Property of the Watertown Historical Society watertownhistoricalsociety.orgZTimes Timely Coverage Of News In The Fasfesf Growing Community In Ufchf/e/d Counfy Vol. 82f No, 37 Subscription Price $8.00 Per Year PRICE 20 CENTS September 14, 1978 Both Sides Prep For Dog Track Vote Next Week The second public hearing on the proposed Colonial Park Ken- nel Club dog track will be conduc- Union Congregational ted by the Town Council on Tues- day, Sept. 19, two days before the Church Fair Sept 23 lively issue goes to public vote on Sept, 21, The Union Congregational Chairmen of the various ac- SOLO PERFORMERS for tonight'! (Thursday) Annual Band Church will hold its annual Fair tivities are: William Borowy, tag The hearing is set for the Parents Night at Heminway Park School toured South, Polk, and on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 sale; George Collier, set-up Watertown High auditorium, for Judson Schools on Tuesday to introdue prospective music students a.m. to 4 p.m., General Chair- crew; Laraine Landquist, fudge 8 p.m. to their instruments, while Gail A. Cunningham, elementay school man Norman M. Stephen said booth; Pam Vernovai, pop corn; Expected in the council's hands music director, briefly explained the school music program. More this week. Events will be held in Dorothy Moulton, fancy work; by Monday's regular meeting is information plus musical entertainment will be on hand tonight the church and on the grounds. Caroline Shaw, food table; the complete investigative report beginning at 7:30, Pictured with Miss Cunningham are her star An Auction is scheduled for Jackie Ramponi, white elephant; of Wackenhut Corp., the Florida performers, left to right: Ryan Coviello, alto saxophone; Jeffrey Friday, Sept. 22. at 7 p.m. in the Alice Cedarholm, country store; firm delving into the particulars Campbell, trumpet; Sharon Beach, clarinet; Heather Proctor, church hall. Auctioneers will be of the Rooney family tracks at flute; and Fred Gyuricsko, trombone, (Valuckas Photo) the Rev, Waldo Landquist and Laraine Landquist, cake walks; Pownal. N.H.. Yonkers in New Mr, Stephen, The church will be Ed Teller, house of horrors; Jen- York, and West Palm Beach, open for inspection of items at nifer Andrew, tractor ride; plus the Plainfield dog track. Elementary Parents Have 6:15, George Shaw, supper; Herbert Western Connecticut On Saturday, a corned beef Wilson, games; Mr, Stephen, Greyhound Association, the supper will be served at 5 p.m., auction; Scott Andrew, hobby Watertown track backers, will Band Night A t Heminway culminating the day's activities. and crafts; Joseph LeClaire, hold an open house on the Water- All parents of students in the This week Miss Cunningham Advance tickets, at a discount, refreshment stand; Joan town Drive-In theatre site on fifth and sixth grades from Jud- has been meeting with fifth and are available by calling Chair- Kowalewski, rummage sale; and Saturday, Sept. 18, from 1230 to son, Polk, South, and Heminway sixth graders in the schools, in- man Sumner Kunin at 574-2500. Kelley Richardson, home talent 4 p.m. to meet with any in- Park Schools are invited to at- troducing students to the in- terested citizens and answer tend the Annual Band Parents strumental program offered in questions. Night today (Thursday), at 7:30 the Watertown school system. In- Bulging Third Grades At Principals (mm the mam back- p.m. in the Heminway struments the students are able ing groups, the KDOIH'V family of auditorium. to play have been demonstrated. IVnnsylviini.i .mil (he Oneglia?. nf 2 Schools Despite Drop Torrington. plus technical and William Norwood, new prin- i 1 environmental *x[x>rts will be cipal at Heminway, will be the Solo instrumental perfor- Large third grade class .sizes at from Baldwin, but mini from Baldwin and South Schools were South, on the big classes there to discuss queries on the $8 guest speaker. Gail A, Cun- mances will be heard tonight million pan mutuel facility A ningham, instructor of elemen- from Heminway Park's sixth the only problem areas in the An option the Board has, Dr. school enrollment for the 1978-79 King indicated, is to hire a handler with a racing dog also tary music for the Watertown grade band members. Perfor- will be present. schools, will discuss the objec- mers are: Sharon Beach, year, according to figures teacher's aide for South if the tives and goals of the music clarinet; Jeffrey Campbell, presented to the Board of Educa- four classes prove un- Approximately 10,300 voters program. Music dealers from the trumpet; Ryan Coviello, alto sax- tion Monday by Anthony King, manageable, Baldwin and .hidson will be eligible to cast ballots area will have representattyes on ophone; Fred Gyuricsko, trom- superintendent ot schools. Schools already have aides to next Thursday in the referen- hand to explain their rental bone; and Heather Proctor, Dr. King said as of Sept, 11, 4,- help out, dum. Town Clerk Mary Canty plans. flute. 032 youngsters were in the public John Proctor, assistant reported. Polls will be open from schools, a drop of 39 from the superintendent of schools, said 8 a.m. to 8 p.m at Heminway June closeout total. The enroll- the declining enrollment has Park <69-01 District), Polk (68- ChamberOfCommerceOn ment is 130 fewer students than allowed the phasing out of two 02). Swift Junior High (68.03), enrolled in September, 1977, half-time kindergarten teachers, and Judson (68-04) Schools The superintendent pointed out and a fifth grade teacher through Non-registered persons Record Favoring Track the three third grades at Baldwin attrition from the staff. wishing to vote must register at The Watertown/Oakville Raymond and Francis Oneglla, have 29, 30, and 31 pupils, respec- In a related report. Dr. Dinoo the town clerk's office by 5 p.m. Chamber of Commerce has en« Chairman of the Board and tively, while South has 29 stu- Dastur, school administrative Wednesday, Sept. 20, Mrs, Canty dorsed the proposal for a President respectively of 0 & G dents in three of its third grades, assistant, said days lost through said. There will be no absentee greyhound racing facility in Industries Inc., the Torrington and 22 in another. He said one teacher absenteeisms decreased ballots, and only registered Watertown, Colonial Park Ken- based construction corporation. complaint has been registered (Continued on Page 20 voters will be allowed to ballot. nel of Watertown, as the develop- Chamber officials said the Appearing on the voting ment is formally known, has proposed $8,000,000 facility will machines will be one question: proposed the construction of a have a capacity for 10,000 Ecumenical Council Asks "Shall the Connecticut Commis- racing facility at the present site patrons, with seating for 4,300. sion on Special Revenue issue a of the Watertown Drlve-ln Parking will be available for 3,- license to Western Connecticut Theater, The 62 acre site, which 840 automobiles directly adja- No Vote On Dog Track Grehound Association, Inc., to will be accessible to people via (Continued on Page 8) The Watertown Ecumenical are our brother's keeper and conduct and maintain a Interstate 84 and jftoute 8, is Council came out this week in op- share responsibility for his per- greyhound racing facility within located directly on Frost Bridge Grange Officer position to the establishment of a sonal dignity and worth. the Town of Watertown on a site Road, with one of its boundaries dog racing track in Watertown, Therefore, we uphold activities generally bounded by Frost being the Naugatuck River, Installations and urged voters of Watertown- which reinforce these values and Bridge Road, the Naugatuck The development group Is Oakville to reject the proposal In are opposed to those things which River, and the ConRail tracks headed by the Rooney family of next Thursday's referendum. degrade or destroy. (New York, New Haven, and Pittsburgh, Pa., which has been Slated Friday The vote in opposition to the Gambling is selfish and seeks Hartford Railroad), and com- actively involved in sports A new slate of officers for the track was unanimous among personal gain at the expense of monly known as the Watertown promotion for many years. They Watertown Grange, No, 122, Inc., those attending Monday night's others. Drive-In property?" include Arthur Rooney, owner of will be installed at its meeting on Council meeting Those mem- Gambling shifts the tax burden A simple push of the lever to in- the Pittsburgh Steelers pro foot- Friday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. in the bers present adopted and signed to the wrong people, as gamblers dicate a "yes" or "no " vote is all ball team; Timothy Rooney, Masonic Temple, 175 Main St. the following position statement. all too often are persons least that is required, President of Yonkers Raceway; The officers will be; Ronald We, the clergy and delegates of able to control their indulgences Mrs. Canty said the registrars John Rooney, President of Parker, master; Miss Anna the Watertown Ecumenical or afford their losses. of voters mailed out cards to 900 William Penn Racing Associa- Pedaney, overseer; Mrs, Agnes Council, are opposed to the es- We try to uphold and teach our families in eastern and northern tion; Arthur Rooney, Jr.; and Trusinskas, lecturer; Mrs, tablishment of a dog track in our children higher principles than Watertown saying those Patrick Rooney, President of Veronica Argenta, steward; Mrs, community for the following getting something for nothing. households now must vote at, Jud- Green Mountain Race Track, as Julia Thibault, assistant reasons: Furthermore, we believe that in- son, rather than at Polk, The well as the Palm Beach Kennel steward; Miss Ceeile Bruneau, We believe that life is a gift volving our young people in non- dividing line between the two dis- Club, Others in the development lady assistant steward; Mrs.