Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 102

5 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Saturday, November 16, 1991 C1 1 i 6 arrested in connection with 'chop shop investigation STATE BRIEFS participation in the ring, police said. Szczepanik, of 3720 Phelps Road, was charged with one count of aiding and abetting first-degree larceny, one count of aiding and abetting second-degree larceny and three counts of aiding and abetting sixth-degree larceny. Casey, of 22 Marguy Lane, was charged on the same counts. "They helped Freeh dismantle stolen cars," said Det. Timothy Dumas, a member of the Connecticut state police automobile theft unit in Meriden.

Suffield police Officer David Winter said two more arrests are expected, but declined to elaborate. By CHRISTOPHER KEATING Courant Staff Writer SUFFIELD Police in two states Friday arrested six men implicated in a "chop shop" ring that stole 25 late-model cars, dismantled them in Suffield and used the parts for repairs at a Springfield auto body shop. The owner of the shop, Alphonso Ferrentino, 36, of Springfield, was arrested in Springfield and faces 22 felony counts of conspiracy to commit larceny, Massachusetts state police said. Police there described him as "the mastermind behind the whole scheme." Four of the other suspects live in Suffield and the fifth owns property mantle the stolen cars and transport the parts back to his body shop for repairs on damaged vehicles, police said. Ferrentino was being held Friday on $100,000 bond in Springfield after his arrest as a fugitive from justice.

State police said he would be extradited to face charges in Connecticut Police say Ferrentino worked closely with Freeh in the chop shop operation. More than a dozen investigators in December raided Freeh's rural property at 1415 N. Stone St. in Suffield, about one-quarter mile south of the Massachusetts border. Freeh was charged Friday with 22 felony counts of larceny involving Although raids were made nearly one year ago, the arrests were not made until Friday because of the time-consuming process of identifying stolen car parts and the heavy workload for the four-member automobile theft unit, police said.

Kacmarcik, of 1025 Newgate Lane, was charged with first-degree larceny, while Blakely, of 349 Lakeview Drive Extension, was charged with aiding and abetting first-degree larceny. Kacmarcik purchased a stolen Chevrolet truck from Ferrentino through Freeh, police said. The five suspects were released at the Suffield police station on written promises to appear in Superior Court in Enfield on Nov. 26. Weicker rejects mediator I iwiuun.iu.uu.

ww "I .11 L. I UJIpwynWWM -w. '5. 'M u.J- 1 Continued from Connecticut Page personnel." They said they would not have exact dollar savings, however, for their cuts until further analysis over the weekend. Weicker said Friday he did not expect the income-tax opponents to find an alternative that would work.

Union leaders rejected Weicker's latest offer Thursday, declared the talks deadlocked and proposed the appointment of a prominent mediator such as Archibald Cox, the former Watergate special prosecutor. Robert J. Krzys, the chief negotiator for the unions, said the unions will present Weicker with a counteroffer next week, despite their belief that a mediator is necessary. Weicker is offering a no-layoff guarantee for the fiscal year that ends June 30 if the unions forgo pay raises this year and agree to pension and health-benefit concessions. The pension and benefit concessions would be painless to em Lawrence J.

DeNardis, who took over the presidency of the University of New Haven Sept. 1, was inaugurated Friday at the university's sports center. University's president looks to 21st century Opera tests today for pie-throwers The Connecticut Opera will '4iold open tryouts today for a role in its production of "The Barber of Seville." Two winners will be chosen to play a Keystone Kop -who gets to toss a pie into the "face of Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr.

Weicker will have the role of chief of police in performances "-Thursday and Friday. The governor will make his singing -debut in the new production. i The pie-throwing tryouts will be at noon in Center Court at the Civic Center in Hartford. -i" Contestants will be asked to write a 25-word essay explaining '-why they would like to toss a pie -at the governor. Then they will be -judged on the accuracy of their tosses at a 6-foot, 6-inch cardboard cutout of a costumed police chief.

Judges will announce the -winners at the conclusion of the competition. It' Connecticut Opera will present Barber of Seville" through Saturday at JJushnell Memorial in Hartford. performance begins at 8 ipm. Ticket information may be Obtained by calling 246-6807 or NEW LONDON Pecuots disavow plans for station The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe has no plans to buy the financially troubled New London television station Channel 26, tribal and station officials said Jate this week. Richard Rangoon, the Hartford-based developer and Twner of the station, said he and -his associates suggested to the several months ago that it buying the station.

Tribal officials visited the New London studios, but 'discussions progressed no further than that. Theresa Bell, a spokeswoman for the Mashantucket Pequots, confirmed the sequence of 'events. HAVEN Guilty plea heard in bank fraud A North Haven woman has 'pleaded guilty to embezzling approximately $160,000 while she worked at the Branf ord Savings Bank, U.S. Attorney Albert S. Dobrowski said Friday.

Denise Cole, 40, pleaded guilty -co oanK traurj i nursaav during a Rearing in U.S. District Court. uoorowski said cole embezzled the money while she iworked.as a loan officer at the Cole is to be sentenced Jan. 13. 'IShe faces as much as 20 years in prison, restitution to the bank and much as $1 million in fines.

SOUTHBURY Eagle viewing ijo start next month The bald eagle observation center at Northeast Utilities' Shepaug hydroelectric station in Southbury will open to the public next month, but only by 'reservation. The center is managed by the utilitv and the state Department Scouts consider selling land ployees, administration officials say. The administration wants to delay contributions to the pension fund, which would not affect benefits. Weicker is seeking to cut health costs by administrative changes that need union approval, not by demanding increased employee co-payments as demanded by many lawmakers. "The issue before us from the outset was no layoffs in exchange for wage concessions," Weicker said.

Weicker increased pressure on the unions in early October by announcing 3,750 layoffs, which will be rescinded only if the employees settle. About 500 laid-off members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and 1 1 1. members of the Connecticut State; Police Union returned to work Friday after their unions ratified concession agreements. Job security has become the top concern of the unions since the legis attempting to buy land surrounding their reservation off Route 2. At first, scout officials said the camp, a summer refuge for Connecticut boys over the past three decades, was not for sale.

But after visiting the reservation and learning more about the Indians' plans for a casino, several large hotels, two golf courses and other resort attractions, scout officials reconsidered. "The level of activity there is going to be significant," Hall said. "It's difficult to conceive of how we can run a Boy Scout camp there when you can see people and hotels and other activity." Hall said the generosity of the Indians' financial offer and' the fact that camp attendance has been steadily declining also were factors in the decision to consider selling. Indian and scout officials refused to disclose details of the negotiations. Robert Birmingham, a land planner for the tribe, said no offer of the two other cases of tainted candy in the city.

One mini Hershey bar that had been tampered with was found in the southwest section of the city. The candy was picked up on either Wood-ard Place, Driscoll Drive, South Street Extension, Atkins Avenue or Lawndale Avenue, police said. in Suffield. The suspects from Suffield were Christopher Casey, 19; Wayne Szczepanik, 21; Norman Christopher Blakely, 36; and John Kacmarcik, 47. Wolfgang Freeh, 43, of West Springfield, who owns property that police raided in Suffield last year, also was arrested Friday.

The auto-theft ring operated for two years and specialized in late-model, expensive cars. While operating Al's Auto Body in Springfield, Ferrentino "organized and directed the theft of vehicles, their transportation to the Suffield property and the payment to the car thieves," Connecticut state police said in a statement released Friday. Ferrentino and others would dis Tim Rasmussen Special to The Courant more grants for needy students and more graduate fellowships for minorities and women, he said. DeNardis takes over a university that has balanced its budget and has maintained overall enrollment by relying heavily on graduate and part-time students. DeNardis succeeded Kaplan, who was president for 18 years, on Sept.

1. DeNardis is returning to his roots in academia. The Hamden resident was a political science professor at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven for 16 years before entering politics. He also taught for 11 years as an adjunct professor at the University of New Haven, where Kaplan hired him when DeNardis was out of the U.S. Navy.

In 1980, DeNardis served one term as a Republican congressman from the 3rd District. He was a state senator for eight years in the 1970s and served briefly this year as chairman of the state's Board of Governors for Higher Education. He resigned as president of the Connecticut Public Expenditure Council, a business-financed research group, to assume the presidency. into women's deaths The federal agency, which has a special unit to investigate serial killings, can help investigators in Connecticut analyze evidence and develop profiles of possible suspects, Bailey said. "Their resources are unbelievable," he said.

Investigators from Hartford, South Windsor, Stamford and the state will meet Tuesday to try to determine whether there are links between the cases and whether there is evidence that one person is responsible for the killings. They also will decide whether to set up a special task force to investigate the slayings. Bailey met Friday with Henry Lee, director of the state forensic laboratory, and state police Lt. James Hiltz, head of the central district major crimes squad, to review the cases that will be examined at the meeting. Hiltz said the purpose of the meeting is to get commitments from the various agencies to devote the resources, manpower and money necessary for creation of the task force.

"We're going to be discussing some of the cases superficially," Hiltz said. "I don't think we're going to be kicking any of the cases out." By HILARY WALDMAN Courant Staff Writer The Hartford-area Boy Scout council is considering selling its Lake of Isles campground in Ledyard and North Stonington to the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe, which is developing a gambling resort across the street. The camp, which has been little used in recent years, is one of four the council maintains in the state. The scouts plan to close the camp this summer, whether the deal with the Indians goes through or not. After preliminary discussions with the tribe in August and September, the Hartford-based Long Rivers Boy Scout Council has recently authorized more formal negotiations, said Donald R.

Hall, scout executive. Hall declined to say what the selling price for the camp might be. The scouts and adjoining property owners were first approached this summer by the Indians, who were I I in job talks lature authorized a study intended to result in the consolidation of state agencies, which is expected to eliminate jobs in the next fiscal year. Steven Perruccio, president of the Connecticut Employees Union Independent, said the unions that have not settled have offered Weicker greater flexibility in reassigning workers if consolidation goes forward. In return, Weicker should be able to grant job security, Perruccio said.

The Weicker administration has promised to try to avoid layoffs, but Perruccio said the language offers no protections and would strip employees of the right to file grievances over any layoffs that did occur. The 1991-92 budget approved by lawmakers in August assumed that Weicker would obtain $354.4 million in concessions. He has negotiated about $41 million in givebacks from three unions and nonunion managers and other workers. to Indian tribe The Hartford Courant had been made. But Hall said a figure had been mentioned.

Asked if the figure was close to $10 million, Hall said it was "considerably less." He refused to elaborate. An 11-year-old boy who lives on Jewel Street found a straight pin inside a mini Hershey Special Dark chocolate bar Nov. 7. That candy bar was picked up in the southeast section of Bristol, on either Jewel Street, Mark Street, French Street, Mountain View or Beths avenues, police said. 12 MONTH FINANCING MYSTIC FACTORY OUTLETS EXIT 90 OFF ROUTE 95 536-8818 536-9051 Casino slto Boy Scout L.

"life Icamp I Sg? jr QH? Stoningtonf. Long Island I I Sound I II ini I CU Ml MM lft: itTC' 1 3rd piece of tainted candy found in Bristol C0LILVME)S By KATHERINE FARRISH Courant Staff Writer WEST HAVEN In a ceremony rooted in medieval times yet punctuated with reminders of the looming 21st century, Lawrence J. DeNardis was inaugurated Friday as the fifth president of the University of New Haven. Before about 600 robed academicians and other friends, DeNardis, 53, grasped the twin polished brass maces that symbolize a university's shared governance by administrators and faculty. In his address, he expressed a vision to lead the private university of 6,000 students into the next century.

While honoring his predecessor, Phillip S. Kaplan, DeNardis, a former state senator and U.S. representative, said he refused to "simply preside over what others have built." He pledged to focus more attention on educating displaced, unemployed and underemployed workers to help transform the state's economy as defense spending drops. DeNardis said he also wants to expand educational opportunities for minorities and disadvantaged students. The university will seek FBI to aid inquiry By ANDREW JULIEN, GINA BRISGONE and BRANT HOUSTON Courant Staff Writers The FBI will join local and state investigators next week at a special meeting to explore whether the killings of a dozen women over the last four years are related, Hartford State's Attorney John M.

Bailey said Friday. I Nevelstein Sackter of West Hartford; a daughter, Kathy Stavens of Lebanon; two sisters, Sadie Dunn of Farmington and Sarah Rabinovitz of Palm Aire, and four grandchildren. The funeral will be Sunday at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Hartford. East Granby official dren; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday at 9:15 a.m. at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Windsor, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in Christ the King Church, Bloomfield. Burial will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park in Rocky Hill. Calling hours are Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Windsor Lodge of Elks will conduct a service Sunday at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice, 945 Asylum Hartford or to East Granby Volunteer Ambulance, 6 Memorial Drive, East Granby. DINETTE til 3f Environmental Protection. The area will be open Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jj between Dec. 28 and March 18. Anyone without a reservation not be admitted. I Reservations can be made 1 beginning Dec. 2 by calling 665- S340.

i-rom stan ana wire reports Benjamin M. Sackter, 74; attorney (Q) INTEREST Just make your Initial ordering deposit (20 minimum) and then spread out the remaining balance in 12 INTEREST FREE low manthlv oavments. 'Credit approval required. Does not apply to previous sales or quotes. See store for details By MAXINE BERNSTEIN Courant Staff Writer BRISTOL A third piece of tainted Halloween candy was discovered in the city Thursday night, puzzling police who are investigating two previous reports of tampering with candy.

In the latest incident, 8-year-old Gina Fazio discovered the head of a pin sticking out from the end of a mini Hershey bar when she unwrapped it Thursday night. "I just cried and screamed all night," Gina said Friday. "I don't want to go trick-or-treating ever again. I'd rather stay home next year and give out candy." The Fazios put the mini Hershey bar in a paper bag and turned it over to police Friday morning. Police are looking for a connection.

"While the methods are similar, the areas are totally far apart," police Lt. Donald Kalwat said Friday. "It certainly leads us to believe there could be some connection, but the connection is not obvious." In each case, a straight pin was found jabbed through the middle of a chocolate bar. The three candy bars, however, were picked up in three different parts of the city, police said. Two of the bars are mini Hershey chocolate bars; the other a Milky Way bar.

No injuries were reported in the three cases. Patricia Fazio of Wolcott Street told police Friday that she had instructed her daughter to check all her Halloween candy after learning WILLS Archdiocese of Hartford 134 Farmington Avenue Hartford, Conn. 06105 i- Attorney Benjamin M. Sackter of West Hartford died Wednesday. He "was 74.

A graduate of Trinity College and the University of Connecticut School of Law, Sackter practiced law in the Hartford area for many years. He was a member of the Hartford County Bar Association. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He is survived by his wife, Freda John Cooper; former John J.

Cooper a former town "official in East Granby, died Friday at his home. He was 76. Cooper was a Democratic town ''chairman in East Granby in the late "1950s and a member of the town's board of appeals. Cooper also was a justice of the J' peace, a communicant of Christ the Church in Bloomfield and a -member of Windsor Lodge of Elks. He is survived by his wife, Flor-, ence Frenette Cooper, a son, John J.

Cooper Jr. of East Granby, a daughter, Shirley A. Cooper of East Granby; a sister, Edna Mozzer of Crystal River, two grandchil- When making please remember the yOUl Will Archdiocese of Hartford "MAKER OF THE ORIGINAL TILE TABLE" Dining Tablet (Including Canter Islands, Counter Bart extentlona) a Buffet, Hutchea Cocktail and End Tablet a Matching Solid Chair and Stools ANY TILE ANY STAIN ANY SIZE There is no other voluntary group that does so many works of charity, education and religion. In your will you can help your parish, or Catholic schools, or Family services. For a free booklet on making a will write to: a nee uuum CALD0R SHOPPING PLAZA SILAS DEANE HWY.

ROCKY HILL 257-4661 4.