Property of the Watertown Historical Society watertownhistoricalsociety.org TTowm Timely Coverage Of News In The Fastest Growing Community In Litchfield County Vol. 38 No. 51 SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $ 12,00 PER YEAR Car. Rt, P.S. PRICE 30 CENTS December 22,1983 Christmas Joy Itself A Gift magic brings families together, spirit will continue right on Churches, Fellowships Prepare For Celebration inspires a spirit of generosity and through the season toward New At the heart of the Christmas ary music and the booming of them as, having presented their giving, and fills the heart with a Year's Day and beyond. season is the spirit of giving. It bells. offerings, they gazed upon the heady Hghtheartedness long re- Family Services Is a spirit embodied by Jesus In some small way, by giving infant Savior, Is recreated every membered from one's childhood. At the Firast Congregational Christ, one which reasserts itself meaningful gifts to those we Christmas in a myriad of ways-- For it is in childhood that the Church, 40 DeForest St., a in many customs, traditions and love--and by making donations to and is felt as freshly and strongly magic of the yuletide Is felt most Christmas Eve Family Candle, stories associated with the holi- those we do not even know,,, in 1983 as It was in the year of keenly. The air quivers with ex- light Service will take place at 5 day which celebrates the Nativi- the poor, the hungry, and the Christ's birth. It's felt as strong- eitement and the promise of good p.m., with the Youth Choirs ty of He who gave His life for all Ionely.-we echo faintly His great ly in the heartland of America as things to come. singing. The II p.m. Candlelight mankind, gift. it was in the manger in Bethle- Churches and fellowships will Service will spotlight the Senior Christians throughout the We echo also the Three Magi, hem, lit by the radiance of the great the coming holy day Satur» Choir, and the melodious music community will join with their who traveled countless miles to Magi's guiding star. day, Dec, 24, with candlelight of the Handbell Choir, brethren around the world this bestow upon Him tokens of their The magic of Christmas is services in Watertown and Oak- The church notes the services weekend in celebrating Christ- wonder and their love; gold, happily contagious, transforming ville, followed by joyous celebra. will not bo identical, and nursery mas through special church ser- frankincense, and myrrh. the world in an atmosphere of tions Christmas Day Sunday, care will be provided for the vices, highlighted by extraordin- The great emotion stirred in brotherhood and anticipation. Its Dec 25. Of course, the holiday (Continued on page 40) Sales for everything from yes, Cabbage Patch dolls and Chic School Department Cited jeans to Christmas lights, stereo headphones, and computers are For Vocational Advances up at Watertown and Oakville re- tail stores during the 1983 holi- The Watertown school system grant, to be applied to a student day season, as compared with jast week received a state award automotive project. last year's sales, store managers for its "Promising Practices" The "Promising Practices" report. program in the career-vocational grant of 51,000 will be used In Drug City General Manflger category, through School Super- part to underwrite "our teachers Art Martin said, "Everything is intendent Dr. Richard C. Brlggs, traveling around the state, on re- good this year, we're just up all Watertown's Special Education quest," Mrs. Hackett said, "to the way around." Managers at Services Director Betsy Haekett help other school systems repli- Marshall's, K-Mart, Radio announced. cate the Watertown model." It Shack, The Knothole, and P.O. Also awarded for his work at also will aid in curriculum devel- Drug Store all reported an "ex- Watertown High School was Vo- opment, said Assistant School cellent" increase in sales. cational Education Director Fred Superintendent Dr. Phillip Pelo- si, Other stores said sales have L. Wheeler, Through another been "about the same" but sten- program, "Jobs for Connecticut Others honored at the special dy. Managers at March's Phar- Youth," Mr. Wheeler and the presentation at Judson School macy, The Westerner, Joey's high school will receive a $5,000 (Continued on page 2) Army/Navy and Best Foot For- ward said the usual seasonal sel- lers are being bought, and a Winter Recreation Slate boost from last minute shoppers is still to come. Has Variety Of Programs Richard Fournier of the furni- ture store, The Knothole, initial- ANTICIPATION IS HIGH already at the residence of Mr. and Mrs, The winter schedule for Parks Youth Sewing for Grades 4 to ly thought the last two years' Paul Amaral, 13 Meadow Lane, where this gathering of youngsters is and Recreation Department act- 8, Swift, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (fee sales were about the same, but making sure the decorations are just right for Santa's visit on Saturday ivities will run from Tuesday, and preregistration), Jan. 3; discovered when checking his night. They will be celebrating with others in the community the birth Jan, 3, through Friday, Feb. 17, Swimnastics ages 16 and up, books that sales for him are actu- of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem a long time ago, and all the other holiday the department has announced, high school's Frank M. Reinhold ally up by 20 percent. fun and festivities. Seated left to right are Ryan Amaral, 2, cousin Many of the programs are Pool, 7:15 to 8 p.m. (fee and pre- The steady flow of purchases Dustin Bytautas, 8 months, and Erin Amaral, 6, The decorator stand- free, while others carry a fee. registration), Jan. 3; Adult Open apparently misled him some- ing at left is Jocelyn Amaral, 5, while her cousin Amber Austin, 5, Fre-registration also is involved Swim, Reinhold pool, 8 to 9 p.m. what, Mr. Fournier attributed takes care of the right side, (Valuckas Photo) with some of the courses, (free), Jan. 3; Men's Volleyball, the steadiness of sales to good The proposed day by day line- Swift, 7 to 9 p.m. (free), Jan. 3; weather. up Is as follows: Duplicate Bridge Club, Water- "We're having to keep most of Office Closings Listed Sundays town Library, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. our registers open during the day The town municipal offices will p.m, Friday, and reopen Wed- Men's Basketball League, (weekly fee), Jan, 3. and night," Marshall's Area close for the Christmas holiday nesday, Dec, 28, at 8:30 a.m. Swift junior High, 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays Manager Dennis Frosolone said. around mid-afternoon today Schools will be off all next week (team entry), already underway; No department activities slat- Normally at this time, Marshall's (Thursday), and reopen at 9 a.m. following a single-session day Family Open Gym, Swift, 1 to ed. shoppers keep clerks busy main- on Tuesday, Dec. 27, The Falls Friday. 3 p.m. (free), begins Jan. 8. Thursdays ly during evening hours, he said. Avenue senior center also will be The town and BoarH offices Mondays Quilting Class for Grades 7 to At K-Mart, Assistant Manager closed Friday through Monday. will close after normal working Youth Karate, Swift, 6 to 8 12, Swift, 3 to 5 p.m. (fee and re-' Greg Atwood has noticed pur- The Board of Education offices hours Friday, Dee. 30, and re- p.m. (fee and preregistration), gistrotion), Jan. 5; WH1 Course, chases of "a lot of higher ticket in the Munson House, 10-12 De- open Tuesday, Jan. 3, Jan. 9. Reinhold pool, 6 to 9 p.m, (fee items." Sale prices, he said, Forest St., will shut down at 4:30 (Continued on page 40) Tuesdays (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 40) Page 2 TowPropertyn Times (Watertown, Conn. of) Dec the, 22,1983 Watertown Historical Society Winter Recreation Grades 4 to 6 (preregistration Recreation Department estab- Watertown Library from 7 to 8 ginners; second session, 9 a.m. and fee) Jan. 7; Youth Painting, advanced beginners, 10 a.m. in- (Continued from page 1) lishes minimum and maximum p.m. Swift, Grades 4 to 6, 10 a.m. to enrollment figures. Classes The spies lined up: Jan. 5, termediates and swimmers, 11 and preregistration), J»n. S, 12 noon (preregistration and a.m. nonswimmers, and 12 noon Fridays watertownhistoricalsociety.orgscheduled In Watertown schools "Harn Radios"; Jan. 12, "Stamp fee), Jan. 7; Youth Cooking for will not meet during school vaca- beginners. Community Group Swim, Collecting"- Feb. 2, "Puppetry- Grades 4 to 8, Swift, 10:30 a.m. tions. How To"- Feb. 16, "The Art of Preregistration by Wednes- Relnhold Pool, 6 to 7 p.m. (free, to 12:30 p.m. (preregistration If schools are called off be- day, Dee. 28 Is recommended. call recreation office for reserva- Making Stained Glass"; March and fee), Jan. 7. cause of bad weather, all courses 1, "How to Play Chess." Swimming forms can be picked tions}, Jan, 6; Family Swini, Also: Beginner Magic for held in those schools also are up at the recreation office in Reinhold Pool, 7:10 to 9 p.m. The recreation office and the Grades 4 to 8, Swift, 9 to 11 a.m. called off. Waterbury Chapter of the Amer- the Town Hall Annex, 424 Main (free, adult must accompany (preregistration and fee), Jan. 7; St. Phone 274-5411, exts. 253. youngster), Jan. 6; Indoor Ice Special Programs ican Red Cross are running the Little Ree'ers ages 4 and 5, Weightlifting and body build- Thursday WS1 (water safety in- 255 for all details on the winter Skating, Taft School's Mays Swift, 10.-30 to 11:30 a.m.