Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 105

1 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Thursday, July 21, 1994 4 1' 1 cut Lonnec EAI's financial status now focus of school privatization debate securities in the bank is that good or bad? The school board, city council and mayor had planned to get together for the first time tonight to publicly discuss all of that, but the meeting was canceled Wednesday. City officials decided it was pointless for the council to meet because it does not have a vote on the EAI issue, and members are free to review an independent accountant's report of EAI's finances on their own. "There was no clear purpose to the meeting," said City Manager Saundra Kee Borges. "Is it to review the report? Is it to come up with some sort of plan together? No one really knew." The school board, meanwhile, scheduled meetings Friday and Monday. Board member Ted Carroll, a leader of the six-member majority that favors hiring EAI, said it is possible the board will vote Friday to start negotiating a contract with the company.

A preliminary report by the accounting firm Coopers Lybrand outlines the financial issues confronting the board as it moves closer to making a decision. City officials said they still had not received a copy of the report Wednesday, but in separate interviews, city officials and a Coopers Lybrand representative, who met earlier this week, provided a preview. The good news for EAI supporters is that Coopers Lybrand found nothing in its review of the company's financial statements to deter the city from entering into a contract. One accountant told city offi schools in Maryland and raised $31.2 million in a public, stock offering completed last year. In recent months, EAI's stock has" taken a drubbing following news of a shareholder lawsuit and the com-; pany's failure to win contracts else- where in the country.

But fluctuate ing stock prices should not concern; city officials as they evaluate EAI, said Michael Moe, an analyst with Lehman Brothers in New York. "It really has nothing to do with Please see EAI's, Page D8 i jiiiiiljiw mil i i i i iiii.in.ii. i jj. i ii 7-; By MIKE McINTIRE Courant Staff Writer As Hartford edges closer to deciding whetherto hire Education Alternatives questions are focused on the company's financial ability to manage the city's 32 schools. Does it matter that the Minneapolis-based firm's stock price has pingponged from a high of $48 a share to a low of $9 a share and then into the teens again in recent months? EAI has $42 million in cash and Review backs police Official says no racism in river search By LIZ HALLORAN Courant Staff Writer State police divers were unsuccessful, but did their best in difficult circumstances to recover the body of drowning victim Lydia Benitez, the state's top public safety official said Wednesday.

But as Commissioner Nicholas A. Cioffi was reporting on his review of the dive team's performance, criticism grew over how Bloomfield police handled the July 9 drowning in the Farmington River and the search for the 14-year-old's body: An East Granby couple, pulled off their motorcycle and assaulted the night Lydia's body was found by family friends, said they will sue the police department for failing to control a crowd that had gathered on the river banks July 11. A Bloomfield man filed a police report claiming he was punched twice in the head through his open car window by a young man who was part of the crowd of more than 50. A Granby man said Wednesday police did not do enough to protect motorists, and that they refused to arrest those he identified at the scene as those who vandalized his car and punched the Bloomfield man. In an afternoon press conference Wednesday, Cioffi, who supervises the state police, said the divers "tried their best in an emotionally charged situation.

They had ex-Please see Official, Page D9 4 i I tZ TT iifcIi.fit'",' -g, MM-aM i i Albert Dickson The Hartford Courant East Windsor, was walking the family dogs with his brother, father and a friend when -they decided to cool off in the Powder Hollow section of the river. COOL RUSH Mike Hanrahan, 12, escapes from the heat in the waters of the Scantic River in Enfield Wednesday. Mike, who lives in the Broad Brook section of elected Democratic chairman cials Monday that EAI was in an "outstanding position" financially, but that the company is relatively small and its inexperience in running a school district the size of Hartford's means the city should tread carefully. Sherrie T. Speakman, a Coopers Lybrand partner, described EAI as an "emerging growth" company whose stock price will be more volatile than that of well-grounded businesses.

EAI, which was founded in 1986 and provides management or consulting services to 13 public have the candidates." He asked the state central committee members to pledge to unite behind Larson's endorsed ticket. He blasted John G. Rowland, who is expected to be nominated as the Republican candidate for governor at the GOP's convention Saturday, as too conservative and out of step with Connecticut voters. King, 47, a lawyer with the influential Hartford firm of Updike, Kelly and Spellacy, said he is ready to work with Marcus. Although Marcus has engen- Please see Marcus, Page D9 New Haven on July 16, 1973.

She had been stabbed to death. Two blood types, A and 0, were found at the scene. Serra had type A blood. Chief State's Attorney John Bailey acknowledged Wednesday that his office has applied for an arrest warrant, but he would not identify the suspect. Bailey suggested that an important part of the evidence in the warrant application submitted to Superior Court Judge John J.

Ronan was the result of blood analyses done by Henry Lee, who heads the state police forensic laboratory. "We're using techniques, forensic techniques, which were not available, were not discovered, back in 1973," Bailey said. "And we're very fortunate to have Dr. Lee in our state, because not only did he help us in our case, but he opened other doors for us." Bailey would not comment further. Ronan has not disclosed whether Please see After, Page D9 Center, in Windsor, which receives United Way funding, said he also participates in fund-raising.

"We are not only a recipient, but we like to give back," he said. Jahne said the center has raised money with tag sales and dress-down days, and already has plans in the works for this year. Also announced was the incoming president of United Way, George Bahamonde, who will succeed Dale Gray in October. Marcus re By HILARY WALDMAN Courant Staff Writer Facing a rough election season, state Democrats Wednesday opted to avoid a shake-up at the top of their party and selected Chairman Edward L. Marcus to lead them another two years.

Marcus, who has held the post of Democratic state chairman since January 1992, was re-elected by acclamation after challenger John C. King withdrew from contention. After Marcus was nominated by John Wrabel of Bridgeport, at least a dozen more of the 72 Democratic In his acceptance speech, Marcus, a 67-year-old lawyer from Branford, barely mentioned the chairmanship, instead using his time to ask the state's most active Democrats to unite behind John B. Larson, the party's endorsed candidate for governor. Larson won a majority of delegates at the party's convention last weekend, but is being challenged in a primary by state Comptroller William E.

Curry Jr. "This isn't going to be an easy election but this election is ours to win," Marcus said. "We have the registration, we have the issues, we State Central Committee members gathered for the balloting in Hart-Ford, rose to second his nomination. King, a longtime Marcus rival, waged a strenuous campaign, but said he realized two hours before the 7:30 p.m. election that he did not have the 37 votes needed to win the chairmanship.

He joked later that as one member after another stood to endorse Marcus, he began to worry that some of his supporters were certain to follow. That never happened and when it was over, both King and Marcus claimed the fighting was a thing of the past. Vim Moon 1, WW) New suspect targeted in 21 -year-old killing Father, son put their stamps on space Designs of 2 state artists unveiled by astronaut Restaurant hit by case of hepatitis By FRANK SPENCER-MOLLOV Courant Medical Writer Health officials Wednesday urged recent patrons of a Hartford restaurant to see their doctors because a cook had developed a contagious form of viral hepatitis. People who ate at the Friendly's restaurant at 530 Farmington Ave. between June 26 and July 14 should watch for symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite and jaundice, which can take from two to six weeks to appear, the state Department of Public Health and Addiction Services said.

The department also said that patrons between July 7 and July 14 who ate non-cooked foods such as salads and sandwiches should see their doctor for an immunization against the disease, hepatitis A. An injection of gamma globulin can bolster a per-; son's natural immunity if it is given soon after a person comes in contact with the virus. Hepatitis A can be spread when people who haven't washed their hands after using the toilet touch food. The Friendly's headquartered in Wilbraham, temporarily closed the store Wednesday evening. It Please see Cook's, Page D9 Tom Condon is on special assignment I fell 1 1 uifzrr.xafc---r- By ELLEN NAKASHIMA Courant Staff Writer WASHINGTON Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr.

not only took mankind's first steps on the moon 25 years ago. The Apollo 11 astronauts also took mankind's first postage stamp to the moon a stamp designed by Connecticut artist Paul Calle. Today, a pair of postage stamps designed by Calle and his son, Chris Calle, will be launched nationwide. They commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic moon landing. In Washington Wednesday, the Calles watched proudly as Aldrin helped unveil a reproduction of the new first-class stamp: a picture of Armstrong on the moon carrying the American flag, his hand raised in a salute.

The Earth looms in the background. "When I look at the stamp, I think of the future," said Daniel Goldin, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, standing in front of the Apollo 11 module, on exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum. "Apollo was the starting point," he said, his words transmitted live on NASA cable television to the crew of the space shuttle Columbia. "Apollo was the frontier of the future." 25r.h Anniversary Associated Press 11 A new $9.95 Express Mail stamp shows Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. walking on the moon, with the Apollo 1 1 module in the background.

A 29-cent commemorative stamp was also unveiled Wednesday, the 25th anniversary of the first lunar landing. Both stamps were designed by father and son artists from Connecticut, Paul and Chris Calle. Please see State, Page D9 By EDMUND MAHONY Courant Staff Writer Authorities have targeted a new suspect in the 21-year-old stabbing death of Concetta "Penny" Serra, one of the most notorious unsolved homicides in New Haven and a case which, nearly a decade ago, suffered a major misstep by investigators. The new suspect, according to sources close to the case, is a former New Haven man who, at the time of the stabbing, worked at a downtown restaurant Serra patronized. One of the sources said the suspect, who now lives in Texas, had been arrested for sexual offenses prior to Serra's death.

The suspect also was a patient of the dentist for whom Serra worked as a hygienist; at least one billing envelope bearing the suspect's name was found in Serra's car after her death, the source said. Serra, then 21, was found in the 10th floor stairwell of the Temple Street parking garage in downtown aigns early, August and Septem-er. "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just stand there," said Steven Johnson, this year's pacesetter chairman and vice president of Goodwin, Loomis and Britton a Hartford insurance company. His company will join 39 others in starting off the campaign. Mark S.

Jahne, director of corporate communications for The Rehab United WayCombined Health Appeal announces $23.3 million goal In addition to meeting the financial goal, Wilson said the campaign should be fun, too. Companies raise money through events such as dress-down days, bake sales, road races and bowling. Two goals for this year include structuring the campaign to move forward, and to concentrate on children and youth issues, Wilson said. To get a head start on fund-raising before the campaign officially kicks off on Sept. 13, 40 pacesetter companies will begin their cam- By STACY M.

POWELL Courant Staff Writer EAST WINDSOR On a hot and hazy summer day, Donald Wilson, 1994 campaign chairman for the United WayCombined Health Appeal Community Campaign, announced a fund-raising goal of $23.3 million Wednesday at the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Representatives of Hartford-area companies and nonprofit organizations, some sitting under umbrellas and some on the grass, awaited the announcement as Wilson rode up on a trolley car with 12 children from the Women's League Inc. Child Development Center. Each child held a placard displaying one of the numerals in the multimillion-dollar goal. Last year, about $23.2 million was raised.

Company downsizing and anticipated lower levels of support mean that an extra 1 million in new sources of support will be needed to meet this year goal. But Wilson said he is hopeful. "We are off to a great start." 1 To complete the afternoon, some people took a ride on the trolley or sipped lemonade while a quartet sang. The United WayCombined Health Appeal Community Cam- Kaign supports more than 135 ealth and human service agencies in 40 towns in north central Connecticut. Programs include food and shelter, counseling for substance abus-, ers, meals on wheels, health screening and other programs..