Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 2

2nd ED. r- i I i it flaw tr.Lsmd Living Letter writing may be a lost art but there still are those who write out of habit or necessity or to fend off loneliness. let', a Author Lou: S3 Armcor's 1S78 d.currr-.zry on incest hcs some strangs unexpected exacts. St. John's whips UConn, S7-64.

New Haven tops Central, 78-63. of routs Pratt, 104-47. Nets stop 76ers, 101-SS. Cetts beat Bullets, 97-91. II II COPYRIGHT 1 985.

THE HARTFORD COURANT CO. 1 .00 PER COPY CXLVIII No. 3. 15 SECTIONS Sale: Perfume, a Preacher, and Avon office and ordered the power turned off. The screen went blank.

It was a simple, straightforward act. WHCT-TV (Channel 18) had been sold by Scott's evangelical church, Faith Center, to Astroline for $3.1 million. But behind the sale of Channel 18 a story that is neither simple nor straightforward. It's a story about one of the most unusual cases in the history of the Federal Communications Commission, filled with charge and countercharge and years of litigation. Scott, in his more outrageous moods, would appear on the air in a different hat each night.

His favorites included a Sherlock Holmesian deerstalker, a coonskin cap and a crown. On occasion, Scott would crank up a band of toy monkeys named after FCC members who danced to the tune of "Turkey in the Straw." It's a story, in short, about one of the strangest episodes in the history of television in Hartford. The ending, however, remains open. Shurberg still is fighting the sale in court. The screen remains 4SLJ ESTABLISHED 1764.

DAILY EDITION. VOL. Channel 18 By MARC GUNTHER and CLIFFORD TEUTSCH Courant Staff Writers Shortly before 3 p.m. on Jan. 24, Channel 18 was, as usual, broadcasting a rambling monologue by W.

euGene Scott, the flamboyant California preacher who used the television station as a personal pulpit for the past decade. Then Richard P. Ramirez, the 31-year-old head of Astroline Communications a Massachusetts partnership, walked into the station's Budget Moves to Congress Domestic Cuts, Military Hikes Draw Skepticism Associated Press WASHINGTON President Reagan sent advance copies of his 1986 budget to an already skeptical Congress Saturday and said his plan which would cut domestic spending by nearly $40 billion next year is "the most exhaustive effort ever made to rein in government's chronic overspending." Reagan defended his call for increasing defense spending even Reagan faces the bottom line as budget goes to Congress. Page A12. is It's a story featuring a private detective, purloined telephone records and a $60 bottle of perfume.

It's a story that has a mystery man Alan I. Shurberg, 26, a solitary computer whiz from Rocky Hill who says he has spent close to $100,000 to overturn the sale to Astroline and take control of Channel 18. His penchant for privacy, as well as his long friendship with Hartford broadcaster Arnold L. Chase, has led to speculation about Shurberg's motives and the source of his money. It's a story with humor.

UNAFFORDABLE HEIGHTS A moderate-income family of four in the Hartford -area has an annual income of $26,800, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Under the most favorable mortgage conditions, area lenders say, the most the family could afford to pay for a house is $67,000. That figure is based on the family making a 20 percent down payment of $13,400 and taking out a one-year, adjustable rate mortgage at 1 0.25 percent interest. Where could the family expect to find a house for $67,000 or less? The chart shows that few single-family homes were available for that price in 20 area towns in 1984.

The family's best bet would have been communities that many housing experts say are forced to carry the burden of providing affordable housing in the area. (t i i HOUSES SOLD FOR $67,000 OR LESS Total ifJ L. Pmcmi Town houms SeM Tot Glastonbury "302 A 1.3 Slmsbury 35S 9 2.5 Avon 2C3 7 i.Q East Granby "43 2 4.7 Wast Hartford SC3 20 .7 South Windsor ICS 8 "3 Rocky Hill 3 5 t-1 Canton 73 4 Neington 140 13 7.1 Wetftersfc'J 178 13 7.4 Cerfirt 84 7 IV Farmington 141 12 Granby 1.3 1J rt Krflsnd 7 2 E'Dmfiafcr -tt 75 -C3' :3 121 Hertord 21Z 123 tiiiz'tn 1 3 "111 Intrigue giving the station to Faith Center. Three years later, in 1975, Connecticut TV viewers were introduced to W. euGene Scott, who took over ownership of the church.

Everything about him even the spelling of his name was unorthodox. Viewers had no idea what they would hear from Scott when they tuned to Channel 18 a fund-raising harangue, a novel interpretation of the scriptures, an up-tempo backup band or social commentary. See Channel 18, Page A20 McKinney I Stumps for; Moderates Republican Joining Battle Against Shift To Right in House I By DAVID LIGHTMAN Washington Bureau Chief WASHINGTON For 14 years; Rep. Stewart B. McKinney has prid-ed himself on being, as he puts it, "4 horse, not a showhorse." Today, as conservatives inject themselves deeper and deeper into the workings of his party, the moderate Republican from Connecticut 'appears afraid he's becoming an endangered species.

"That fear is motivating a lot of (moderate) people," says Laurence E. Zabar, executive director of Con? gress's Northeast-Midwest Congres; sional Coalition. "They're concerned the party's being pulled from under their feet." As a result, McKinney, the affable Capitol Hill insider, is promising to emerge into a more public limelight, in the days ahead. He's helping to lead a fight by House moderates of both parties to fashion a federal budget that would allocate less for defense and more for social prr grams than many conservatives would like. McKinney and Rep.

Robert W.Ed; gar, are co-chairmen of a Northeast-Midwest congressiona) task force on the budget. "Whatever policy the coalition comes up with, they'll be instrumental in drafting," says Shelley Amdur, coalition deputy director. "The two co-chairs will be the two leaders or the issue." "McKinney is taking an active leading role," added Thomas Tauke, R-Iowa, a fellow Republican moderate. "I think he sees an opportunity this year, as many of us do, to have greater impact than we did in the past." The Fairfield congressman, who celebrated his 54th birthday Wednesday is a moderate who's survived eight sessions more with guile and constituent service than by towr ing an ideological line. In Washington, the former race car driver and tire dealer sofas from one of the old tire stores still sit in his office is regarded as an effective congressman and known as a friendly sort, one of the boys who's always got a big hello and asks about the family.

Yet that respect has not bred the kind of power that makes Washington headlines or makes McKinney a leader of floor fights on major bills. His committee assignments, often a measure of a congressman's power, are the rarely noticed District Conv 4 See McKinney, Page AI6 a Whiff of dark as the new owners try to revive the station. And Scott is seeking a return to Connecticut airwaves. The story begins 30 years ago, when Channel 18 signed on as Hartford's first TV station. Its first program was a football game between Iowa and Michigan State.

Channel 18 was a pioneer again in 1962 as the nation's first pay TV station. RKO General, its owner, sank $11 million into the failed experiment before giving up and WLi- Pfe Phil Lohman The Hartford Courant Dream suburbs. And a handful of cities and towns are carrying the burden of providing the kind of housing the region needs housing for people of all incomes. Zoning officials and residents deny their rules are exclusionary, or are meant to bar people of certain races or incomes. They say the rules are needed to direct growth and protect the environment.

A homeowner considers his or her surroundings when purchasing a house, and it shouldn't be unreasonable to expect the land nearby to be developed the same way. But the unintended result extends much farther than an individual neighborhood, or subdivision. A national study on real estate trends says the principal stumbling block in providing affordable housing in this country is local planning and zoning officials. See The State, Page A26 while, but that got to be a nothing game. Then somebody brought in a cribbage board, and it became the thing to do." The shop's cribbage board is a white Formica slab about 2 feet long that one of the regulars a "Formica man" named Rick Merrick custom-made for his pals.

It sits on a faded leather chess table next to a set of shelves displaying hair-care products and a cigar box full of lollipops. Dinerman, who lives in West Hartford and owns a furniture shop in Putnam, comes in about once a week to challenge Gentile or anyone else who feels like a game. at Barber Reporting: Pamela Klein "Source: Greater Hartford Board of Realtors, 1964 figures Housing: Locked Condominiums have proved an attractive substitute for home ownership. Their appeal has created a tax boon for towns, a headache for environmentalists and a new chance at the American Dream. Story, Page 1.

Out of a include the sons and daughters of middle-class people, adults with moderate incomes who can't afford to live in the communities in which they were Interest rates, inflation and ever-rising land prices contribute to the cost of a house. But zoning regulations also are responsible for pushing prices out of reach. In states such as Connecticut where home rule reigns and towns make their own land-use rules people of lower incomes have been zoned out of certain communities. The result: Hartford, the fourth poorest city in the country, with a minority population of more than 50 percent, is surrounded by largely affluent, predominantly white while cutting or eliminating many popular domestic programs. "Every proposal is based on a careful review of what government should and should not do, what's worked and what hasn't, what we can and can no longer afford," he said of his $974 billion plan.

Under the proposed budget, defense spending would grow by nearly $30 billion. Reagan used his weekly radio address to urge Congress to join in a "strong bipartisan effort" to enact his budget. House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill replying for Democrats an hour later, pledged a "respectful" hearing for the recommendations of the newly re-elected president. But he also called on President Reagan Saturday to explain to the American people "exactly what he has in mind for them" with his budget proposal.

The president's budget was due out formally Monday, and copies of the plan were distributed to Congress and to reporters on Saturday with the understanding that the material not be made public until 1:30 p.m. Monday. Even so, most budget details ranging from a wage cut for federal workers to reductions in mass transit aid were leaked well in advance. And Friday night, some reporters obtained access to an administrative survey. Other Democrats made it clear they will seek additions for domestic programs while trying to reduce the president's proposed $277.5 billion Pentagon budget.

"It just isn't realistic at all to think that you can get your total savings, or make substantial reductions in these enormous deficits solely from domestic programs, said House Democratic Leader Jim Wright of Texas. In the Senate, GOP leaders said they would push for a quick vote on a round of budget cuts, even while repeating their view that chances for passage were reduced by Reagan's refusal to accept reductions in the defense buildup. Majority Leader Robert J. Dole of Kansas and Sen. Pete V.

Domenici of New Mexico met with Budget Director David A. Stockman, who expressed optimism that the bulk of the president's proposals would be accepted. "The initial reading is that a great majority of the freezes and cuts that we have in the budget will be acceptable," Stockman said. "There are some problem areas," he added. "I'm not going to list them We're aware of defense." Sources who asked not to be identi- See Reagan, Page A12 By VIVIAN B.

MARTIN Urban Affairs Writer The Markham clan has owned hundreds of acres in East Hampton for more than 300 years, but Edward Markham is essentially barred from living there. The 36-year-old construction worker, who rents an apartment in Middletown, wants to put a house on 3.5 acres deeded to his family by the King of England in the late 17th century. "I just want a house I can call my own, that I can afford, and live in," says Markham, a self-described farm boy who grew up just a stone's throw from the spot where he wants to put the (38,000 factory-built home. But Markham may need another letter from the royal family, or a black-robed Superior Court judge at the least, if he is going to live in INDEX French Missiles A secret deal between the White House and France is helping France deploy nuclear missiles. Page A23.

Landers Books Bridge Business Classified Employment Real Connecticut Editorials. Food H8 Gl G3 H9 D1 Eli CS J16 Bl C2 H5 Horoscope H8 Legal Notices 16 Lottery E2 New England hi Obituaries B6 Outdoors E15 Puzzles Northeast Real Estate Jt Sports Television TV Week Theaters G7 Travel Fl WEATHER: SUNNY COLD 17 to 27 (-' to -3 C) Complete Weather i B8 East Hampton again. The town's zoning regulations do not allow construction of homes with less than 1,300 square feet of finished living area in the part of town where Markbam's share of the family legacy is located. And Markham says he can't afford a larger home. He is fighting the restriction in court.

Like a growing number of people, Markham has been locked out of the American Dream. Only 25 percent of the country's population can afford to buy a new home today, according to the National Association of Realtors. The poor always have been outsiders when it comes to home ownership. But the disinherited now Cribbage By KARL SCHOENBERGER Courant Staff Writer WEST HARTFORD The signs outside pay service to trends that have swayed the barbering business in recent years. Capilo Hair Styling Salon on South Main Street offers "unisex" cuts, "hair design" and lottery tickets.

But inside, by the front window, old friends huddle over a cribbage board in a daily ritual that takes a visitor back to the days when a haircut was just an excuse to stop at the barbershop. Mike Gentile, the gray-haired proprietor, slaps his cards down on the in Fine Trim Shop oversized board. "I got 10 holes," he chants in the rhythm of a habitual card player. His opponent grimaces. "Two-ish," mutters David Diner-man as he advances his peg a couple of notches.

They gather like this every day -some men ducking out of their offices for a few minutes of peace, others just trying to kill time. Over the years, Gentile's barbershop has become a second home for a devoted crew of cribbage players. "I don't know how we started," says Gentile, 53, whose uncle opened the barbershop up the street in 1935. "We were playing checkers for a "It's friendship, it's camaraderie," Dinerman says. "You hang around and you kibitz and you have a good time." He glances out the window for a moment to watch a young man trudge by eating a doughnut in the falling snow.

Across the street, the white steeple of the First Church of Christ Congregational provides a backdrop like a small-town facade from a film set. Frank Zaleski makes his entrance as Dinerman deals the cards briskly. Zaleski, an insurance executive and former firefighter, has been coming See Haircut, Page AID.