against steep rock outcropping of the mountain, has to dissipate the noise energy in one quarter of a sphere of space and the echo wave off the rocks and moves out across the same quarter sphere as the primary wave but slightly out of phase. One Compounce show in the summer of 1989 shoved beat music up over the hill into the western portion of Plainville on Bohemia Street and Norton Trail area of that town. We are willing to forgive the one- don-is t-reat-plu [u, ti c ucd. In the future we would appreciate newspaper warning of such special celebration so that neighbors miles away do not get blasted out of bed at l 1 20 pm in place of the usual I0 pm fire works display Ume. We are willlng to put up with the I0 pm fireworks noise which we have withstood 50 years but the 63 db allowed by politicians and the 23 violatlons In the 73 db illegal range should be abated. I wish we could have put this across without so many math details but the above is the minimum to get details to those uninformed in noise level measurements Very truly you , Francis J. Patterson Bohemia Street. Plalnvl]]e Kulas has followed town's growth To the editor, on various charitable organizations. Sherrl has worked for the Democratic I have known Sherr/ Kulas for Party actively for the past 5 years and over 35 years. She is a Southington ha- feels she can best serve her community tive and has followed the growth of the in this capacity. Town. I feel that Sherri will do an excellent Job as a Commissioner for Plan- Richard A. Krampitz ning and Zoning _ She has been active West Street Daly brings "knowledge and youth" to town council To the editor, a very educated person and would be a great councilman. In support of Kevin Daly for the I strongly support Kevin in the Democratic Council, Kevin was born November 7th election and reared in town and has Southington's best interests at heart. I know Respectfully yours, Kevin and he has a lot to offer you. He Dolores Longo brings you youth and knowledge. He's Scuthington Avenue It was a dark, rainy night subsided, or maybe I just became accus- turned to normal His mother had drummed the message into his head. l'm sure. and he was a very obedient son. After I ordered the pecan log--to be dcllvered at some unspecified future date- l kept thinking about the error I'd made in inviting the child to crone in. While l certainly wasn't trying to entice a helpless victim into my home, l'd put the boy in a posltion whereby he was forced to recall his parents insistent warnings: never go into a house where you don't know the people. I've had a streaxn of school children knock at my door these past weeks, all seeking donations for football, school events or scouting. l've bought chocolate bars, ordered extra holiday candy, and currently await hordes of Christmas wrapping paper. Some'Vof these little sales people have been attended by p rent , nthe.r J11' t an their and I know that I've asked one or two others to step into the foyer while I hunted down a pen or some money. All except that one little cub scout readily accepted my invitation without hesitation If I was still living in Queens, New York, I probably would not have asked the children to step in. Then again, l can't recait many children knocking on my apartment door when I lived there-not to sell candy, not even in anticipation of the tlme-honored trlck-or-treat goodies. Here in Southington. however. there's a deceptive security which relaxes the guard by a conslderable amount. Since it's such a family-focused town. you don't consider the not so outlandish posslbti- Ity of kidnapping or child molestation The necessary precautions may not always be remembered. Perhaps if my own child was a bit older fold enough to roam doorto-door mumbling rehearsed speeches, beseechingly displaying assorted wares), I would have been more cognizant of the risk children might be at when confronted with strangers-smiling faces not withstanding. It taught me another one of my own valuable motherhood lessons, which I learn so frequently through other people. So, with Halloween approaching, l'm going to be very careful how I interact with the costumed kids who come begging treats. I will be friendly. I will remark on their makeup and masks, and I will drop handfuls of properly packaged snacks into their sacks. And I will remember my responsibility as a parent-and not invite them in. hoping that when my son is older he be shown the same conslderation. shoulder and l spun around to face... "Ken? what ." I stammered, unable to stop the shaking that had taken over my tomed to IL That's when I heard the n se. I Looking on the ground for the object "Hey are you OK?'. my co-yanker asked. was suddenly very awake, that sent me [ noticed what appeared "Everybody else already left and I noticed I could hear damp leaves and sog , soil to be a rather large bone your car sUll sitting in the parking lot. Did give way with a squish beneath someone's I looked at the bone, then down at my you wander off in the rain or something?. slow, steady galt. I stcxxl still try/ng to con- leg. and shuddered "it's not what you liey, you all right.'?" -orr-the- _ -t * y g , ... myse!f - "Oh yeah I sald. now breathing lo tc Its dlrect/on. Then it stopped and the Th n I heard someth g n tuning towa l'a y:. only sound was the rain me and a dark figure burst from the shad- on the way to the car I'm OK now, thanks My toes and fingers burned cold as a bead of sweat began a down my s de. I shivered and pulled the enllar of my trenchcoat higher. *It's Just. the rain." I houghi "%u're tired. Your mind is Just playing u os you" I breathed I0wly, steadily, sttll ill at ease "I'm lost, that's all No big deal." [ said aloud I was e couraged by the sound of my own voice, and the quietness tl t came as the rain stopped falling" "If I stay calm and top letting my imagiasttan run wild I will fl d my way out of here in no lime," I told myself With newfound courage. I began looking for some light beyond the tr . some sign of ctvflizalior I spotted a flicker of light - from our I walked as briskly as I eeuld with numb toes. anxious to get in my car and get the heat blasting. Suddenly the world began to tilt. [ grabbed for the nearest U e to steady myself and eld on tight until my breathing re- owa. I clung to the ta e I was exchanging stares with a mangy looking dog that seemed best friend to no man A growl rumbled low in his throat as he flashed yellow, foam flecked teeth By the looks of him he hadn'i seen soap and a brush for most of his life His hmr was matted in patches, what there was of It He looked at the bone on the ground be tween us. licking the foam from his hps He lifted his feverish eyes to glare at me again Crouching low, he hxnged forward with a series of loud barks. I stumbled backwards, trying to use the ti e as a shield. The dog pounced on the bone. and with his prize clenched In his teeth, he gave a final growl and darted off Into the shadows. I stared at the ground where the bone had lain and shook my head. "Right He Just wanted the bone," I said aloud, laughing nervously. "Just the bone" A soft squish came from behind me "Hah. There you are," said a raspy voice with a chuckle I sereamed as a big hand damped on my_ body. K n. q , Ken and I walked out of the w eds towards tht : ghted parking lot. a howl pterced the still rught air I grinned to myself as I stepped onto the blessed pavement of our lot. I turned for a moment to look back Into the dense woods as Ken kept walking. Must the doff" 1 thought confidently. "A dog and his bone Boy, Fve got to be careful with this imagination of mine. [ let it run wild and Frn in the middle of a horror flick. Leave the scary stuff to Stephen King, L/z." A flicker in the shadow caught my eye and I squinted for a better 10ok. All was still. -Hey. aren't you coming Llz?" Ken called from behind me. "Yeah. wsit up Ken." I said. still staring Into the darkness. Finally I shook my head and gan to make my way to the car. The howling ennlinued to flltex,-lts way through the trees of the forest, but Its sound became more and more Indlslinet until l fl-
Page 1 and 2: Volume 14, Number 48 SQUOOLo0 SOiJT
Page 3 and 4: The Observer, Thursday, October 26,
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Page 11 and 12: Bob THE OBSERVER, THURSDAY, OCTOBER
Page 13 and 14: Bears shoot down Jets "A" (Sr.) Dil
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