22,1996 Published by Prime Publishers, Inc
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Property of the Watertown Historical Society watertownhistoricalsociety.org ZItmee , Vol. 52 No. 8 February 22,1996 PUBLISHED BY PRIME PUBLISHERS, INC. 36 Pages Price 75 cents Serving Watertown and Oakville Since 1947 Referendum date scheduled Black families important part for proposed industrial park by Susan Faber chairwoman, will answer questions of local history Town Council members Tues- regarding the project by Susan Faber day night set an April 16 referen- Council approves new Wilbur Freeman's family mem- dumforappropriating$238,300fbr fishing, boating ordinance bers were pan of the fabric of the planning stage of the Echo Lake Council members also approved Watertown life for two centuries Road-Route 262 Industrial Park a new fishing and boating ordi- and their contributions should not project. nance Tuesday which bans motor be forgotten, Mr. Freeman con- The planning stage for the 100- boats "fueled by gasoline, diesel or tends. In his efforts to trace his acre, town-owned park would in- other fuel, except electricity" on family's genealogy, he also has clude environmental, marketing and any lake in town. uncovered information about other traffic studies, and design plans. The new ruling replaces a for- The state would pay for half of the black families who made their mark mer ordinance that would have on the history of Litchfield Country total cost through state Department of Economic Development grants. permitted motor boats on Lake and helped defend their country Winnemaug. The ordinance origi- during wartime. If the marketing or environ- nally was drawn up so that the town "It's time Watertown recognized mental reports turn out to be nega- would be eligible for $75,000 in the Freemans," he said. "They tive, a decision will be made on state funds for a boat ramp. A ramp contributed a lot." whether to proceed with designing the park, officials said. The final would make the town-owned lake Mr. Freeman, 68, who was bom accessible to the public, officials on French Street and grew up in construction phase of the project would be bonded separately. said. Oakville, discovered written rec- Lake Winnemaug residents ob- ords of the Freeman family in the Polls April 16 will be open from jected to the ordinance because they local area dating from 1822. Since noon to 8 p.m. said the lake's shallow depth and tdcn, his relatives have spread over Meanwhile, the Watertown- rocky terrain would pose dangers the state, from Watertown to New Oakville Chamber of Commerce to speeding boaters and pollution will hold an informational session Haven, Hartford and Milford. would endanger wildlife. He hopes his research will cre- on the proposed park Thursday, march 7, at 8 a.m. in the meeting Construction bid accepted ate an interest in the family's his- Wilbur Freeman, formerly of Oakville, has traced the contributions his for elderly complex tory among younger relatives who family has made to the local area during the past two centuries. Many room of Thomaston Savings Bank, 565 Main Street. Watertown Housing Authority have moved out of the area. blackfamilieswho settled in Watertown were descendedfromslaveswho members voted unanimously Feb- (Continued on page 6) were emancipated during the 1700s and 1800s. — Times Photo, Faber Town Manager John Salomone and Rosalie Loughran, council (Continued on page 32) Coping with tragedy, working toward change by Tommy Valuckas twilight zone at the same time. destined to travel down since that Sam and Wanda Ricger's lives They're not sure if there ever will fateful day of May 24,1994. the past one and a half years have be a light at the end of that prover- "The positive effects are very journeyed through reality and the bial dark tunnel,which they've been fleeting," Sam said last Friday as he recalled a much more recent day. It was January 30 in Waterbury Supe- rior Court, when Josi Crespo, 27, wasconvictedofmurderbyathree- judge panel for the strangulation death of the Ricger's daughter, Melanie. The trial of Mr. Crespo lasted six days; the outcome was not in doubt. "When everybody else in the courtroom heard her (Melanie's) voice, it was very chilling," Sam continued. U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, who represents Connecticut's Messages recorded on Melanie's Sixth District, makes a point during a talk at the Falls Avenue senior phone answering machine just be- center February 14. Mrs. Johnson discussed health care reform and fore the horrific incident were re- responded to questions about the loss of jobs in the state.—Times Photo, played in the courtroom, lending a Faber certain eerieperspective to the tragic circumstances surrounding her death at the bands of her boyfriend. Rep. Nancy Johnson tackles Mr. Crespo will be sentenced March 12, and faces between 12 tough questions with seniors and 60 years in prison. The judges by Susan Faber will be asked to impose the maxi- Many of those listening to Republican Congresswoman Nancy L. mum penalty, according to the as- Johnson (R-Conn.)attheFalls Avenue senior center last Wednesday wore sistant state's attorney's office. red sweaters, as fitting for a Valentine's Day luncheon. Sam, president of Watertown's Others, however, did not bring thoughts of hearts and flowers, as they Crestwood Travel agency and a posed hard questions about the state's economic conditions. CrestwoodTraveV sWanda andSamRiegerwith aphoto of their daughter,teacher at Naugatuck Valley Com- Mrs. Johnson is serving her seventh term representing Connecticut's Melanie, who was strangled to death in a 1994 murder case that reachesmunity-Technical College, said Sixth Congressional District, and has played a role in shaping health care the sentencing stage March 12. The Riegers have become major playersthere was abouta "three-hour high" reform legislation as a senior member of the Ways and Means Subcom- in the Survivors of Homicide, Inc. organization in Connecticut, and areafter the verdict was rendered late mittee. pressing for legislative changes in victim's rights. — Times Photo, last month, like a certain indescrib- In 1994, according to information from her office, Congress approved (Continued on page 8) Valuckas. (Continued on page 10) Property of the Watertown Historical Society 2 -Town Times, February 22,1996 watertownhistoricalsociety.org MeatCenter BARGAINS USD A CHOICE STEAKS VAY CENTER The Area's Only Full Service Meat Market Boneless 485 Main Street, Watertown, £t. • 274-2714 SIRLOIN STEAK! PRICES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 27 WED THURS FRI SAT SUN MON TUES *2.49 Ib 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 8:00 am to 8:00 am to 8:00 am to 8:00 am to 8:00 am to 8:00 am to 8:00 am to Top Round $ 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:00 pm 2:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm LONDON BROIL 2.29 Prime Rib $ STEAK 3.79 LEAN GROUND Tender Round $ CHUCK or CUBE STEAK PATTIES •1.49 2.49 Fresh Extra Lean $ STEW BEEF 1.99 $ LENTEN SPECIALS RUMP ROAST 1.79 "Our Fish Is From The Best of Schools" Boneless Center Cut $ Fresh *5.99 CHUCK ROAST 1.59 SEA SCALLOPS $ Eye Round $ Fresh 4.99 ROAST 2.29 HADDOCK FILLETS $ Bottom Round Fresh 5.99 ROAST *1.69 SOLE FILLETS GRADE A POULTRY Fresh Cajun CATFISH FILLETS *4.99 Fresh, Cookin' Good Extra, Large $ Boneless & Skinless COOKED SHRIMP 8.95 CHICKEN BREASTS '1.89 Chopped $ Perdue CLAMS 2.79 OVEN STUFFERS *.79. FRESH PRODUCE Our Own Store-Baked Iceburg $ Ib LETTUCE 79 ROAST BEEF Oil Sunkist Navel Land O' Lakes $O ORANGES 99 59 Maine AMERICAN CHEESE$7&\ POTATOES Danish Imported 2 79 Ib Fresh HAMKahn . _ $ SPINACH ,99 Fresh •••••$' HONEY HAM 2 99 Ib CELERY HEARTS 69 Hudson $ Hot House TURKEY BREAST 2 69 Ib TOMATOES $i.69 Not responsible for typograjBMpaferrors/We have the right to limit quantities. , Property of the Watertown HistoricalTow nSociety Tunes, February 22,1996- 3 Friendlywatertownhistoricalsociety.org Neighbors Index- Name: Tom Orsini AARP 19 Residence: Watertown Births 15 Occupation: Sign artist Cable 5 Shows 28 Mastery Test scores Tom Orsini has been designing Calendar show improvement signs for five years and spent the 31 page 10 pastthree years workingathis trade Classifieds 33-36 in his Main Street studio. A gradu- Crossword Puzzle 22 ate of Kaynor Tech and Bulcra Editorials 4 'Daffodil Days' by ACS School of Art in Boston, he began Engagements 18 almost here again his career designing signs for Legal Notices 32-33 page 20 friends. "It kept going from there," said Letters 5-6 Mr. Orsini, who "was alwaysdraw- Obituaries 12-13 High school pool tested ing something" in his earner years. Perfect Date 32 for quality, safety He now creates commercial signs, Real Estate 30-31 page 27 lettering on trucks and other ve- Religious 13-15 hicles and murals for motorcycles. Restaurants 28-29 NVCTC auto tech His designs fit in with the loca- program gains a Dodge tion of the business and he uses Safety Logs 11 colors "that go with the building," Senior Scene 19 page 30 working towards an image the sign Sports 23-27 is going to portray. Finished prod- Weddings 16 ucts range from the simple to those made from sandblasted redwood. Mr. Orsini plans to upgrade his studio to a computer-aided design station soon, enabling him to de- We Proudly Present Our 7th Annual sign business cards and logos. He enjoys meeting with other "letterheads" at annual meetings, likes mountain biking and skiing and has been studying the marshal arts. Alves Award Collegium Musicum off to Australia The Taft Collegium Musicum, and, where they will perform at the PHOTO COOTEST nominations due thechamber choir at the Taft School, Christchurch Cathedral.