Property of the Watertown Historical Society watertownhistoricalsociety.org XTimee Timely Coverage Of News In The Fastest Growing Community In Lilchfield County Vol. 43 No. 4 SUBSCRIPTION PRICI- SI2.00 I'i:R YI-AR Cur. Rl. PS. PRICE 30 CENTS Jan. 28, 1988 Scholarship Pageant Saturday At High School New Housing Units Sixteen area young women will compete for the title of 1988 Miss Greater Watertown at the annual Indicated Growth In scholarship pageant Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the Watertown High School auditorium, 324 French St. Sponsored by the Oakville- Community For '87 Watertown Chapter of the Italian- American UNICO Club, the pag- Watertown continued on a steady John F. Papandrea said a pre- eant will feature a $1,500 First-place growth pace. liminary analysis of reports filed by scholarship award in addition to the Town Compared According to statistics released local building officials indicates designation as official town hostess this month by the state Department 26,671 permits were issued for new for 1988. Favorably With of Housing, Watertown reported housing units statewide in 1987. The contestanls, who will per- 229 units built last year, ranking it This represents a decrease of 1.529 form a variety of singing, dancing, Rest Of State third in Litchfield County behind units—or 5.4 percent—from the gymnastics, and instrumental acts Torrington's 453 new units, and 28.200 units authorized in 1986. as their talent presentations, are: 3rd Highest In County New Milford's 255. However, the 1987 total ranks se- No. I, Heather Bartone, 17. of Overall, Watertown ranked 33rd cond highest, surpassed only by the Watertown: No. 2, Katherine Di- on the state's list. Last was Ston- 1986 figure. Primio. 26. of Oakville; No. 3. Despite a decline in the state in ington Borough in the southeast •"Although there was a decline in Kimberly Groody. 21. of Water- the number of authorized housing comer, which reported no new permit activity during 1987. this town; No. 4, Kellie Barber. 18. of units during 1987 as opposed to the units. does not necessarily indicate that Woodbury; No. 5. Cathy Seeley, 20, Linda Piscopo year before, housing construction in State Housing Commissioner the housing market in Connecticut of Watertown: and No. 6, Michelle 1987 Pageant Queen is on the downswing." Mr. Papan- Desjardins. 22, of Bristol. Keating. 22, of Woodbury; No. 14, drea said. "What is esential to Also: No. 7. Karla Dipplehofer. Gayle Antonio, 20, of Watertown; remember is that the preceding year 20. of Watertown; No. 8, Cher No. 15, Julie Filippone, 21, of was one of record permit activity. Esposito. 17, of Watertown; No. 9. Oakville: and No. 16, Diane Orsini, "A portion of this year's decline Jessica Grilley. 17, of Watertown; 18, of Watertown. can be attributed to the market ad- No. 10. Melissa Baker, 17, of Water- The overall pageant includes justing itself, and other factors such bury; and No. II. Kelley Hughson. swimsuit, evening gown, talent, and as the Tax Reform Act. rising mor- 19, of Watertown. interview portions which are judg- tgage interest rates, and the con- Also: No. 12. Shelley Daddona, tinued high cost of land throughout .17. of Oakville; No. 13. Carolyn (Continued on page 12) the state." he added. Litchfield County ranked fifth among the seven counties in new St. Mary Magdalen Second units, checking in coincidentally at 1,987 for 1987. Hartford County was first with 6.578 units, while Marking Period Honor Roll Windham County was last at 1,169. The following students were dana. Jeremy Breen. and Gina For 1986, Litchfield County had named to the second marking Biello (first). reported 2.007 new units overall, period Honor Roll at St. Mary about I percent more than last year. Magdalen School in Oakville. ac- Other honors: Most Improved— Christopher Giuditta (eighth), Watertown was one of only five cording to Principal Julie Pion. communities in (he county that had Highest Honors: Kathryn Cook Gerara Lafreniere (sixth), Stephen Chepulis (third). Michael Fortin at least 100 or more new units (eighth grade); and Carolyn Thar- authorized last year. Behind Torr- son and Regina Mills (sixth). (second), and Chantel Poynton (first). ington. New Milford, and Water- First Honors: Jennifer Trzaski town come Plymouth with 150 (third); John Hirbour (second); and Perfect Attendance—Richard units, and Winchester with 143. Rebecca Magnanimo (first). Sarandrea (eighth); Richard Razza Arcawise. Bethlehem had 22, Second Honors: Jaimi Phelan, and Matthew Radzunas (seventh); Morris 21, Litchfield 58, Thom- Melissa Mancini, and Tracy Cates Jennifer Trzaski, Joanne Mumley. aston 42, Washington 57, and (eighth); Richard Razza, Diana James Latimer, Jessica Irizarry, Woodbury 47. In adjacent New Polletta, Matthew Boucher.- and James Ciarleglio, and Melissa Haven County, Southbury had 85. Colleen Bender (seventh); James Bartley (third); John Scharrett, Wolcott 95, and Naugatuck 214. Murdica. Joanne Mumley. Michelle Steven Murdica, John Moynihan, For the third consecutive year, McCIeary. and Kristen Brickel John Hirbour, Michael Fortin, Ryan Mr. Papandrea noted. Waterbury (third); John Scharrett, Sean Rear- Downey, and Marissa Calabrese (New Haven County) led all permit don. Steven Murdica, and Summer (second); and Kristin Hunder. issuing places in the state with a THE OLDEST CHARTER MEMBER of the Watertown Chapter No. Julian (second); and Danielle Pcr- Justin Hogan. Maria Eberle, and preliminary total of 1,463 new units 548, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Mrs. Catherine rin. Joseph Perrelli, Amanda Gior- Irene Doran (first). authorized. "This seems to indicate McGough, 91. was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Presi- that there remains a strong interest dent Mary Cofrancesco at the January chapter meeting. Mrs. McGough in the Naugatuck Valley region in Open Forum To has been active in civic areas, with 25 years as a volunteer with the terms of economic expansion and Inside Red Cross bloodmobiles. and more than 60 years service to St. John's industrial growth," he said. Discuss Teen School—and still remains in the swing of things with AARP work. The Bethlehem News H chapter is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 1988 with monthly pro- Middletown ranked second in Births 13 Ideas, Site grams. (McGough Family Photo) (Continued on page 13) Calendars 5 & 10 An open forum meeting on possi- Churches 8 & 9 ble ways to constructively deal with Classifieds 22 & 23 teenagers' free time in the com- Friends' 'Literature'Series Dining Out 16 & 17 munity has been scheduled by the A four-lecture series on "Literature" will be held Jamie McLaughlirj 21 Department of Human Services. —Feb. 16: Professor Edward-David Ruiz of the Post throughout February at the Watertown Library. 470 College English Department will discuss "A First Look Legal Notices 23 Department Director Donald Main St., sponsored by the Friends of the Watertown Into Japanese Literature." based on Snow Country, by Marie Galbraith 7 Stepanek said the session has been Library. Kawabta, which currently is available at the library. Music Notes 16 set for Friday, Feb. 12. at 6:30 p.m. The proposed schedule is as follows: —Feb. 23: Professor Thomas Kmetzo. long-time Newsbeat Briefs., 9 in the Friends Gallery of the Water- —Feb. 2: Carol Ann Brown, an English teacher at teacher of American Literature at Matlatuck Communi- Obituaries • 4 town Library. 470 Main St. It is Personals 17 Walertown High School for the past seven years, will ty College, will speak on "Russia, View from Within" open to youngsters, teens, and speak on "Cultural Literacy" based on a new book by and discuss whether or not Russia's current literature Realty News 6 parents. Servicemen 17 E.D. Hirsh on the controversial subject of current could compare with its classics of the 19th and early Mr. Stepanek said interest again education. 20th century. Showcase Of Homes 21 has surfaced in trying to find a safe, Sports 18, 19 & 20 —Feb. 9: Kathy Culkin, on the staff at Swift Junior The lectures will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the Friends suitable place for teens to gather in High School, will speak on John Steinbeck as a basis Gallery. Members and the public are invited to bring (Continued on page 13) for her talk entitled "The American Dream." a sandwich; coffee, tea and cookies will be served. Page 2 Town Times (Watertown, Conn.) Jan. 28, 1988 PropertySpeake ofr Irvin g Jthe. Stolberg. Watertownsibility for hearing those bill s Historicalto a 42,000-squarc-foot academic SocietyThe class will meet on six con- Rep. Galbraith The Pfanning and Development designed to provide affordable complex " secutive Wednesdays, from 7:15 to Committee is responsible for the housing throughout the state." The magazine's "Renaissance" 9:15 p.m. each day. starting March Appointed To regulation of zoning statutes, hous- Rep. Galbraith is serving her first awards were based on "innovation, 2 in the Watertown Library, 470 watertownhistoricalsociety.orging legislation, and other matters term and represents Thomaston, good design and superior craft- Main St. P&D Committee relating to local governments. Plymouth, and part of Watertown in smanship." C.H. Nickerson and Mr. Gambone will go over po- State Rep. Marie Galbraith (D- "In light of ail the housing the Polk School area. She also Sons of Torrington were the con- litical aspects, along with the Thomaston) of the 76th District legislation before the General serves on the General Assembly's tractors, while the architect was social, financial, and personal im- recently was appointed to the Plan- Assembly," said Mrs. Galbraith. Education and Finance Commit- Herbert S. Newman Associates of pacts. A review of key battles such ning and Development Committee "the Planning and Development tees. New Haven. as Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and of the General Assembly by House Committee will have a large respon- Taft will be undergoing further Sherman's march through the South Taft Receives building and renovation as it will provide additional insight.