Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 37

Approves Zone Change For Asylum Hill Shopping Center By DAVID S. BARRETT The City Council Monday night unanimously approved a zone change to allow The Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. to build a shopping center in the Asylum Hill area. The zone change, from resi-1 dential to business, applies to 1.8 acres of land at the northeast corner of Collins and Sigourney streets. The shopping center, which will include 133 parking spaces, will house a movie theater, restaurant.

bank, grocery store, drug store and small retail shops. Deputy Mayor Mary M. Heslin, chairman of the council's planning and zoning committee, issued a favorable report on the zone change request. But, she added, she plans to later recommend the council convert Sigourney Street, from Collins to Ashley streets, and Ashley Street, from Sigourney to Huntington Street, into business zones. Mrs.

Heslin said the zoning of the block bounded by Sigourney, Ashley, Collins, and Huntington is now a "rather hodgepodge arrangement" that should be corrected. In her report, she said the developers, Connecticut Mutual and Society for Savings, have agreed to meet all recommendations from the administration concerning shielded lighting and improvement of the traffic pattern around the center. In a related action, the council changed the city's zoning regulations to permit movie houses in neighborhood business zones. This will allow Connecticut Mutual to include a theater in the shopping center. The council also passed a resolution authorizing its capital improvements, redevelopment and civic center and education, recreation and youth services committees to file an application for federal funds for a planning and management study.

The study, to be funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is intended to show how the city can better plan for large-scale development. As usual, the council referred a large number of items to its nine committees. The referrals included: -A request by Mayor Athanson that the council review its policy that requires tax-exempt corporations to pay $5 a ton, for any refuse they take to the incinerator, to the environmental protection committee. -a report from the city manager that the Hartford Civic Center has the facilities to host the annual convention of the U.S.

Conference of Mayors, but that $50,000 would be needed for Hartford to serve as host, to the capital improvements committee. -a proposed ordinance giving a 3 per cent cost-of-living pension hike to about 125 retired school personnel who belong to the Hartford pension system, to the finance and personnel committee. Among the items passed by the council were: -a resolution freeing $39,500 that had been held in a special reserve account. The money was appropriated to the Hartford Public Library for the purchase of new books. resolution asking the Greater Hartford Transit Distirct to investigate the possibility of starting minibus service for the elderly and handicapped in Hartford, using the 25 minibuses owned by various agencies in the city.

-a resolution saying the council supports legislation before the General Assembly appropriating money to start new construction at the Mansfield Train-ling, ing Center. -a resolution expressing council opposition to the state's flat-grant payment system for welfare recipients. The resolution also says that the state. if it intends to keep the flat-grant system, should at least provide cost-of-living increments in its payments. The council referred to the corporation counsel a resolution from Mayor Athanson questioning whether the state minority representation law applies to the Board of Education, which is elected on a nonpartisan basis.

Toward the end of the meet- after the Republicans had been on the losing side of both the vote to create an auxiliary police force and the vote to approve Cornucopia's bid for the right to put on rock concerts at Dillon Stadium this summer, debate began to become heated. When a list of committee reports was introduced under suspension of the rules, Councilman Collin B. Bennett objected. He did get one report postponed until the next meeting, but after further unsuccessful protests, he finally showed his frustration by walking out. Margaret V.

Tedone, also a Republican, joined him in his walkout. New York Firm Giver Rock Concert Contract By HENRY McNULTY Cornucopia Productions a New York City firm, won the right Monday to stage eight rock music concerts at Dillon Stadium this summer. The City Council voted 6 to 3 to approve the city manager's recommendation to give Cornucopia the concert bid. The vote was along party lines. Councilmen Nicholas Carbone, William DiBella, Mary Heslin, George Levine, Allyn Martin and Richard Suisman, all Democrats voted for the resolution.

Republicans Collin Bennett, Roger Ladd and Margaret Tedone voted against it. Director of Parks and Recreation Victor J. Jarm said the contract promises the promoter there will be no rock acts scheduled at Dillon within five days of each performance. However, he said, this does not mean country-western, Pops, folk or gospel shows can't be scheduled at Dillon. Jarm said the fiveday rule applies only to rock acts "of international or national fame." Councilman Bennett asked why the city gave eight concert dates to just one promoter, Jarm said the "one safe way" to put on large rock shows at Dillon "is to deal with one concert promoter." He said dealing with one firm eliminates the fly-by-nights which are rampant" in the promotion business.

After the vote passed, Carbone called for reconsideration of the motion, which was done. The reconsideration vote was also 6 to 3. After a resolution is reconsidered, it is considered final and cannot be brought up again. Therefore, Carbone said, CornuC acts copia for is now Dillon free to without sign having rock the council change its mind on the vote. Bennett objected strenuously to reconsidering the vote so soon, saying it would jopardize the city's position if there were questons about the promoter in the next couple of weks.

Corporate Counsel Alexander Goldfarb said, however, that there are specific conditions in the contract under which the city could cancel the contract. He said the city is protected if the promoter fails to live up to his end of the bargain. Corncopia President Sheldon Finkel said late Monday night the battle for the Dillon contract was "the hardest one I've ever fought." He said he has three rock acts who have agreed to perform at Dillon, and "we're just waiting to settle the date." The fight for the Dillon contract went on for several weeks. Besides Cornucopia, two other firms submitted proposals to the city in the hopes of getting the contract and a third firm has threatened to sue the city in the matter. The two, Concept Enterprises of Baltimore, Md.

and Mouse Productions of Bristol, claimed they were as competent as Cornucopia to run the Dillon shows. The third firm, Shane Enterprises of Hartford, claimed the city's conditions for accepting concert proposals are too restrictive. City Man Accused Of Cocaine Dealing A federal prosecutor charged Monday that a 33-year-old Cuban national who owns the Hartford Social Club is a wholesale dealer in cocaine. Special Federal Atty. F.

Mac Buckley made the charge at a bond hearing for Epiphanio "Pepi" Rodriquez of 74 New Park Ave. The prosecutor said his office was investigating Rodriquez whose former roommate fled to Columbia, South America, after investigators discovered 13 ounces of pure cocaine had been sent to him from outside the country. Rodriquez is already charged with violations of federal liquor laws for allegedly selling alcohol from his social club without first obtaining a federal license or tax stamp. He had been held behind bars since his arrest Saturday. Monday U.S.

Magistrate Thomas F. Parker, after hearing arguments on bond from Buckley and defense attorney Nicholas Cardwell, agreed to release Rodriquez. The magisrequired Rodriguez's brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Rodriguez of 48 Sisson to surrender a passbook on their $1,000 savings account and to sign a $10,000 bond without surety to guarantee their relative's future ap- Body of Man Found in Pond at Park The body of a young man was found in a pond in Keney Park Monday afternoon but there was TO immediate indication how it got there.

The man, pronounced dead at the scene, was identified as John H. Booker 23, of 98 Plainfield St. He was found lying in a shallow part of the pond by a man who saw him there from a vice road about 4 p.m., police said. The bystander, who did not wish to be identified, pulled the dead man out of the water, then called authorities, police said. The body was found in about 18 inches of water in the northeast section of the pool, near the shore, police said.

Medical Examiner Donald R. Hazen said there were no visible cuts or bruises on the body, police reported. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and time of death, police said. Talarski Funeral Home, 382 Maple Ave. is making funeral arrangements, police said.

DANGE KEEP ON Body Found in Pond Police Sgt. Paul Formica, left, directs 23, of 98 Plainfield St. No signs of foul the removal of a body found in a shallow play were immediately apparent in the death, part of a pond in Keney Park Monday. The police said (Photo by D'Anzi). dead man was identified as John H.

Booker, THE HARTFORD COURANT: Tuesday April 10, 1973 31 Officials Nearly 100 tenants in the plex on Dauntless Lane met crime problem, Daniel Wagner, said the owner has agreed to put and windows, City Councilman Face Dauntless McKinley Park Apartment comMonday to discuss the area's the complex manager, (left) stronger locks on rear doors Richard Suissman said his Public Safety Committee is prove security in the area. several burglaries in the area rant Photo by Harry Batz). also investigating ways to imThere have been five rapes and in the last several months (Cou- Residents of McKinley Park Apartments Told Crime-Problem Answer in Works By MICHAEL REGAN Spokesman for the city and for the managers of the McKinley Park Apartments Monday assured nearly 100 of the complex's residents that they're working on solutions to the area's serious crime problem. The group also put together a steering committee to work with tenants and with Hartford and management officials to improve the security of the area. McKinley Park is on Dauntless Lane, near St.

Francis Hospital. Daniel Wagner of Presidential Management said the owner of the Dauntless Lane complex has agreed to install more secure locks on rear doors and windows. He is also looking into the cost of improving the dim and scattered lighting behind the 166 units, Wagner said. But the cost of providing a private security patrol is too much for the owner to bear, he said. He suggested an 8-hour-a-day dog guard patrol might be possible if the tenants are willing to chip in half the $14,000 cost.

The idea was received unenthusiastically by the crowd in St. Francis Hospital's amphitheater. The meeting was the latest development in a week-long drive to improve the security of the apartment complex. The effort was touched off by the knifepoint rape of three college students last week and fueled by a series of earlier burglaries and two previous rapes. Wagner said he has been aware of the security problem for some time, and has "written to everyone in Hartford" with no, response.

"I would be the first to march around City Hall with you," he said. But 'as the meeting broke up, there were a police cruiser, a motor scooter-mounted policenan and a private canine patrol team guarding the length of Dauntless Lane. Police Major Theodore Napper said the extra police protection was provided to deter crime while so many residents were away at the meeting. The scooter patrols will continue through the warm season, he said. The dog patrol, part of the Peter Grady, 35, Fatally Shoots Self, Police Say MANCHESTER Peter F.

Grady, 35, of 44 Olcott took his own life Sunday night in the bedroom of his home by shooting himself in the head with a rifle, police said. Dr. Robert R. Keeney, medical examiner, said that the man had been dead for about an hour when his body was found by relatives about 9:50 p.m. He was alone in the house at the time of the incident.

He was born in Manchester and lived here most of his life. He served in the Air 1 Force from 1961 to 1965. He leaves his mother, Mrs. Helen Barrett Grady; four sons, Peter Grady, Michael Grady, Shawn Grady and Timothy Grady, and two daughters, Kelly Grady and Colleen Grady, all of Manchester; two brothers, William E. Grady Jr.

of Union, N.J., and Paul F. Grady of West Hartford, and two sisters, Mrs. Elaine Duff and Mrs. Joyce McCue of San Ramon, Calif. The funeral will be today at 10 a.m.

at the Church of the Assumption and burial will be in St. James' Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Funeral arrangements are in charge of John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 W.

Center St. Lane and tenants decide what they're going to do about providing their own guard. Robotham promised. Councilman Richard Suisman and Jonathan Colman of the City Manager's office said their departments are working on ways to improve the area's security. Residents force which regularly patrols, the Asylum Hill area, will also be maintained for at least the next several nights, Asylum Hill Inc.

director Robert Robotham said. Asylum Hill Inc. contracts the dog patrol for the whole area, and will send one team into Dauntless Lane until the Earlier Monday, Mayor Athanson toured the complex, speaking to residents about their problems. One family told Athanson burglars had tried to break into their apartment three times. "This is a beautiful place to live, except for the the man said.

Revamping Plans Listed For Bellevue Square pearance in federal court. Buckley told Magistrate Parker a high bond was necessary because there was: a good possibility Rodriguez might decide to flee the country rather than federal charges, He said Rodriguez had traveled to Puerto Rico and Madrid, Spain, in the past few months, and had also moved several times within a short period of time. Although Rodriguez claims to carpenter, said Buckley, there is no indication he works. In addition, Buckley said Rodriquez spent large sums of money which would not be available to a carpenter who claims to make an $8,000 annual salary. Cardwell objected to Buckley's accusations that his client was a drug dealer when there are no such outstanding charges against him.

Elsie Benedict Dies; Ex-Owner Of Bookstore Mrs. Elsie Stewart Benedict of 348 Bloomfield Caldwell, N.J., a former Hartford woman who owned a bookstore in Caldwell, did Monday at a hospital in Glen Ridge, N.J. The widow of Chauncey L. Benedict, she was born in Hartford and moved to New Jersey many years ago. She owned the Westminster Library, a lending library where she also sold books for 32 years and was a member of the American Book Sellers Association, While in New Jersey, she maintained membership in South Congregational Church, Hartford.

She leaves two sons, Stewart H. Benedict of New York City and Chauncey L. Benedict Jr. of Santa Ana, three sisters, Mrs. Paul E.

Stinchfield of Menlo Park, Mrs. George H. Phelps of Denville. N.J., and Flora M. Stewart of Newington and three grandchildren.

A graveside service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The GallagherHagelin Funeral Home, Roseland Caldwell, N.J., is in charge of arrangements. Council Move On Auxiliary Hit The president of the Hartford police union said the controversial proposal to add civilian auxiliary policemen to the force should have been on the agenda before the City Council approved it Monday night. (See story Page 1).

Detective William L. Kearns head of Local 308, International Brotherhood of Police Officers, made the statement after the council voted 7-2 to add 50 auxiliary recruits to the regular police force. Kearns said he planned to confer with the union membership and a lawyer today. He made no further comment. Plans for a sweeping $2.9 million renovation of Bellevue Square were revealed Monday by the Hartford Housing Authority.

The work, which could begin as early as October, would more than double the number of four-bedroom apartments in the project and provide several new playground areas. Six present Bellevue Square buildings will be torn to make room for a grass-covered Greensward the size of a footfield, two basketball courts and new parking areas. Ten small playgrounds for children, called "tot lots." each a little smaller than a basketball court, also will be built at the public housing project. Bellevue Square is a 501-unit apartment complex for low-income persons bounded by Main, Canton, Windsor and Pavilion streets in the city's South Arse- Circuit 14 Bindovers Given 2 in Robberies Two men were bound over to Superior Court Monday by Judge Edward Stodolink on unrelated robbery charges, and a woman was bound over on three drug counts. Given bindovers on charges of first-degree robbery were Edward N.

Hall, 24, of Springfield, and Rodney D. Jones, 20, of 39 Nelson St. Both waived hearings. Hall was arrested Monday by Detectives Jesse Campbell and John Edmonds in connection with a $20 stickup July 8, 1972, at Dave's Package Store, 275 Newington Ave. Jones was arrested March 27 in connection with a robbery at 14 Harper St.

on Feb. 1 in which a man was robbed of $700 in checks and $40 in cash after collecting rents at the Harper Street address. Barbara McClinton, 23, of 136 Sigourney St. was bound over on charges of possession of herion, possession with intent to sell and conspiracy to violate state drug laws. Police arrested her March 27 after a raid on her apartment which they allegedly seized 16 $10-bags of heroin.

Police said they went to the apartment with a search warrant. dispositions were Alan Thomas, 43, of 156 Cornwall nonsupport, six months, suspended after 30 days, probation two years; Antonio Reyes, 19, of O'Neil Road, breach of peace, $25, disorderly conduct, $25, and Vincente T. Rivera, 32, of 90 Hampton gaming, $5. M. Gonzales, 35, of no certain address was fined $25 for breach of peace.

Given suspended sentences on that charge were Carlos T. Pacheco, 25, of 166 Hungerford 15 days, and Julious Alexander, 44, of 22 Belden 10 days. Henry Harrison, 21, of 117 Mather st. was fined $20 32, for of 38 disorderly Brown St. conduct.

Phillip Gagnon, fined $10 on that charge. Given a pended senfence for disorderly 450 conduct was Harry 0. Johnson, 49, of don 15 days. Byrd, 24, of 199 Sigourney St. received 15 days, suspended, for fourthdegree larceny.

Annie P. Henry, 23, of 61 May St. was given 10 days suspendled, on that charge. nal area. Under the plans, the number of apartments would be reduced to 289, but the number of fourbedroom apartments would increase from 48 to 112, many of which would feature two baths.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ap-1 proved the final plans March 27 as part of the redevelopment program of the South Arsenal Neighborhood Development Corp. for the entire area. The federal government has approved an outlay of $2,617,240. An additional $301,636 is expected to be approved.

Plans call for blocking off Wooster Street to make a pedestrian mall leading to the neighborhood's Everywhere School. The red brick on some of the buildings will be painted white to match new apartment houses in the area. Trees will be planted. Driveways which now run through the project will be I closed. All the apartments left standing will be completely renovated, according to the plans, with all-new bathrooms and kitchens, sliding closet doors, peep-holes in each living-room door, new paint and new floor coverings.

Most of the present 148 onebedroom apartments will be combined with two-bedroom apartments next door. On July 1, the commission expects to advertise for bids for the renovation of apartments. The contract. according to the timetable, will be awarded Sept. and work will begin Oct.

1. It is expected to be finished within a year. Demoliton of the six buildings will take place between Oct. 1, 1974 and Jan. 1, 1975.

The outdoor work is expected to begin March 1, 1975 and to be done by June. Buildings to be torn down include those with apartment numbers five to seven, 10 to 12, to 2212, 35 and 36, 41 to 46 and 47 to 52. The aurhority said persons living there will be transferred between October and December of next year to "proper-sized" apartments in other low-rent projects. Whenever possible, however, the commission said, those persons will be transferred to renovated apartments within Bellevue Square. "The new Bellevue Square," said the authority, "will make for good Education Goals Of Center Told By, ELISSA PAPIRNO Hartford Process' proposed Capital University Center for "nontraditional learners" will serve a "whole range of socio-economic groups," Process educational consultant Dr.

Fred Pinkham said Monday. Speaking at a Process-Urban League-sponsored workshop on the university center proposal, Pinkham said the facility would be basically referral-oriented, guiding persons to higher education programs already available. However, the center also provide individualized instruction to persons in subjects not already offered at other institutions. Process is submitting an $800,000 request to the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare this month for funding to support the center for three years. Some $10 million is available for a similar program nationwide, Pinkham said.

The funds would be used to hire conselors, field representatives to provide information about courses available and requested, mentors to work with students on their individualized learning programs, a registrar and other personnel, The center would work through the recently proposed Council for State Academic Awards, so students not formally enrolled in existing would receive academic credit for their work. The facility would serve housewives, working people who want to further their education, businesses and civic and governmental agencies in short "nontraditional learners" of all "socio-economic groups," Pinkham said. Its eventual goal, however, explained Process Director of Education John Green, is to help "upgrade" people's incomes SO they can become homeowners and contribute to the economic and physical development of the inner-city area. Monday's meeting at the Quirk Middle School, attended by about 30 persons, was to i inform citizens of the plan and obtain reactions. A second workshop, similar in format, will be held at Bulkeley High School today at 7:30 p.m.

Meetings already have been held with college presidents and businessmen to learn their reactions, Pinkham said. He is a parttime consultant to Process on the program and former president of Ripon College in Wisconsin. Traffic Court Judge William S. Ewing fined Eddie Stevenson Jr. 40, of 134 Kensington 5100 Monday in Circuit Court 14, Traffic Division, for driving under suspension.

M. Flores, 21, of 34 Governor was fined. $25 for reckless driving. Rosemarie was H. fined Sandiford, $35 for 32, of speeding.

131 Hampton Clara B. Massey, 45, of 56 Harrison was fined $25 for passing a stopped school bus..