L' 12 CH Union-News, Saturday, September 5, 1992 Fair gets 'since I was 2 years old," said Bob a lifelong Northampton "I probably see more here than at any othper given time of year." 3 going in 'Hamp Fireworks key 175th birthday By MIRIAM SCHULTE and JESSICA CLARKE NORTHAMPTON The Three Fair celebrated its 175th birthday as the oldest continuous county fair in the nation with a special fireworks display last night, but its trademark agricultural exhibits and pari-mutuel racing drew the spectators in as well. A fair official said attendance seemed light during the day yesterday, but O'Brien, fair secretary, said later in the evening that "it's a fairly heavy crowd." He said the fireworks probably drew a lot of spectators. Ed Rutledge of Northampton his daughter Alanna, 3, to the fireworks last night. The fact that this is the fair's 175th year is "pretty neat," said Rutledge, whose favorite thing to do at the fair is look at the agricultural offerings, including the farm museum and animals. "It's kind of neat to see all that stuff and realize that it started as an agricultural fair when this was mainly an agricultural area," the said.
also was drawn last to the Lori Reinke of Easthampton fireworks and brought daughter Jennifer, 3, to watch. Reinke likes the horse racing most, but will bring her daughter to go on rides later in the week. While some things at the fair the same year after year, yesterday said they rarfely tire of the food, rides, games, displays and animals. "I don't think I've missed a year Triplet lambs Greene and his two young sons, 'Robert and Jeff, were visiting the Baby Barnyard, an exhibit of farm animals and their offspring. Among their favorites was a family of sheep, including an ewe named Mo and her triplet lambs "Enie," "Menie" and "Minie," born However, not everything has 'stayed the same at the oldest continuous agricultural fair in the country.
"I give each kid $5 and they re- Staff photo by David Monar TOPSY-TURVY Tim Copp of Amherst gets turned around inside a gyrbix, an exhibit at the Three County Fair in Northampton. The fair opened yesterday. alize how fast it goes," he said. "It lasted a lot longer when I was a kid." With the hubbub of the racetrack in the background, dozens of children ages 3 to 10 were locked in fierce competition. The Kiddies' Pedal Tractor Pull competition, sponsored by Devon Lane Farm Supply and tractor manufacturer Masse-Ferguson, featured children pedalling toy tractors pulling a sled loaded with bricks.
Amy Parsons of Hadley, winner of the 4-year-old division, said yesterday afternoon that she already has a spot picked out on her bureau for her new trophy. "See," Parsons said, proudly displaying the small statue, "now I have two trophies." Parsons won the 3-year-old division last year. This year she pulled six cement paving stones in the finals to nudge out Brian Keim of Long Island, N.Y., for the title. Parsons had no trouble explaining why she likes being in the event and her secret to success. "I like doing this stuff so I can get strong," Parsons said.
"You put your feet on the pedals and you pull as hard as you can." About 6,000 people attended the fair yesterday, which was an increase over the first day of the fair last year, according to a fair official. O'Brien said the first Friday of the fair each year generally has a smaller attendance than other days. He said fair officials expect attendance to increase today, tomorrow and Monday. $462,000 wagered The amount wagered on horse racing yesterday was $461,815, about $17,000 less than the first day of the fair last year, according to fair officials. The nine-day fair continues today, starting with a youth dairy goat show at 10 a.m.
Other special events today include a bee beard demonstration at the Drawing Ring and a craft show in the Arena. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Children under 7 are admitted free. Chicopee adds to kindergarten as student numbers increase By TED LaBORDE CHICOPEE A larger than expected enrollment of kindergarten students this week forced School Department to create an additional class at the Szetela Childhood Center on Macek "Drive. Assistant Superintendent of 'Schools Barbara A.
Cove said kin'dergarten enrollment is at 483, up from the 476 reported on 3, "This is not 'a final enrollament for kindergarten. Additional youngsters come in for a few days after the start of the school year," Cove said. Enrollment systemwide at the start of the 1992-93 school year 6,721, but preschool students are not due to report to classes 'until Tuesday. Systemwide enroll'ment 1, 1991 was 7,072 'and school officials are predicting la slight increase from that figure. One kindergarten class at the Szetela School was relocated before the start of school because of projections of a decrease in that age group population, Cove said.
"But, for an example we had anticipated only 50 kindergarten students would arrive at the Belcher School and on Thursday 75 were there. It is difficult to forecast on kindergarten enrollment," she said. 24 kindergarten classes As a result, the School Department has a total of 24 kindergarten classes throughout the city. A breakdown of the classes shows three each at Chapin, Barry and Belcher; four at Bowie; two each at Lambert-Lavoie, Stefanik, Striber and Szetela; and one at Bowe. There is also one special needs kindergarten class at Striber and one bilingual group at Szetela, Cove said.
Despite the need for the additional kindergarten class, the opening of schools for the new year created few, if any problems for the for school officials. Superintendent of Schools Herbert H. Curry said "there were the usual minor problems like late buses, but overall the opening was very smooth, one of the smoothest running opening days we have seen. "Staff and students worked well together. It was like there had been here for several weeks already," Curry said.
Bellamy Middle School began its first full year under its new accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The accreditation is similar to that earned at the high school level. and 8 students reported to classes together on Wednesday, the first dual reporting on opening day since the school opened in 1970. Also for the first time, students were given official school handbooks which were published during the summer recess. The handbooks outline the purpose of the school, qualifications for academic achievement, school calendar, explanation of programs and activities, dress and discipline codes.
Also, Bellamy students were give assignment notebooks to assist in recording their class schedules, notes, and homework assignments. Principal Julie Leonard said yesterday enrollment at the middle school is 997, an increase from the 948 that attended the school during the 1991-91 school year. Pair held in alleged Holyoke drug buy NORTHAMPTON Two Brattleboro women were charged yesterday in Hampshire County Superior Court with possessing 55 vials of crack and intending to sell it. Denise A. Cansler, 36, and Christina Poupart, 30, were held on $10,000 cash or surety bail after pleas of innocent were entered for them on one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of heroin.
Crack is a rock form of cocaine. Cansler and Poupart were arrested Aug. 6 on Interstate 91 in Bernardston. The charges were handed up by a Franklin County grand jury but Chicopee, Ludlow officials support Ashe's jail bus plan By ELSIE OSTERMAN LUDLOW State Reps. Joseph F.
Wagner, D-Chicopee, and Thomas M. Petrolati, D-Ludlow, said yesterday they will pledge. their support to Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe for public safety transportation measures he is planning for the new Hampden County Jail here. The two representatives met with Ashe at the Statehouse recently because they were concerned about the secure transportation of inmates through the city of Chicopee. "In planning for the new jail we have been considering the possibility of our providing transportation for pre-release inmates," Rick McCarthy, public information officer for the sheriff's office, said yesterday.
"In the past, inmates have been able to walk to public transportation, but that won't be true at the new facility. Since the department owns vans, we are considering using them," he added. Informal agreement, Wagner said he requested the meeting because inmates had been using public transportation from the York Street facility to work programs in Chicopee. Ludlow officials had similar concerns about visitors to the jail as well as inmates on work programs. On Thursday, they worked out an informal agreement with a Pioneer Valley Transit Authority committee to provide express bus service between Springfield and the new jail.
The proposed route for that service would follow Chestnut Street in Springfield, Interstate 291, Burnett Road in Chicopee and Holyoke Street, West Street and Randall Road in Ludlow. Along with Ludlow officials, Peto had asked the PVTA come up with express service to and from the jail, saying he would "fight any proposal that includes stops in the town of Ludlow." "My primary concern is for the safety of Chicopee residents," Wagner said. "It is important that the people of Chicopee are reascov- that Sheriff Ashe has all bases in planning the opening of the new facility." Petrolati added that "Mike Ashe has always placed public safety as his highest priority and I am satisfied with the sheriff's transportation network." The two representatives said they will maintain close contact with the sheriff's department and continue to advocate for strong public safety programs. 1 Civic Center trustees complain about slow pace of roofing work By JOHN O'CONNELL SPRINGFIELD Four months after work began, a new roof for the Civic Center is not finished and managers and trustees of the city-owned building are worried that raindrops could be falling on a concert coming soon. "We are not happy with the schedule," Civic Center Commissioner Paul M.
Stelzer said yesterday. "There are events coming up, and they have had all summer to do this." Stelzer said he and other city trustees will send a letter to Mayor Robert T. Markel complaining about the pace work by Titan Roofing Inc. of Chicopee, which is being paid more than $400,000 to replace the building's 20-year-old roof. The trustees heard a complaint earlier this week from Michael J.
Graney, who manages the building for the private partnership Centre Management-Professional Facilities Management. "We are getting close to the edge," Graney told trustees, pointing out that the building starts to make ice next week for the Springfield Indians hockey team and a concert by the rock group B-52s is scheduled for Sept. 15. Stelzer said Public Buildings Superintendent Jack Teague has pressured Titan to finish the last of its work, cutting 12 holes for a future ventilation system, and he expects that work to be done next week. September 1st finish But Stelzer added that he had expected the job to be complete by Sept.
1, and he feels Titan crews were not on site many days this summer when work could have been done. "For whatever reason, they weren't out there," he said. Stelzer is a vice president of Shawmut Bank, and his office at 127 State St. looks out on the Civic Center, he said. Fred Pazmino, project manager for Titan, said the company i replaced the main arena roof during May and June and worked on the exhibition hall and meeting room roofs until two weeks ago.
Insurance bill backed by O'Brien Rep. Shannon P. O'Brien, candidate for the state senate in the District, yesterday announced her support for a bill which would set uniform standards for insurance companies selling long-term care insurance. She said her purpose was "to protect consumers from unethical sales practices and inadequate policy coverage." "This legislation would establish civil monetary penalties of up to $5,000 per violation for sales agents who knowingly make misleading, incomplete or fraudulent comparisons to a consumer to purchase their policy," O'Brien said in a press release. "Once the policy is purchased, this legislation allows the consumer thirty days to review their cov.
crage, and If they are not satisfied they can cancel for a full refund. "Other provisions in this bill include minimum benefit levels, equal treatment for persons with Alzheimer's or any related progressive degenerative disease, limits on premium increases and automatic inflation protection of not less than 5 percent O'Brien sald, "Those living on fixed incomes must spend every dollar wisely. This legislation will protect our elder citizens from the manipulative sales tactics practiced by some unethical Insurance Street Peto to would the that reascov- the Ashe as satisfied said and "We've been working there in one form or another since the beginning of May," Pazmino said. The city had to file a change order in the contract, estimated by Stelzer at $15,000 to $20,000, to redesign the 12 cuts for ventilation. Titan's original bid was $398,700, and another $40,000 was added for the ventilation hole cuts, prior to the redesign.
Leaks caused by unfinished roof work already have cost the Civic Center one of its most popular trade shows, Graney told trustees on Tuesday. Graney said rain fell on exhibitors at the East Coast Gem and Mineral Show on Aug. 14-16 for the third year in a row after the show's organizers had been told the roof was fixed. The Colorado man who organizes and promotes the show later sent the Civic Center a letter saying he was not interested in re- 17 newing an agreement for five. more shows, Graney said.
"We might as well just stop booking trade shows if this stuff doesn't get finished," he told trustees. Show brought $20,000 Graney said the gem show has been at the Civic Center for five years, drawing about 3,000 people every year. The show brings in $20,000 a year for the building and generates more than that for area hotels and other businesses, he said. Stelzer said the leaks in August occurred when Titan crews apparently failed to cover properly an area of the plaza where repairs were under way. The plaza serves as a roof to some meeting rooms in the Civic Center, and rain that weekend leaked in, he said.
Pazmino said he had not heard of any leaks during construction. Rep. Neal claims Walsh's taxes, income don't jibe Continued from Page 11 approximately $24,000, records show. "It appears that someone with Mrs. Walsh's net worth ought to be paying a lot more tax if they are paying their fair share," Phelps said.
"It is inconceivable that Mrs. Walsh paid such a small amount of federal taxes when her net worth is $1.7 million." Neal said: "I'm astounded that someone who's talked of special privileges in this campaign could only pay $1,200 a year in federal taxes. "This is incomplete disclosure," the two-term incumbent said. "We ought to have an itemized idea of what and how deductions were taken and what tax breaks the wealthy get." In response, Walsh said she and her husband have received deductions for charitable donations, a figure she placed at $17,000 total for the last three years, and for declaring seven children. "I'm surprised they let this guy (Neal) sit on the House Banking Committee when he doesn't know the difference between income and assets," Walsh said.
"Everybody knows you pay income tax on income, not on assets." Neal, Walsh and Platten are battling toward the Sept. 15 Democratic primary, with the winner to face Ravosa and independent Thomas Sheehan on Nov. 3. TUESDAY: Chicken nuggets with sauce, french fries, seaTHE SCHOOL BOARD soned peas, bread and butter, chocolate pudding WEDNESDAY: Mexican tacos with lettuce, tomato and grated cheese, buttered corn, crunchy cookie Chicopee er with THURSDAY: lettuce and Cold cut tomato, grind- carElementary schools rot sticks, chips, fruit co*cktail MONDAY: Holiday. FRIDAY: Pepperoni pizza, TUESDAY: Cheeseburg spe- garden salad, spice cake cial, fries, carrots, sherbet cup.
Alternate entree this week: WEDNESDAY: Choice of cheese sandwich taco or grilled cheese, corn, fresh fruit salad. South cheese pizza or hot Juice, dog, choice spinach of MONDAY: THURSDAY: Hadley Holiday. salad, gelatin. TUESDAY: Pepperoni pizza, FRIDAY: Baked lasagna, sal- garden salad, fruit, milk. ad, trail mix.
WEDNESDAY: No school. Bellamy, high schools THURSDAY: American chop MONDAY: Holiday. suey, green beans, fruited gelTUESDAY: Hamburger, atin, bread and butter, milk. fries, carrots, sherbet cup. FRIDAY: Oven-fried fish WEDNESDAY: Tacos, Mexi- sandwich, baked beans, cole cali corn, mixed fruit.
slaw, peaches and cream, milk. THURSDAY: Juice, cheese pizza, spinach salad, gelatin. Granby FRIDAY: Baked lasagna, sal- MONDAY: Holiday. ad, assorted fruit. TUESDAY: Pork cutlet, mashed potatoes with gravy, Breakfast corn fruit, milk.
niblets, bread Alternative: and Fluffer- butter, Bellamy, elementary nutter. MONDAY: Holiday. pies, TUESDAY: blueberry Juice, muffin, Rice milk. Kris- with meat sauce, garlic bread, WEDNESDAY: Spaghetti vegetable, fruit, milk. AlternaWEDNESDAY: Juice, tive: Bologna and cheese sandscrambled egg with muffin, wich.
Danish, milk. THURSDAY: Juice, sausage THURSDAY: Banana, Honey patty, hash brown patty, waffle Graham cercal, Danish, milk. or French toast with syrup, FRIDAY: Juice, assorted fruit, milk. Alternative: Peanut reals, bran muffin, milk. butter and jelly sandwich.
FRIDAY: Egg and cheese on Holyoke puffs, muffin, fruit, cheese milk. cubes, Alternative: potato MONDAY: Holiday. Fluffernutter. 1' five. stop stuff trustees.
has five in for an that the and a for guy on are the women were arraigned here because no judge is sitting this month in Franklin County Superior Court. Cansler tipped police Joseph Quinlan, assistant Northwestern district attorney, said Cansler had been cooperating with Vermont state police in an investigation of Poupart and had told police the time on Aug. 6 that the two women planned to leave Brattleboro to make a drug buy in Holyoke. The women were observed leav. ing earlier than that, however, and police followed them to the Bridge Street area of Holyoke, Quinlan said.
After monitoring their activity in Holyoke, the Vermont state police notified Massachusetts state police, who arrested the women. on I-91, he added. After a search by a state police dog, 55 vials of crack were found, Quinlan said, as well as a bag heroin on Cansler and a bag of heroin near Poupart. The women bought the crack for $5 a vial and were selling it for $30 a vial in Brattleboro, Quinlan said. Robert J.
Bray represented Poupart. Victor Gagnon, of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, handled Cansler's raignment. Judge John F. Morlarty continued both cases until Sept. 24..
