Bennington Banner from Bennington, Vermont • 8

MMMM Mfl ftffftfM Mfll' II Bennington Banner, Thursday, October 30, 1980 President is rated ahead in race for the Northeast New England Andersons candidacy might give Reagan the state. A mid-September poll by the University of Connecticut put the three in a dead heat. One in mid-October by the. Hartford Courant gave Reagan the lead, at 37 percent, to 35 percent for Carter, 16 percent for Anderson and 12 percent undecided. Recent unreleased polls in Vermont, thought certain to be in Reagans corner, reportedly say the GOP nominee is just barely ahead.

The Reagan camp blames Anderson for this. In Maine, absent recent polls, the race is believed too close to call. Rhode Island has been viewed as Carters from the outset; New Hampshire, as Reagans. electoral votes, and Massachusetts, with 14, are in hiscolumn. Of the smaller states, Rhode Island, with four electoral votes, also is clearly in the Cartercamp.

Vermonts three electoral I- votes are no longer believed a sure thing for Reagan. The race in that state, as well as those in Connecticut, with eight votes, and in Maine, with four, are too close to call, recent polls and local political observers suggest. Of the seven states, only New Hampshire, with four electoral votes, is considered a sure bet for the Republican nominee. For the most part. Carters recent improvement in the region appears directly related to the decline of Anderson, the independent candidate.

Carter approached An- BOSTON (AP) President Carter appears to have overcome John Andersons independent threat in New York and Massachusetts and is likely to beat Ronald Reagan decisively in the contest for electoral votes In the Northeast. While polls suggest the popular vote may be close in most of the seven states, and Carter conceivably could lose four of them, New York, with 41 1- ATATHE ft ft dersons challenge with a media campaign that insists the independent cant win hut his candidacy helps Reagan. A Massachusetts poll by the Becker Institute late this month showed Carter barely ahead of Reagan in the heavily Democratic state, 31-29 percent This was the first time Carter led since Becker began its surveys in June, but he has gained steadily. Anderson trailed, at 18 percent and 21 percent were undecided in the latest poll The Illinois congressman peaked in June, at 31 percent according to Becker, and Carters gains have nearly matched Andersons losses. Although the polls suggest dead heat, Carter is expected to carry Massachusetts, which last voted for the Republican nominee in 1956.

A New York TTmes'CBS Hews poll conducted in mid-October showed Carter with 38 percent of the vote in New York, 29 percent for Reagan, 10 percent for Anderson and 23 percent undecided. The spread in a recent Newsday-Gannett poll: Carter, 35 percent; Reagan, 30 percent; Anderson, 11 percent; undecided, 23 percent. The undecided category has grown in New York while Andersons support has declined. But Carter has maintained a lead and Reagans support has remained steady. In Connecticut, recent polls have given1 Reagan a slight edge over Carter, and the Democrats are still worried Around Vermont Bloody crutches a clue? COLCHESTER (AP) The blood on a pair of crutches will be analyzed to determine if it is that of a crippled Essex Center man reported missing last week, according to police.

They said the bloody crutches were found by Colchester officers and sent to a state police laboratory in Montpelier. The crippled man, 37-year-old Wilfred King III, was last seen Friday night as he left his Essex Center home. An investigation revealed that King may have been1 in Colchester Village later that night, police said. Investigators found the crutches and later discovered some clothing in the area that may belong to King. Leahy shows confidence BURLINGTON (AP) Sen.

Patrick Leahy, says he is confident he will win re-election next Tuesday because he has conducted an issue-oriented campaign. People have heard me talk issues, on everything from defense policy to agricultural policy and that has gotten a good response, Leahy said at a news conference Wednesday. Leahy also repeated his criticism that his Republican opponent, Stewart Ledbetter, has run a negative campaign He added that he sees no chance of a Ledbetter victory. According to Leahy, there are indications voters do not agree with Ledbetters proposals that the country can afford increased defense spending, tax cuts and a balanced budget. Election Day raffle sought HARTFORD (AP) A man who says it was a disgrace that only 12 percent of Hartfords voters turned out in Septembers state primary has a plan to encourage more voters to the polls on Tuesday offer them money.

Daniel Hillard said he will pass out a straw ballot asking residents if they would appropriate $1,000 for an Election Day raffle. If the plan is approved, each voter would receive a ticket at the polls entitling the bearer to participate in a drawing the next day. If the town turns out 50 percent or more of its voters, Hillard would draw 20 names out of a hat and pay them each $50. If turnout is under 50 percent, the money would be returned to the town coffers. If we are to continue to be critical of our elected officials, we should be accountable and I frankly think, no deposit, no return if you dont vote, you shouldnt go out and complain, Hillard said.

The man admits his plan is a gimmick and he doesnt even know if its legal but he said its worth a try because he believes it would end voter apathy Sweet Cider $1.85 Homemade Donuts $1.65 doz. HALLOWEEN TREATS Hddwim on an Special! small apples! SOUTHERN.VERMONLORCHARDS OStSSiaSliamED'tf i 000000000000000000000000000 REMNANT SALE Armstrong Congoleum carpets linoleum Laurie Cabot, one of about 450 practicing witches of Salem, Mass. Quiet Halloween predicted Election violations probed 01 tll0 WltcllCS of Stlldll Prices start for carpet $075 tJ sq.yd. for linoleum both attributes that are merchandized at tourist traps all over Witch City. Weve been so demeaned that even our laugh is a cackle, she says.

Despite its history and the fact that Salem has about 450 practicing witches, 175 of whom are male witches, not warlocks a term which means traitor Ms. Cabot, says ignorance keeps the community only mildly tolerant of those who engage in witchcraft. If we ever became terribly obvious as a religion, Im sure theyd burn us again, says Ms. Cabot. But Kuva has a more tolerant approach: When you dress in 100 percent black, people ask why.

Its not an easy life. Witch is a term you have to take on only when youre ready. SALEM, Mass. (AP) To hear them tell it, the modern witches of Salem, are just as misunderstood as those accused of witchcraft in the hysteria of 1692, when 19 were hanged here and one was pressed to death. On Halloween, trick-or-treaters who believe all witches have warts, whiny voices and wicked ways, will be dressed according to the storybook stereotype, Rearing about neighborhoods wftfi black hats' and broomsticks, trying to put a scare into the unwary.

But Salems self-proclaimed witches say they have no intentions of doing anything scary oh Oct. 31. All Hallow een is their traditional New Years Eve, and they will gather in their robes of black, the color they believe absorbs all energy and makes them powerful, to dance in the traditional magic circle that will help them meditate and project health and prosperity for the coming months. It will be calm and Quiet. Then well party, said Eddie Kuva, 31, a Catholic who teaches at the Femald State School in Waltham and says he uses witchcraft as a science to augment his religion.

The ritual wont be open to the public this year, the first time in nine. We found that it got too big and commercial the past couple years," Kuva explained. It got so people who didnt understand were showing up in Dracula suits, says Laurie another practicing witch who has a coven of 12 other women and a growing reputation she once cast a spell intended to help a Red Sox player out of a batting slump. The 48-year-old witch who lectures regularly on her craft says the confusion about witchcraft began centuries ago when feligion became organized. For competitive and political reasons, she says, the newer groups that borrowed the circle, chalice, incense, staff and vestments of witchcraft found it collectively OK to, persecute witches.

Now, people swallow the misconception that witchcraft is satanism, or, at best, silly, Visit Our tEELYS IDOR COVERING Historic Rt.7A, Bennington, Vt. 802442-5826 000000000000000000000000000 -i fM- 1 Bus drivers stay out BOSTON (AP) Public school bus drivers defied a federal judges back-to-work order today, staying on picket lines set up Oct. 9, but school attendance continued to rise despite the strike. A total of 48,437 of 65,699 enrolled students, 7 percent fewer than normal, attended school Wednesday as drivers rejected an order by a federal judge who directed management to rehire 20 fired union leaders until arbitration settles their cases. Five hundred members of Local 8751 Steelworkers of America are employed by ARA Services which provides transportation for 27,000 Boston school children.

Seven drivers are serving indefinite jail terms on contempt of court charges for defying an earlier back-to-work order. BURLINGTON (AP) Complaints of possible state election law violations by local officials during the September primary are being investigated by the Chittenden County states attorneys office. The complaint was filed by state Rep. Sadie White, D-Burlington, who lost her seat when she finished third in the primary race for the two Democratic House nominations from District 4-7 in Burlington. The complaint concerns the possible improper delivery of absentee ballots, according to state police Detective Stephen Miller, who is assigned to the prosecutors office.

Mrs. White, 78, said she filed the complaint earlier this month Killer said an investigation into the situation has revealed some Sloppiness by Burlington officials, but he refused to conuneht further on the complaint. Fuel subsidy checks coming MONTPELIER (AP) Fuel subsidy checks will mailed today to about 15,000 Vermont households following federal approva! of the states fuel assistance program, according to state Social Welfare Commissioner David Wilson. He said the federal Health and Human Services Agency has approved the states $10.8 million program, despite the federal governments concern over two sections of the program. Wilson and federal officials met Tuesday and ironed out most of the differences, but the two sides still disagree on two points.

Wilson said he will continue to negotiate with federal officials over the remaining controversies. Earlier figures indicated there were 12,000 households waiting for the fuel aid money. But Wilson said a last-minute decision to give aid to people living in small units not classified as apartments has increased the figure. checks mailed today are the first of six scheduled payments made to Vermonters who meet the eligibility requirements. Over in New York Woman awarded $100,000 TROY (AP) A State Supreme Court jury has awarded $100,000 to the daughter of a woman who was released from the emergency room of a hospital although she had suffered a heart attack.

After a five-day trial before Justice Lawrence E. Kahn, the jury awarded the money from Leonard Hospital to Mary Ann Mumford on behalf of the estate of Lillian Wilcox. The jury found no cause of action against Dr. Carl Englebard, the physician on duty in the emergency room when Mrs. Wilcox, 67, sought assistance.

She complained of chest pain radiating down her left arm. According to trial testimony, the woman was examined and an electrocardiogram was taken and she was then released. The following day, Mrs. Wilcox consulted her own doctor who ordered her back to the hospital. Mrs.

Wilcox died of cardiac arrest a few hours afterd her second trip to the emergency room. Guards records questioned ALBANY (AP) State prisons Commissioner Thomas A. Coughlin says he would like to establish tougher hiring standards for new guards in the force. Coughlin said Wednesday there are 50 guards now working for the Department of Correctional Services who had past felony araests that were reduced or led to no convictions. The question is, can a guy who has had charges against him dismissed be expected to guard another guy who might have faced the same charge and taken a fall for it? Coughlin said.

Can other guards count on him? Down in Berkshires 1 Girls Club gets funds PITTSFIELD The Pittsfield Girls Club, an affiliate of the Girls Oubof America Inc; was one of six agencies nationally to receive a $14250 federal grantto help promote a pilot Teenage Parent Program. The program is to encourage teen-age pregnant women to complete their academic programs and to increase awareness and employment skills. Mary Hilton, deputy director of the Womens Bureau of th UJS. Department of Labor, said the program was an attempt to break the cycle of poverty" by providing adolescent mothers between ages 14 and 19 with a planned program which includes home tutoring, career training and child care. Ipif? Share file Spirit! Halloween is for kids and adults! New Hallmark pumpkin part) ware makes entertaining so easy, youll soon be in the spirit.

So share the fun give a party and send Halloween cards to family and friends. Its fan to share the $int! 1979 Hallmark Cards Inc JAY'S -(fotwiki SHOP BENNINGTON SQUARE PUTNAM SQUARE i.