Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 11

INSIDE CONNECTICUT PAGE B3 SATURDAY MARCH 2. 1985 Metro Final Edition TOWN BRIEFS Grand List Grows 46 in Newington Based on the current $28.1 million budget, the growth in the tax base would reduce the tax rate about 1.4 mills, meaning the average homeowner with a house assessed at $50,000 would pay about $70 less in taxes, McKay said. About $12.4 million, or more than 40 percent of the increase, is in the value of equipment owned by the town's businesses. McKay said a change in the town's personal property reporting form and the work done by a new town auditor were responsible for much of that increase. The value of motor, vehicles increased $10 million, making up about one third of the total increase.

Real estate went up $8.2 million. Real estate makes up about 81 percent of the grand list, personal property about 9 percent and motor vehicles 8.9 percent The grand list is about a month late because of problems with the computer program the town used, for the first time this year, to compile the information. The list could be adjusted by the Board of Tax Review, which will meet March 20 through 23. By ANTHONY GIORGIANNI CouratU Staff Writer NEWINGTON The value of residential and commercial property increased $30.6 million in 1984, the largest growth since revaluation in 1981. Town Assessor B.R.

Bayus Friday a 1984 grand list totaling $695,749,458. The 4.6 percent increase is the equivalent of about $900,000 in tax revenue, based on the "current tax rate of 30.86 mills. The grand list increased 2.2 percent in 1983 and about 2 percent in 1982. "It's a very good year. I'm thankful for it," Donald F.

McKay, town finance director, said. McKay said the increase will of f-set an estimated $500,000 drop in revenues anticipated for next year from proposed cuts in the federal revenue-sharing program and an anticipated drop in interest rates on town investments. "Thank God for the increase, because we're expecting some short- fall in revenues," Mayor Maryellen. Andersen said. y.

Channel 18 Wants Higher Avon Tower A thick cloud of smoke rises from an old green- house in Canton as firefighters work at the site Friday. More than 40 area firefighters were called to fight the blaze. Fumes from potentially dangerous pesticides in the greenhouse forced the evacuation of nearby Canton Middle School. By VINCENT M.VALVO Courant Correspondent AVON WHCT-TV, Channel 18, has filed applications with federal regulatory agencies seeking to double the height of its broadcast tower on Avon Mountain. The plan, which also would move the; structure farther from residences, homes, is getting mixed reactions by neighbors.

"If they wanted to, they could just keep what they've got there now, and that's not very pretty," said Alvin Liftig of Deercliff Road, a former planning commission member. Astroline Communications of Massachusetts purchased WHCT in January from the Faith Center Church of California. Astroline has tasked the Federal Communications Commission to decide within 60 days if the company can increase the tow- er's height from about 300 feet to 755 -feet Richard Ramierez, WHCT gener-. al manager, said Friday the increase is needed for a greater broadcast range. "UHF (ultra high frequency) operates on line of sightso the higher are, the greater our broadcast coverage," he said.

Ramierez estimated the current "tower has a broadcast radius of 13 miles while the new tower would have a radius of about 35 miles. Also, Cthe tower would be moved about 1,000 feet back from the property line. The current tower is 250 feet from the edge of Deercliff Road, and the -transmitter building is only 40 feet from the edge. Those structures would be mantled and shrubbery and trees School Evacuated When HARTFORD Group To Protest Nicaragua Policies The Hartford Coalition for Justice in Central American will hold a demonstration at the Hartford Civic Center today at noon to protest the Reagan administration's approach to Nicaragua and recent statements the president made about that country. Robert Trafford of Hartford, one of the organizers, said the protesters will march to the Internal Revenue Service building on High Street at about 12:45 p.m.

Landlord's Case Continued The housing court case of Anthony J. Sessa, a developer who faces 65 criminal counts involving housing code violations at a dilapidated building he owns at 216-218 Washington St, was continued Friday until March 18. Chistopher L. Morano, prosecutor in the housing session of Hartford-New Britain Superior Court, said the case was I continued after both sides filed pretrial motions. Milner To Join Meeting of Mayors Mayor Thirman L.

Milner will meet with mayors from all over the country in New York City today to discuss how federal budget proposals for fiscal 1986 will affect cities. The meeting is sponsored by the United States Conference of Mayors. Music Students To Perform The Archdiocese of Hartford will celebrate the beginning of "Music In Our Schools Month" with a performance by archdiocesan music students Sunday at 2 p.m. in St Thomas Junior High School, 133 Bristol Southington. Students from Bristol, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Meriden, Milf ord, New Britain, Southington, Naugatuck, Waterbury, West Hartford and Wethersf ield will Admission is free.

ROCKY HILL Woman Charged After Sister Struck A 31-year-old Hartford woman was arrested Friday morning when she drove a van into her 1 sister in retaliation for dating her husband, police said. Xiomara B. Larson of 321 Hillside Ave. was arrested at 2:15 a.m. after she drove into her sister, Indiana P.

Orozco, 25, in the parking lot of Elms Commons apartments on Elm Street, police said. Police said Larson was waiting in the parking lot when Orozco and Larson's husband, Richard Larson of Glastonbury, arrived home from a nightclub. According to statements from Orozco and Richard Larson, Xiomara Larson first attempted to run over her husband, from whom she1 is legally separated, and then struck her sister. "Indiana went up in the air and hit the pavement, face first," Richard Larson's statement said. Orozco was taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital at 4:17 a.m.

She was treated and released. Xiomara Larson was charged with third-degree assault She was released on a written promise to appear March 7 in New Britain Superior Court. NEWINGTON Firm To Delay Mall Application Town Building Inspector David E. Paine Friday said the application by a Massachusetts firm for a million-square-foot shopping mall will be delayed until the summer, after the town hires a traffic consultant. The firm, State Properties Inc.

of Newton, agreed not to file the application this spring at the town's request, Paine said. Correction In Friday's Bulletin Board The Courant listed an incorrect telephone number where information can be obtained about the Connecticut Historical Society's program "The Connecticut Irish: A Closer Look." The number is 236-5621. Greenhouse Containing complained of nausea and were treated at the scene and three firefighters were taken to hospitals, a fire official said. Donald Osden, deputy fire chief of the Collinsville Volunteer Fire Department, was admitted at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford for observation, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The other two firefighters were treated and released. More than 40 firefighters from three Canton fire companies and departments in Avon, the Union-ville section of Farmington and Simsbury brought' the fire under control in about 40 minutes, said Lowell Humphrey, chief of the Canton Volunteer Fire Co. When firefighters arrived, flames were coming from the windows and roof of the former green i Jarvis H. Penfield Special to The Courant Fire Levels esticides house, which was used for storage and offices, he said. The cause of the blaze has not been determined.

Officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection spent Friday afternoon trying to determine which chemicals had burned, said Mike Dezzani, senior environmental analyst for the DEP's pesticide control division. DEP officials took air and dust samples at the middle school but Kriksciun said later that tests indicated there was no contamina-tion. The school will reopen Monday, he said. However, at the advice of DEP officials, firefighters threw away about 25 pairs of gloves and 15 helmets that had been exposed to the fumes, a fire official said. Other equipment was scrubbed thoroughly.

contest to a charge of reckless driving and paid $297 in fines and court costs. The second charge was filed after Sara's death. Police said DelRosso was drag racing when he lost control of his car at West Street and Poquonock Avenue. The car entered Sara's yard, struck a concrete divider, left the ground and struck Sara's car. The victim was standing toward the rear of the car and was knocked down, police said.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 26 in Windsor Superior Court. Karragher's statement dissuades other developers from trying to develop the land. However he said he is still about the 148 acres under DEP jurisdiction. "The DEP might try to take it away from the state open-space program," Shapiro said. Edward J.

Daly, the DEP's assistant director of land acquisition and management, said Friday that his office has not heard from Ferrigno about the proposed exchange. "This is the office that would handle the acquisition of property," he said. i V. 1 1 Mae Bonk said she is in favor of improving the road but she does not believe a taller tower would be as unobtrusive as WHCT promises. would be planted in their place.

Ramierez said the new location would be less visible to residents and landscaping the old site would improve the road. Broadcast towers for WFSB-TV, Channel 3, and radio stations WTIC-AM and FM are near the WHCT site, but those towers are about 200 feet shorter than that proposed by Channel 18. WHCT personnel, architects and engineers met with about 60 residents Thursday night to explain the plans and get the neighbors' opinions. Mae Bonk, one of the neighbors, said she is in favor of improving the road but she does not believe a taller tower would be as unobtrusive as WHCT promises. "They're trying to tell us that it won't make any difference to us, but we don't care for it," Bonk said.

Bonk also said that if the independent Hartford television station brings an application for the tower before the Town Planning and Zoning Commission, the residents will fight it. WHCT staff members are scheduled to appear before town planners March 12 for an informal discussion of the tower plans. convicted by a jury on charges he assaulted a 20-year-old woman as she returned to her apartment at 181 Washington St. Feb. 4, 1984.

Wright grabbed and choked the victim, dragged her to her porch at knifepoint, raped her, then took her cigarettes and $1.35 from her. Wright told her that if she screamed, he would kill her. Bailey described the sentence as "very appropriate," but he declined to comment on reports that Wright's pre-sentence report referred to at least two past sexual-assault convictions. Wright had been released from corrections department custody one week before the Feb. 4 rape.

tection. In addition to the 500 acres in Hartland, Ferrigno had offered to, build a new stable and headquarters for the horse guard in Hartland. Acting Adjutant General John P. Karragher said Friday that when the horse guard gave the land to the state Military Department in 1964, it stipulated that 35 acres would be used permanently by the horse guard. "My lawyers told me that means forever," he saidv The horse guard, a ceremonial state military unit seen at parades and other functions around the state, iCity Man Gets 35 Years In 2nd Rape Conviction By DEBORAH PETERSEN, Courant Staff Writer CANTON A fire Friday destroyed a former greenhouse containing potentially hazardous pesticides, forcing the evacuation of a nearby school and sending three firefighters to the hospital, fire officials said.

Approximately 245 Canton Middle School students were evacuated about 9:15 a.m. because officials feared fumes from the burning pesticides at Hinman's Greenhouse on Dyer Avenue would reach the school, said the principal, Paul L. Kriksciun. The students walked across the street to the Canton Elementary School and were bused home about 11 a.m., Kriksciun said. About 10 teachers and children Man Denied WINDSOR A 19-year-old Windsor Locks man charged with participating in a drag race that led to the death of a Poquonock Avenue resident has been denied accelerated rehabilitation, a court official said Friday.

Approval of the request would have allowed Dean R. DelRosso of 27 Circle Drive to avoid trial, Assistant State's Attorney Jeffrey Kline said. After the decision in Windsor Su- perior Court, DelRosso pleaded not guilty to a charge of misconduct with a motor vehicle. The charge was filed in connection Accelerated Rehabilitation Hartford Superior Court Judge Francis R. Quinn sentenced a Hart-ford man to 35 years in prison Friday for a rape committed one week Rafter the 20-year-old had been re-pleased from prison on a previous sexual assault conviction.

Brian Wright, whose last known -address was the Hartford Community Correctional Center, was sen- tenced to 20 years in prison for first- degree sexual assault, an additional 15 years in prison for kidnapping and Ca concurrent 10-year sentence for '-first-degree robbery. Wright, who was prosecuted by the career criminal unit of the Hart-' state's attorney's office, was with an April 20 accident that resulted in the death of Abdelmajed Sara, 53. Sara died in November from injuries sustained in the accident' "Basically the bottom line is it was too serious somebody died," Kline said, explaining the reason for denial of the request. If accelerated rehabilitation had been granted, DelRosso would have been placed on probation and the charges would be dismissed if he completed the probation period successfully. The status usually is reserved for less serious crimes, Kline said.

On May 14 DelRosso pleaded no. acres. "I'm investigating to see if there is any support by town residents to partially develop the land and create a large area of town-owned open space." "Great, great," said Ross S. Shapiro, a spokesman for the Committee to Save the Horse Guard, which has opposed development of the land. Shapiro said he has more than 1,700 signatures on a petition against the trade.

"I'm glad (the military is finally making a decisive statement so everyone understands their position," Shapiro said, adding that he hopes Horse Guard Refuses Land Swap, Plans To Remain in Avon By TERRY BARTLETT 1 Courant Correspondent AVON The state military de-l partment has rejected a developer's proposal to trade 500 acres in Hart-; land for 183 acres of state-owned land in Avon that he wanted to devel- trade, proposed by William Ferrigno of Farmington, would have involved 35 acres that are the head-garters of the Governor's First Horse Guard and another acres maintained by the state -Department of Environmental Pro- was not interested in trading the land, Karragher said. Karragher said Ferrigno wrote -that he "was anxious to discuss a proposal whereby the horse guard could locate at a new and vastly improved site with a larger amount of land." Ferrigno said, "I don't feel disappointed about the horse-guard decision. What I had was a good deal for the horse guard. If they don't like it I'm not going to push them out of Avon." Ferrigno said he is not sure if he will try to obtain the remaining 148 1.