Property of the Watertown Historical Society 00110 UIHISTO WTN. HISTORICAL SOCIETY CR-8 watertownhistoricalsociety.org22 DEFOREST STREET UATERTOWN CT 06795 tftmee Timely Coverage Of News In The Fastest Growing Community In Litchfield County Vol. 44 No. 30 SUBSCRIPTION PRICE SI4.00 PF.R YRAR Car. Rt. P.S. PRICE 35 CENTS July 27, 1989 c Weary Workers Get Checks, 1 Day Off regular shifts, and not overtime. In a memo to the Council, Mr. Manager Plugs The men also received a letter Middaugh said the administration saying they could not be paid until was aware many town employees Break For Those the public approved funding "worked extremely hard over a Monday night to cover storm prolonged period of time" beyond Going Above Call expenses. the normal call of duty to activi- About 60 residents, including ties associated with storm cleanup. Town employees who put in many from the highway depart- more than 10 hours beyond their The day off, he said, would be ment, approved a $300,000 ap- one means of recognizing the ef- normal work week for storm-re- propriation during a town meet- lated activities have been given a fort, and a show of appreciation ing vote in the high school library. for cleanup work taking time away day off following action Monday The sum is expected to be totally A CHANGING OF THE GUARD—William E. Simmons, center, night by the Town Council. from their own families. publisher of Town Times, Inc., with R. Scudder Smith, president of The reimbursed by federal and state Mr. Middaugh suggested that The move, approved by the funding. Bee Publishing Company, Inc., and Deborah B. Donnelly, newly governing body after being rec- (Continued on page 10) appointed editor of the Town Times. (Curtiss Clark Photo) ommended by Town Manager Robert Middaugh, principally will affect workers in the Public Works Bee Publishing Co. Buys Department and Police Depart- ment, although many more town Town's Weekly Newspaper employees will benefit as well. The announcement was made this week by William E. Simmons, "I'm sure the reaction will be puWisherof Town Times, Inc., that Town Times has been sold to the Bee more than favorable from the Publishing Company, Inc., in Newtown. men," said James Robinson, su- "I am very happy with the sale," Mr. Simmons said, adding that "I perintendent of maintenance and know the new owners will continue on in the same tradition and operations for public works, who concentration on Watertown and Oakville issues as we have. It is a good early Tuesday afternoon said he move for everyone concerned." had not been informed yet of the R. Scudder Smith, president of the Bee Publishing Company, Inc., Council's action. "This is the first said that "we are pleased to add Town Times to our family of newspa- I've heard of it. pers, and we intend to continue with the same dedication as Bill "They'll appreciate it, but what Simmons has shown over the past 30 years." they really were concerned about Mr. Simmons has owned the paper for the past 28 years and has held was getting paid." every title and performed every duty since. In 1980 he became pub- He said workers received over- lisher only in title, and his present editor, Thomas Valuckas, will time pay for extra hours put in fol- continue on as managing editor. lowing the severe storm July 10 MAKING A STRONG INDICTMENT against the town administra- tion for delayed overtime pay for highway department workers was Deborah B. Donnelly comes to the Town Times as editor after five on Tuesday at noontime. Police James Martin, standing at podium, department union president and years as managing editor of The Litchfield Enquirer, where she was who worked overtime also were dispatcher. Mr. Martin chided the town over the issue at Monday responsible for the production of the entire paper. Prior to that lime she paid. night's Town Council meeting. Council members seen in background, served as editorial writer for the Greenwich Times, and has contributed The delayed paychecks became left to right, are Jan Wivestad, Rosalie Loughran, and Eric Palladino. articles to The New York Times, The Hartford Couranl, Woman's a testy issue between the storm (Valuckas Photo) World, Executive Magaiine, and The Westport News. crews and police and Town Man- ager Middaugh, whose office was She will assume her duties on Monday, July 31. on DOT's suggested list of sur- The Bee Publishing Company, Inc., was established in 1877 and descended upon by two dozen DOT Concludes angry highway workers last Thurs- veillance study sites, and will be currently publishes three newspapers: The Newtown Bee, Antiques and funded entirely through state and The Arts Weekly, and The Weekly Star. day when they discovered their Light Warranted pay contained only wages for federal monies. Watertown will For Intersection be responsible for electricity The state DepartmentofTraris- needed to operate the signal, with • :..,-.-•: Bigger Fine For Certain portation has announced it will DOT owning and maintaining the 12 install a traffic signal at the Buck- signal. Bethlehem News... *.& 0 Violators Okay For Some ingham Street intersection with Mr. D'Addabbo said the Of- Two public hearings Monday Moskaluk, Park Road, who advo- Sunnyside Avenue and Ball Farm fice of Traffic Engineering inves- night on raising building permit cated a fine of $85 for such a Road in Oakville. However, the (Continued on page 11) C Bridge&uk. ..".-.".C light is not expected to go up be- Calendar^:, 7 fees and violation costs for traffic parking misdemeanor. and parking fines generated little Police Chief Jack Carroll said fore the 1990 construction season. Senior Citizen public reaction, but what debate Watertown's new fine of $15 still Frank M. D'Addabbo Sr., P.E., ClawfadLi •'•-•^•:- did occur pitted some old-timers would be well below the $85 as- director of traffic engineering for Spelling Bee u., i, Oir against each other. sessed by Waterbury, and gener- the DOT'S Bureau of Highways, A local spelling bee for com- Lettii!Notices The Council will consider the ally is "way below" other commu- recently informed Police Chief munity senior citizens aged 60 or comments when it deliberates es- nities. The new fines, plus a boost Jack Carroll a state investigation over will take placeThursday,Aug. tablishing new ordinances at its from $2 to $8 for parking viola- found the intersection traffic vol- 31, at the Cercemaggiore Club on Music Notts, Monday, Aug. 7 regular meeting. tions, would "justaboutpay costs," umes satisfy rural requirements Sylvan Lake Road. The contest it The focus of attention in the the chief noted. for signalization. will be held after a picnic. Newsbeat I-, high school library Monday turned George McCleary, Guern- Mr. D'Addabbo noted the lat- Winners will advance to the ,-,; . .:•,:.. out to be raising the fine for a seytownRoad, said folks shouldn't est available accident experience regional finals, and from there be 1 report, covering Oct. 1, 1985 to honored on Governor's Day OCL Personal !. 6&21 parking violation to $15, from the compare Watertown to big cities current $3 to $6 charge. Specifi- like New York or Chicago, and the Sept. 30,1988, revealed 20 colli- 17 if they prevail, receiving a Place Namt 19 cally, some thought the commen- $15 fine would keep the town sions occurred that might have plaque and cash prize. Servicemen's Cort er 14 surate charge for illegally parking favorably within its own budget. been prevented by a traffic light Participants must sign up at the Showcase. in a handicap zone was too low. Jesse Monroe, a developer and Twelve of the collisions took place Falls Avenue senior center in Sports . lf>JL17 "A handicap person is a person speculator from Woodbury Road, during a consecutive 12-month Oakville, where more details are period, he continued. 'Ya>r<rt\>K-<nts giventherightto park there for his sided with Mr. Moskaluk, while available. Call 274-5411, ext. 424 medical needs," argued William (Continued on page 11) The signal has been included for more information. Page 2 TowPropertyn Times (Watertown, Conn. of) July 27the, 1989 Watertown Historical Society Aug. 4, at Coe Memorial Park in the Torrington Parks and Recrea- Torrington Arts downtown Torrington. tion Commission. watertownhistoricalsociety.orgThe event is being sponsored There is no charge for admis- Fest Beginning by the Northwest Connecticut As- sion to the various programs. The The 27th annual Torrington sociation for the Arts, the Torring- outdoor arts and crafts exhibit and Arts Festival is scheduled for ton Artists Association, UNICO sale will lake place Sunday from Sunday, July 30, through Friday, National/Torrington Chapter, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact tr* Jim Fritch at 489-7180. ^Designer's Source * Morris Bluegrass The ninth annual Morris Blue- Complete Decorating Service grass Festival, sponsored by the Scholarship Foundation of Mor- for ris, will be held Sunday, Aug. 13, Residential and Business Interiors from 12 noon until dusk at the juncture of Routes 109 and 61 in (consultations by appointment) Morris. "You'll like the Difference" More than $2,500 in prize money will be given away for pickin" 'n' fiddlin' contests and ENJOYING A GAME at the Heminway Park School playground the Battle of the B luegrass Bands. recently were Peggy Bracken, Kathleen Liu, Nefertin' Smith, and Wally Call 567-9154 for further in- Bracket!, left to right (L. Lamphier-Fontano Photo) formation. Watettawnitl HEMINWAY PLACE 485 MAIN STREET WATERTOWN PHONE274-2714 Monday-Wednesday & Saturday 8-6 Thursday & Friday 8-8 Sunday 8-2 All USDA Choice Meat Guaranteed PRICES EFFECTIVE JULY 26 thro AUGUST 1 RIGHT RESERVED TO UMIT QUANTITIES.