Waterbury City Guide

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

The Waterbury Observer’s

City Guide

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FREE Take One

Question; Quid Aere Perennius? (“What Is More Lasting Than Brass?”)

Answer; The People Of Waterbury

Brass Is Gone, But The People Endure....

2019 Edition

Waterbury Photograph By John Murray

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The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide 2019

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The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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155 THOMASTON AVE. WATERBURY, CT. 06702 TEL:203-754-5700 FAX:203-754-5701

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The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide 2019

www.waterburyobserver.org Downtown revitalization took a major step forward in 2018 when Post University moved into the HowlandHughes Building on Bank Street.

Welcome To Waterbury

The city of Waterbury, with a population of 109,679 and acreage of 28.96 square miles, is the largest city in the Central Naugatuck Valley Region, the fifth largest city in the state and the ninth largest in New England. Located in the region’s geographic center, the city offers a variety of regional retail, commercial, health, education and social services. The city is also located along the Naugatuck River, Interstate 84 (Yankee Expressway) and Route 8, and has a Metro-North railroad station with connections to Grand Central Terminal and is situated 77 miles (about 90 minutes) away from New York City. Waterbury lies in the humid continental climate zone, and normally sees cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Waterbury was once known as the “Brass City” because of its long history as the center of the nation’s brass industry and it is now home to citizens of diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Today Waterbury is taking steps to build a sustainable future that makes the links between transportation, housing and the environment so that neighborhoods are livable and walkable. With the presence of a skilled and educated regional

workforce, affordable real estate, and the convenience and culture of city life balanced by the nearby rural beauty of the country and riverside, Waterbury continues to be known for its advanced technology capabilities, historic architecture and facades, and most importantly, its strong communities, culture and neighborhoods.

Downtown Revitalization

Waterbury offers affordability and one-of-a-kind urban planning. With well over 150 businesses located within its boundaries, which include professional offices, restaurants, entertainment venues, educational facilities, and retail establishments. The central business district offers elegantly refurbished brownstones and turn-of-the-century architecture with affordable housing opportunities, retail and office space.

Main Street Waterbury

The National Main Street Center has recognized Main Street Waterbury as a National Main Street Community by granting

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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Program Accreditation for “outstanding accomplishments toward the goal of downtown revitalization.” This recognition is presented based on the results of work done and progress made in the preceding year.

Mission Statement: Advocate, educate, and collaborate for downtown revitalization to enhance downtown through the Main Street four point program focus on economic restructuring, promotion, organization and design.

Vision Statement: Easily accessible regional center and downtown neighborhood to learn, live, work and play.

Connecticut residents, many of whom have distinguished themselves in the fields of community service, business, education, law and politics. Today, the campus is located in a modern, state-of-the art facility in the heart of downtown Waterbury.

University of Connecticut at Waterbury 99 East Main Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone 203-236-9800 www.waterbury.uconn.edu

Main Street Waterbury 83 Bank Street Waterbury, CT 06721 Contact: Carl Rosa, Executive Director Phone: 203-757-0701 ext.302 www.mainstreetwaterbury.com www.vibesafterfive.com www.brasscitybrewfest.com

Western Connecticut State University

Waterbury Development Corporation

The Waterbury Development Corporation is the premier economic development agency servicing the City of Waterbury. WDC provides direct business financing as well as recommends technical assistance providers, financial counseling and site selection information.

Waterbury Development Corporation 24 Leavenworth Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-346-2607

Downtown Merchants Association

The Downtown Merchants Association is a free forum for all merchants in Waterbury’s central business district to share ideas and work together to improve our mercantile area.

The association strives to unite the Waterbury community through updates on upcoming events and opportunities to participate in making downtown a cleaner, safer, and more lucrative place to be!

Downtown Merchants Association 158 Grand Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-757-2279

Education

In addition to the public school system Waterbury also has a number of non-public, private, and parochial K-12 schools as well as five institutions of higher education.

UConn Waterbury

The University of Connecticut’s Waterbury campus serves more than 1,000 students annually. In its sixty years of operation, UConn Waterbury has opened the doors to educational access and excellence to thousands of

Waterbury is located on the campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College. It offers a convenient location for students in the Greater Waterbury area to take the same academic programs for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in management or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The same classes are offered n Waterbury as those in Danbury, so Western students may take classes at both locations. All courses are conveniently scheduled to accommodate working students, and are taught by Western’s faculty members.

Western Connecticut State University 750 Chase Parkway, Ekstrom Hall 627 Waterbury, CT 06708 Phone: 203-596-8777 www.wcsu.edu/waterbury

Naugatuck Valley Community College

At Naugatuck Valley Community College, students learn in technologically advanced classrooms amid beautiful, safe surroundings that are conveniently located at exit 18 off of I-84 in Waterbury. The College offers more than 100 accredited programs leading to associate degrees or professional certification and more than 100 non-credit courses to sharpen proficiencies and improve employable skills.

As a member of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (ConnSCU), NVCC offers its students the most affordable prices in higher education and the opportunity to complete their first two years of college right here in Waterbury. Plus, NVCC students receive free unlimited rides on city buses, which makes it easy to get to class day or night. For students looking to complete a bachelor’s degree or beyond, NVCC also offers full credit transfer to Connecticut State Universities, Charter Oak and more.

NVCC is the only Connecticut community college to offer associate degree programs in aviation science, horticulture, and visual and performing arts (dance option). The campus is also home to unique facilities including two theaters, a freestanding greenhouse, an observatory, many teaching and learning gardens and the new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. All students have access to the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE ) for tutoring seven days a week, computer use, English as a Second Language help, research assistance, a specialized Math lab and writing center.

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The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide 2019

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January 20th, 2019 Dear Friends,

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Welcome to the 7th Edition of The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide.

Welcome to the 9th edition of The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide.

The City Guide, published annually, is a valuable reference with a The City Guide, published annually, is a valuable refernce with a wealth of wealth of information on City departments, businesses, and information on City departments, businesses and neighborhood associations. neighborhood associations. In addition to services you will also find entertainment available in the greater Waterbury Inrestaurant addition and to services you willoptions also find restaurant and entertainment area.available in greater Waterbury. options

I encourage a copy City Guide, leaf through it, and I encourageyou youtotopick takeup a copy of of thethe City Guide, leaf through, and discover thethe variety discover varietythat thatWaterbury Waterburyhas hasto tooffer. offer.

Sincerely,

Neil M. O’Leary Mayor, City of Waterbury

235 Grand Street • Waterbury, ConneCtiCut 06702 • (203)574-6712

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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Located at the intersection of Route 8 and Interstate-84 the City of Waterbury is perfectly positioned between New York City and Boston for commerce. Ongoing repairs to the highways and the eventually overhaul of the mixmaster, and increased rail service will continue to help the city evolve. Photograph by John Murray Through NVCC’s Bridge to College programs, the College provides early intervention, mentoring programs and academic support services to at-risk students, ensuring the completion of high school, matriculation and college graduation. We are proud to be the first Connecticut community college to grant more than 1,200 associate degrees and certificates at commencement in May 2014.

NVCC alumni become productive employees, raising families and helping to make the Waterbury community economically stronger to live, work and thrive in. Our students find work through the Job Placement Center where they learn how to write a resume, practice their interview skills, attend job fairs and connect with employers who are actively hiring interns or employees. They continue to give back to their College and their community through volunteerism, civic action and annual giving. To learn more about attending your community college, visit www.nv.edu or call us for a tour.

Naugatuck Valley Community College 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708 Phone: 203 575-8000 www.nv.edu

Post University

Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2015, Post University provides students with the knowledge, personal skills and experience required to be leaders in their chosen fields.

Located on a 58 acre campus in Waterbury, Post University offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for on-campus and online students of all ages, and is known for its quality, career-driven academic programs, small classes, and competitive NCAA Division II athletics.

The University’s full- and part-time resident, commuter, and online students come from the United States and abroad, and are supported by faculty whose mission is to prepare students to compete and succeed in today’s global workplace. To learn more about Post University, call 800.345.2562, or visit www.Post.edu or http://blog.post. edu.

Post University 800 Country Club Road Waterbury, CT 06723 Phone: (800) 345-2562 www.Post.edu

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The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide 2019

Waterbury Public Schools

Approximately 17,445 children attend the Waterbury Public Schools which consists of 19 elementary schools, two Interdistrict magnet schools, three middle schools, three high schools, one alternative education school and one learning center.

Waterbury Public Schools Superintendent’s Office 236 Grand Street Waterbury, CT 203-574-8000 www.waterbury.k12.ct.us Non-public, private, and parochial K-12 schools can be viewed through the City of Waterbury’s web site - www. waterbury-ct.gov Al Yaqeen Academy, Alpha&Omega Christian Academy , Blessed Sacrament Catholic Day School, Chase Collegiate School, Childrens Community School, School Of Norwalk/ waterbury Site, Holy Cross High School, Lighthouse Christian Academy, Our Lady Of Mount Carmel School, Sacred Heart High School, St Peter & Paul School, St Mary School, St. Francis Xavier School, Stepping Stones School, Waterbury Christian Academy, Wee Care Nursery & Day Care, and Yeshiva K’tana Of Waterbury.

www.waterburyobserver.org

Quality of Life

Waterbury is conveniently located at the crossroads of Interstate 84 and Route 8 in one of the most historic and beautiful areas of the country. Approximately one-third of the nation’s total population is within a 500-mile radius.

Known as the “Brass City” because of its long history as the center of the nation’s brass industry, With a population of over 110,000 people Waterbury is the metropolitan center of a thirteen-town region known as the Central Naugatuck Valley Region (CNVR).

Centrally located, this Southern New England City is less than two hours away from New York City, Boston and Providence. The region is widely recognized for its abundant and affordable housing and the city’s neighborhoods offer a wide variety of style and price. Housing costs are competitive and currently below the state average. With comfortable two-bedroom condominiums and three-bedroom homes available in a family neighborhood setting, you’re sure to find accommodations to meet your needs.

For more information, the National Association of Realtors maintains a website known as realtor.com at: www.realtor. com - a comprehensive source for realtors and homes in Connecticut.

One of the unique and interesting aspects of life in Waterbury is its strong sense of community. Waterbury counts as its strengths its ethnic diversity and strong neighborhood associations. Waterbury is proud of the

Visit our website at: www.rosachiropractic.com What Is Chiropractic?

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Chiropractic is based on applying scientific fact to stimulating your body’s own remarkable resources. These important self-regulating and self-healing functions are controlled by your brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

When the nervous system is impaired through illness, injury or stress it can cause tissues and organs throughout the body to function poorly.

Doctors call this degenerative chain reaction the vertebral subluxation complex. It is an underling cause of many health problems.

With chiropractic’s hands-on, drug-free health care approach, millions have found a healthier lifestyle through diet, exercise and maintaining proper spinal function.

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Voted Greater Waterbury’s Best Chiropractor for 22 Years

203-573-0011 | 715 LAKEWOOD RD WATERBURY

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Questions? Report an Issue?

Citizens Service Center Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (203)597-3444

citizenservicecenter@waterburyct.org www.waterburyct.org

@mayoroleary

City Hall, 2nd Floor • 235 Grand Street • Waterbury, CT 06702 • (203)574-6712

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Waterbury

www.waterburyobserver.org

Registrars of Voters

Hours of Operation: 8:50 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.

Republican Registrar, Timothy De Carlo (tdecarlo@waterburyct.org)

Democratic Registrar, Teresa Begnal (TBegnal@waterburyct.org)

The polling places for November 5th, 2019 wil be City Districts Mission Statement The Registrars of Voters are responsible for conducting elections, primaries and special elections and maintaining accurate voter records. Other activities include redistricting, canvassing and registering voters, having special voting sessions and conducting registration sessions at high schools.

Registration Requirements U.S. Citizen | Waterbury Resident | At least 18 years old on or before the next election

Waterbury Polling Places 1-1 Kennedy High School, 422 Highland Ave. 1-2 Gilmartin School, 94 Spring Lake Rd. 1-3 Tinker School, 655 Congress Ave. 2-1 Mount Olive AME Zion Church, 82 Pearl St. 2-2 Jonathan Reed School, 33 Griggs St. 2-3 Woodrow Wilson School, 235 Birch St. 2-4 Regan School, 2780 North Main St. 2-5 Edward D. Bergin Apartments, 70 Lakewood Rd. 3-1 Carrington School, 24 Kenmore Ave. 3-2 Catholic Academy of Waterbury, 386 Robinwood Rd.

3-3 Kingsbury School, 220 Columbia Blvd.

3-4 Sprague School, 1443 Thomaston Ave. 4-1 Chase School, 40 Woodtick Rd. 4-2 Crosby High School, 300 Pierpont Rd. 4-3 Wendell Cross School, 1255 Hamilton Ave. 5-1 Willow Plaza Community Center, 60 Elmwood Ave. 5-2 Washington Park Community House, 283 Sylvan Ave. 5-3 Maloney School. 233 South Elm St 5-4 St. Francis Xavier Church Hall, 625 Baldwin Street 5-5 St Peter & Paul School Gym, 116 Beecher Ave.

Voter Registration Forms: Register to vote in Connecticut | Change your name and/or address on current registration Enroll in a political party or change party enrollment

236 Grand Street, 1st Floor, Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone (203) 574-6751 Fax (203) 346-3533

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Mission Statement

The mission of the Town Clerk’s Office is to preserve and protect all records placed in the custody of this office and to provide a wide range of services to the public in a professional and courteous manner.

OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK Core Functions

• Record and Index City Land Records • Issue and Record all Vital Records including Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates • Issue Marriage Licenses • Issue Burial and Cremation Permits • Issue and Maintain List of all City Dog Licenses • Record and Issue Military Discharge Papers • Record and Certify Notary Public Certificates • Record and Maintain List of Justices of the Peace • Maintain City Liquor Permits • Enforce Campaign Finance Filings and Make Available to Public • Various Elections Duties including Issuing Absentee Ballots • Maintain Permanent Records of Elected Officials and Election Results • Provide Graphic Design, Printing and Mail Services to All City Departments

Antoinette “Chick” Spinelli Town Clerk Antoinette “Chick” Spinelli aspinelli@waterburyct.org Town Clerk aspinelli@waterburyct.org

Hours of Operation Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4:30PM City Hall - 235 Grand St., Waterbury, CT - 1st Floor Town Clerk (203)574-6806 | Vital Statistics (203)574-6800

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Planning for the Future‐ Portrait of a Graduate:

Problem Solver — Resilient Visionary—Communicator Articulate—Work Ethic Perceptive—Condent Courageous—Empathetic Honest—Dreams Big Inspired and Curious Independent – Industrious Innovative Thinker Socially responsible citizen

High levels of math and technology skills.

Knows value of money.

Not afraid to take risks or to fail.

Awareness of mental illness and special needs.

Respect for self and others.

Every school system is unique, but connected by a shared aspiration: that all students have an educational experience preparing them to be effective lifelong learners and contributors to society.

Now more than ever, that experience not only provides for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but it must also be more intentional about fostering critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other skills our young people need to thrive in this complex, rapidly changing world.

Many school systems across the country have engaged their larger community in developing a Portrait of a Graduate, a collective vision that articulates the community’s aspirations for all students.

Locally developed, but globally positioned, the Portrait of a Graduate serves as a North Star for system transformation. Providing strategic direction for the redesign of the overall educational experience for students, this collective vision reinvigorates and re-engages students, teachers, and community stakeholders.

We are continuing our conversation on what constitutes a successful Waterbury Public Schools graduate.

Stay tuned!

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Dr. Verna D. Ruffin, Superintendent of Schools

236 Grand Street ♦ Waterbury, CT. 06702 ♦ (203) 574‐8000 ♦ www.waterbury.k12.ct.us

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Office of the City Clerk Mission Statement The Office of the City Clerk of the City of Waterbury is committed to providing accurate records of all Municipal Board and Commission meetings of the City of Waterbury in a friendly and expedient manner.

Michael J. Dalton, Core Functions • Receive correspondence and keep records for municipal boards and commissions • Provide public access to records of all municipal boards and commissions • Oversee the creation of agendas for municipal boards and commissions • Post and advertise meeting notices and agendas • Schedule, staff and record various meetings of municipal boards and commissions • Oversee and assist the Board of Aldermen in the legislative process, from introduction of proposed legislation to final approval and publication • File, maintain and store all legislation, minutes and other recorded documents related to the operation of city government • Provide copies of ordinances, meeting notices and minutes, and other matters of public information to members of the public • Serve as a document and resource center for the Mayor, Board of Aldermen, City departments and members of the public • Assist in the research of requested information and/or documents • Serve as a direct contact for City departments, outside agencies, and the general public on behalf of municipal boards and commissions • Accept and process claims and suits filed against the City

City Clerk mdalton@waterburyct.org The following is a list of the current fees as charged by the Office of the City Clerk: Charter Operating Budget Capital Budget Three Year Financial Plan Digital Copy of Charter Labor Contracts Copies per page

$30.00 $20.00 $10.00 $10.00 $15.00 $10.00 $0.50

For any documents that exceed $10 in cost, payment will be required prior to the duplication of the documents.

Hours of operation: Mon-Fri, 8:50 a.m.-4:50 p.m.

City Hall- 235 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 203-574-6741|Fax: 203-574-6745

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Waterbury Waterbury– – Intersection of Interstate 84 & Route 8 

A Strategic Location between NYC, Boston & Stamford

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Center for Economic Investment

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Strong Stable Government

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Diverse Housing Choices

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Thriving Neighborhoods

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Strong Higher Education Choices

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Vibrant Arts and Culture Director of Economic Development • Joseph McGrath (203)574-6712 • jmcgrath@waterburyct.org

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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Waterbury Senior Center

“Now is the time for you to take advantage of all the resources that our City has to offer!”

The Waterbury Senior Center is a “one stop shop” for Waterbury residents 60 and over. The Senior Center hosts programs like: • • • • • • •

nutrition and wellness seminars fitness classes plus a fitness room weekly blood pressure screenings arts, crafts, and music lessons a pool hall a weekly lunch program and much more!

Participation in these programs and services can help you feel empowered, while improving your mind, body, and spirit. We aim to keep you informed and involved in your community. We can also provide you and your family with information about local agencies and services. The Waterbury Senior Center staff invites you to visit and explore all that the senior center has to offer. If you need transportation to the Center, please call us. We hope to see you soon!

Danessa Marshall Director/Municipal Agent

Waterbury Senior Center 1985 East Main Street St., Waterbury, CT 06705 203-574-6746 www.waterburyct.org/seniorservices

Joan V. Hartley

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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State Senator 15th District

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Best Legislator Most Powerful Woman

Representing Waterbury, Middlebury & Naugatuck

Deputy President Pro Tempore Chair: Commerce

Vice-Chair: Appropriations;Insurance and Real Estate Member: Executive & Legislative Nominations; Legislative Management

Contact Senator Hartley at...

Legislative Office Building, Room 2101, Hartford, CT 06106-1591 Web: www.SenatorHartley.cga.ct.gov

What’s happening at the State Capitol and around the state? Find me on Facebook and find out. It’s paperless, informative and immediate. www.facebook.com — Search: “Senator Joan Hartley”

Joan.Hartley@cga.ct.gov 1-860-240-0006

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Looking down East Main Street towards the Green and St. John’s Church. many neighborhood-based community groups that actively promote quality of life for their residents. This type of enthusiasm creates a positive atmosphere in which to live, work and raise a family. Senior Resources are also listed for your reference. Other community resources that provide activities and programs for local families and youths are available below.

Senior Resources East End Senior Center 117 Southmayd Road Waterbury, CT 06705 Phone: 203.757.1307 Meals on Wheels is the most recognized name brand of senior nutrition programs. But other senior meal programs by various names are in many communities in the U.S. and around the world and often go by names other than Meals on Wheels (a generic term generally reserved for home delivered meal programs). While Meals on Wheels programs are delivered to the home, seniors may also find congregate meal programs at local senior centers, churches, or community centers.

Meals on Wheels 232 North Elm Street Waterbury, CT 06704 Phone: 203-756-5261

South Waterbury Senior Citizens South Congregational Church 160 Piedmont Street Waterbury, CT 06706 Phone: 203-754-8154 Transportation provided for Waterbury senior citizens for medical visits, shopping and recreation. Door-to-door service is offered at no additional cost. Van is lift-equipped for seniors who are disabled. The shuttle transports Waterbury seniors to all Waterbury doctors and medical services, including medical buildings in Prospect and Middlebury.

Waterbury Senior Shuttle Phone: 203-757-5355 Hours: Reservations: M-F: 9am-12noon Fees: Donation requested Eligibility Requirements: Resident of Waterbury; Ages 60+; Call in advance New Opportunities’ Elder Services Division offers older citizens a variety of supportive programs which provide everything from affordable household help on a sliding scale, nutrition services including Meals On Wheels, fuel assistance, subsidized volunteer opportunities and more.

Age requirements vary from 55 and above to 65 plus, depending on the individual program.

Animeals, BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors), CHORE, Comprehensive Outreach Project for

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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Three-family houses are common in many neighborhoods in Waterbury, including Wood Street in the North End.

Elders (COPE), Emergency Response System - VoiceCare, Foster Grandparents Program, InHome Services, Meals On Wheels, MedSmart, Money Management Program, RSVP, Senior Cafe, Senior Companions, Senior Dine, Senior Nutrition Hotline, Tribury Friendly Visitors NOI Elder Services 232 North Elm St., 3rd Floor Waterbury, CT 06702 T: 203-575-4268 Elder@NewOppInc.org

Community Resources

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Waterbury is one of the oldest Clubs in America, Established in 1888, the Club has been serving Waterbury youth for 125 years. The Club’s goals stem from our Mission and the goals are for all youth to have a positive self-identity, community involvement, health & well-being, a well-rounded moral compass and educational, employment, social, emotional and cultural competencies by the age of eighteen. The Club does this by promoting the development of young people by instilling a sense of competence, a sense of usefulness, a sense of belonging and a sense of power or influence.

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury 1037 East Main Street Waterbury, CT, 06705 Phone: 203-756-8104 www.bgcgwater.org

Girls Inc. provide girls with strategies to overcome social, intellectual, and economic challenges while helping empower them to be the change agents for the coming generations. Open six days a week during the school year, Girls Inc. of SWCT offers both summer and after school programs in safe, girl-only empowerment zones.

Each girl can learn, explore, create, and interact with their peers and overcome any challenges. Service area spans from the Greater Greenwich to Greater Waterbury area, including cities such as Stamford, Greater Norwalk, Weston, Bridgeport, Watertown, Prospect and Beacon Falls.

Girls Incorporated of Greater Waterbury 35 Park Place Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-756-4639 www.girlsincswct.com Waterbury Youth Service System, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization committed to providing services that promote the overall wellbeing of children, youth and families who reside in Waterbury Connecticut and the 11 surrounding towns.

Waterbury Youth Service has grown to include a wide range of programming and services for children, youth and families and has a diverse client base representative of the demographic makeup of the area. Many services target at risk youth; extensive programming that is non-targeted and open to any youth who desires to participate. Programming

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Two Waterbury icons, the statue of the Bras Horse on the Green, and in the background is the steeple of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Photo by John Murray

and services for children, youth and parents treat the family as a whole.

Waterbury Youth Service System, Inc. 83 Prospect Street, Waterbury CT 06702 Contact: Kathi Crowe, Executive Director Phone: 203-573-0264 www.waterburyyouthservices.org The YMCA is a membership organization open to all people; it welcomes women and men, girls and boys of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, abilities and financial circumstances.

YMCA programs and branches embrace diversity, reflecting the needs and composition of the community and embody a commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering responsibility.

YMCA 136 West Main Street Waterbury, CT. 06702 Phone: 203-754-2181 Fax: 203-754-9095 www.waterburyymca.org

Healing

Greater Waterbury has two major teaching hospitals, The Waterbury Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, with a

total of over 600 beds. Both are equipped with Level II trauma centers, have emergency helicopter pads and both are affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine.

The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, a partnership between St. Mary’s Hospital and Waterbury Hospital, is home to a collaboration of the outpatient cancer services and resources of both hospitals including: outpatient radiation and chemotherapy treatments, oncology consultations and patient and family support services. Services include: education programs, nutrition counseling and pastoral care.

Most recently both hospitals formed their second partnership to create The Heart Center, an advanced cardiac care program, offering patients at St. Mary’s and Waterbury Hospital immediate access to a complete range of cardiac services, including angioplasty and open heart surgery.

Approximately 400 licensed physicians in all major health fields serve the region’s hospitals and clinics. Multiple ambulance services with trained paramedical personnel provide emergency services.

Today, more than 3,700 of your neighbors and friends are hard at work caring for you, your family and our community.

Both hospitals continue to expand their network of services, forging alliances with other key health care providers and exploring new ways to comfort and cure. The Orthopedics Center for Joint Reconstruction at Waterbury Hospital ranks in the top 5% for orthopedic care, garnering five star ratings

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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What is BRASS?

“BRASS is a collaboration of organizations working together to engage Waterbury residents ages 60+, by offering a range of opportunities and programs to help our city become a great place to grow old!”

Programming. Advocacy. Resources.

Paola Vargas- BRASS Program Coordinator

Are you interested in participating in programs such as wellness, fitness, arts, music, and technology classes for free?

Join BRASS!

Danessa Marshall- Waterbury Municipal Agent for the Elderly and Waterbury Senior Center Director.

Do you need an advocate to help voice your concerns?

Join BRASS!

Francesca Robles- BRASS Information and Benefits Specialist.

Are you having difficulty accessing important resources on health insurance?

Join BRASS!

“Being a BRASS Member means being part of a growing family, and having access to senior services, programs, support, friendship and member discounts at no cost. All you need to do is register!”

For more information please call 203-575-4219

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

203.753.9505

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Featuring a 70' Walk-In Cooler The Largest in Greater Waterbury!

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Best Liquor Store 20 Years Best Beer Selection 16 Years Best Wine Selection 14 Years

The Spirit Shop 657 Watertown Avenue • Waterbury, CT

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855.344.1874 TOLL FREE thomastonsb.com Member FDIC

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

City of Waterbury DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 526 Huntingdon Ave (203) 574-6851

185 South Main St (203) 574-6851

Bureau of Refuse

Bureau of Engineering (203) 574-6857

(203) 574-6851 Bart Startup, Supervisor

Paul Bellagamba, City Engineer

Central Vehicle Maintenance

Bureau of Public Buildings (203) 574-6965

(203) 574-6860 Mario Ferrucci, Acting Supervisor

Bureau of Streets

Bureau of Recreation (203) 574-8261

(203) 574-6793 Brian O’Donnell, Supervisor

Victor Cuevas, Acting Supervisor

Bureau of Parks & Golf Courses (203) 574-6860 John Egan, Acting Supervisor Chris Mauro, Golf Course Superintendent

Director of Public Works Deputy Director of Public Works Deputy Director of Public Works

David B. Simpson Mark Lombardo Pat Mulvehill

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Voted BEST Used Car Dealer

Highline Car Connection Team

Leading Edge Service / Old Fashioned Values ~ We are a family-owned business, established in 1998, and we employ ASE Certified Master Technicians. Every vehicle has a thorough safety inspection so you can buy with confidence.

Visit our website ~ www.highlinecarconnection.com Our website offers convenience; but we still like things the old fashioned way, face-to-face. Please stop by!

We specialize in auto finance ~ No Credit / Bad Credit? No Problem!

1833 Watertown Ave • Waterbury 203.573.0884 Customer satisfaction is our highest priority.

www.highlinecarconnection.com – SHOWROOM HOURS – Mon - Thurs 9am - 7pm Fri 9am - 6pm Sat 9am - 5pm

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com for kip and knee replacement, back and neck surgery, including spinal fusion and overall orthopedic care.

St. Mary’s has combined wellness and convenience through a wellness outpatient facility. The 5,500 sq. foot building is the new home of St. Mary’s Outpatient Physical Therapy Center and includes Sleep Disorder Laboratories.

In addition, the Waterbury Region has numerous licensed residential care homes, nursing centers, assisted living facilities and retirement communities.

St. Mary’s Hospital 56 Franklin Street Waterbury, CT 06706 Phone: 203-709-6000 Waterbury Hospital 64 Robbins Street Waterbury, CT 06708 Phone: 203-573-6000 www.waterburyhospital.org The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center 1075 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT. 06708 Phone: 203-575-5555 www.leevercancercenter.org Heart Center of Greater Waterbury Hospital 1075 Chase Parkway

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Waterbury, CT 06708 Phone: 203-575-1992 www.heartcentergw.org

Entertainment

The Palace Theater is a majestic, landmark theater that first opened in 1922. After hosting all the greatest names in entertainment history for almost sixty years, it closed in the late 1980s, following the fate of many similar theaters of its day.

It was saved from the wrecking ball and reopened in 2005 amid great fanfare after undergoing an extensive $30 million restoration transforming it into a state-of- the-art performing arts facility. Boasting a 5,000 square foot stage, a 2,600-seat main hall, an intimate dining space that can accommodate up to 80 for dinner, a grand staircase, and several ornate lobby spaces, this presenting theater offers the national tours of Broadway shows, headline acts and emerging new talent in music and comedy, family and education entertainment.

The Palace has become one of the area’s most desirable venues offering outstanding entertainment choices and a unique backdrop for all your special events and receptions.

Palace Theater 100 East Main Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-346.2000 www.palacetheaterct.org

Thapa’s Convenience Store Dean Thapa made his way to Waterbury from the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal. He now owns and operates his own convenience store and is thrilled to be living the American Dream. Stop in for your lotto or scratch tickets, to say hello, or to buy what Dean said is......

“The Coldest Beer In Town” 704 Watertown Ave, Waterbury (Next to Carvel & Frankies)

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David Martin, Fire Chief

www.waterburyobserver.org

Hon. Neil M. O’Leary, Mayor

William Quinn, Director of Health

An Important Public Safety Message From Mayor O’Leary’s Opioid Task Force

FREE onsite Narcan training is available to businesses & community groups to help prevent fatal Opioid overdoses. The training is provided by a certified trainer from the Waterbury Fire Department.

To schedule a training, call the Waterbury Health Department at 203-573-6679.

SAFE USE: Talk to your physician SAFE STORAGE: See the video “Proper Disposal of Unused Meds in Trash” on the “additional links” tab of the Fire and Health Departments’ websites by going to www.waterburyct.org SAFE DISPOSAL: Bring unused medication to your Police Department for incineration – Waterbury Police Department, 255 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702-2301. Or call your community’s local Police Department for a Safe Disposal Site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: WWW.WATERBURYCT.ORG/OPIOID

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Naugatuck River Revival Group

The Naugatuck River is one of the great environmental comeback stories in New England. For two centuries industrial giants used the Naugatuck River as a glorified toilet to wash away toxins, dyes and garbage. The river now runs swift and clear.

Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons have returned. The factories are gone, but they left behind chunks of iron, steel and brass in the river. Inconsiderate city residents continue to deposit tires, shopping carts and mattresses in the river. In response, a small group of volunteers has declared war on trash in and along the river. The Naugatuck River Revival Group has organized clean-ups with local schools, sponsored Annual River Day celebrations, and is committed to winning the war on trash. If you’d like to get involved cleaning the Naugatuck River please consider contacting the group.

It doesn’t matter if it’s for a few hours, or a few days....your help is appreciated.

Kevin Zak at (203) 530-7850 or e-mail kznrrg@sbcglobal.net

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Best Local Beer

A lifelong native of the City of Waterbury, Ed Silva has been brewing beer in his hometown for nearly 15 years. He began as a 10-gallon home brew production delivering high quality, authentic and hand-crafted brew to local enthusiasts.

Ed quickly immersed himself in the craft beer community, participating in local competitions, beer tastings and other community events. His passion grew along with his supporters and within 15 years he began Lasting Brass Brewing Company. Along with six unique recipes, Ed continues to evolve his brewing techniques with experimental batches brewed as often as possible. Lasting Brass brewery is in the Old Pin Shop building in Oakville, CT. The building was originally erected in 1729 by James Williams and used as a gristmill. Lasting Brass is honored to be located in such a beautiful old building whose rich history and character inspire our drive to experiment with our own form of brass.

Friday 3pm-7pm Saturday 12pm - 7pm Sunday 12pm - 4pm

@lastingbrass www.lastingbrass.com

The Old Pin Shop 1864 Watertown Avenue Oakville, CT 860-417-2581 (Across from Highline Car Connection and on the opposite side of the building as Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes)

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The center of Italian life can be found at La Tavola—The Table

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Chef Nicola Mancini and Pasquale Salvatore shared the same vision: to create a smart, original, upscale celebration of Italian cuisine. La Tavola is the culmination of Nick’s over 20-year commitment to the culinary arts and Pasquale’s 15 year experience in restaurant design and construction. At its heart is a passion for fresh local ingredients, classic offerings that honor a proud Italian heritage with a distinctive approach and the promise of real dining value.

La Tavola will also cater offsite for parties as small as 20 and as large as 200. So when you want the best – without the aggravation and worry that comes with trying to pull together the perfect event – let us be your table.

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Best Restaurant, Best Fine Dining Best Chef - Nicola Mancini

The center of Italian life can be found at La Tavola—The Table

2016 Connecticut Chef of the Year

Chef Nicola Mancini

Best Restaurant Best Italian Restaurant Best Chef ~ Nicola Mancini Best Appetizers

Chef Nicola Mancini and Pasquale Salvatore shared the same vision: to create a smart, original, upscale celebration of Italian cuisine. La Tavola is the culmination of Nick’s over 20-year commitment to the culinary arts and Pasquale’s 15 year experience in restaurant design and construction. At its heart is a passion for fresh local ingredients, classic offerings that honor a proud Italian heritage with a distinctive approach and the promise of real dining value.

La Tavola will also cater offsite for parties as small as 20 and as large as 200. So when you want the best – without the aggravation and worry that comes with trying to pull together the perfect event – let us be your table

702 Highland Avenue • Waterbury • 203.755.2211 www.latavolaristorante.com

Pasquale Salvatore has a passion for artisan wood fired pizza.

We are now booking dates for the 2019 pizza truck season.

203-755-2233 or info@latavolapizzatruck.com

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Soldiers Monument near the Green

The Seven Angels Theatre produces a Main stage

series of quality professional plays and musicals from fall through spring. Seven Angels also presents a summer theatre series, children’s theatre and cabaret concerts. In addition, Seven Angels Theatre runs the Stage II Community Theatre, the Seven Angels Youth Company, a Summer Theatre Camp, and a summer program for “at risk” inner city youths. Also offered are workshops, classes and apprenticeships.

Seven Angels Theatre 1 Plank Road, Hamilton Park P.O. Box 3358, Waterbury, CT 06705 Box Office: 203-757-4676

the only fully-professional symphony in Connecticut. The WSO is now led by Leif Bjaland, Musical Director and Conductor since 1994.

The Symphony draws over 100 talented musicians from across New England to perform in our concert series at the Naugatuck Valley Community College Fine Arts Center in Waterbury and various locations throughout Litchfield County.

Waterbury Symphony Orchestra 110 Bank Street, Waterbury, CT 06720 Phone: 203-574-4283 www.waterburysymphony.org

The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO) founded in May 1938 under the direction of Maestro Mario DiCecco, has spent the past several decades promoting the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of symphonic and orchestral music. Originally incorporated as the Waterbury Civic Orchestra (1940), the Symphony and its mission have grown in both vision and artistic merit, expanding from a community orchestra to the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (1956). By the early 1970s, it became

The Mattatuck Museum, located on the Green in downtown Waterbury, is a treasure house of collections focusing on over three centuries of the heritage of the region and the master artists of Connecticut. The museum houses a 300-seat performing arts center, an art studio classroom, and a research library. The Mattatuck Museum was established as the Mattatuck Historical Society in 1877 to preserve the history of that part of Connecticut “anciently known as Mattatuck” - roughly the ten town region surrounding

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Made In Connecticut

Waterbury Buttons Wiffle Ball, Bovano Woodbury Pewter AKA Collectibles and more...

The Connecticut Store .

www.theconnecticutstore.com 1-800-474-6728

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Over 29 years experience

Licensed in CT and NY

www.waterburyobserver.org

Commercial & Residential

Douglas & Jennifer Rose (203)470-3799 & (203)241-4764 doug@scalzogroup.com jenniferrose3833@outlook.com

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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Fire escapes long South Main Street in downtown Waterbury. Photograph by John Murray present-day Waterbury. The Mattatuck Museum collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits American art and history with a focus on the art and cultural history of Connecticut.

For more than two decades the Mattatuck Museum has been identified as a leader in youth educational programs, services, and outreach, receiving regional recognition and state awards. It also offers an extensive and varied calendar of Gallery Talks, Lectures, Programs, Tours, Trips, and Events.

Mattatuck Museum 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-753-0381 www.mattatuckmuseum.org

The Waterbury Chorale brings outstanding choral music to the Greater Waterbury area, while providing an opportunity for amateur and semi-professional singers to enjoy the performance of great musical literature. The Chorale, now in its 45th year, performs a wide range of repertoire, from established masterworks to varied programs of contemporary music and music from other cultures.

The Waterbury Chorale Post Office Box 36

Middlebury, CT 06762 Phone: (860) 274-0577 www.waterburychorale.org

Shakesperience is a professional theater company located in Connecticut that reaches a Northeast audience of adults and students alike with outdoor and in-studio performances, Saturday and private acting classes, school & camp tours, and residencies. Shakesperience was founded in 1996 by Emily Mattina and Jeffrey Lapham, with a mission to educate and inspire students, families, and theater professionals through the arts. The non-profit organization is headquartered on Bank Street in the heart of downtown Waterbury.

Shakesperience Productions 117 Bank Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Phone: 203-754-2531 Waterbury Movie Theaters: Regal Cinemas Brass Mill Center Mall 495 Union Street Waterbury, CT 06706

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           

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The Gathering is a unique celebration in Waterbury that brings together city residents from more than 100 cultural backgrounds to share music, food and dance from around the world. The festival is scheduled this year for September 21st, and anyone wishing to participate can contact waterburygathering@gmail.com Phone: 203-757-2244 Apple Cinemas 920 Wolcott Street, Waterbury, CT 06705 Phone: 203-295-7777 www.applecinemas.com Affordable matinee and evening tickets for adults and kids.

Interesting film options.

Recreation

Waterbury has a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for you to enjoy. A number of parks, golf courses and other recreation facilities are sure to satisfy even the most discriminating person’s needs.

It’s also recognized as a regional destination for shopping.

From the “Magical Retail Mile” on Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road to the first rate Brass Mill Center Mall and Commons to our bustling downtown district you’re sure to find a variety of activities to suit your fancy.

Waterbury is also known for its top quality dining

establishments. Whether looking for a quiet dinner for two or family style restaurant you’re sure to satisfy your culinary desires.

For information on entertainment and tourism destinations contact the Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau located by web at www.northwestct.com, by phone at 203-597-9527.

Approximately 902 acres of municipal park property are located in Waterbury. Included in the many parks and playgrounds are 42 tennis courts, 35 softball and baseball fields, and a public lake with a swimming beach. The City of Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium is the perfect venue to take in a variety of High School, College and professional sporting events.

Waterbury Parks Dept: 203-574-6793 Children’s Programs: 203-574-8292 • Bunker Hill Park, 265 Bunker Hill Avenue • Bucks Hill Park, Montoe Road • Fulton Park, Cooke Street • Hamilton Park, East

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

bserver The WATERBURY

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Problemas. Gente. Eventos.

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A view of downtowan Waterbury from atop Holy Land USA. Photograph by John Murray Main • Lakewood Park, Lakewood Road • Murray Park, Leone Street • Town Plot Park, Rosemont Avenue • Washington Park, 283 Sylvan Avenue • Waterville Park, 1443 Thomaston Avenue •Woodtick Recreation Area, Nichols Road, Wolcott • Municipal Stadium Chase Park, 150 Sunnyside Avenue •Waterbury East Mountain Park, Route 69 There are two 18-hole municipal courses and a private course located in Waterbury.

Municipal course with 18 holes: Western Hills Golf Course Park Road, Waterbury 203-756-1211 East Mountain Golf Course 171 East Mountain Road, 203-753-1425 Private Golf Course Country Club of Waterbury Oronoke Road Waterbury, CT 067202

203-756-6644

Recreation Centers:

Chase Park House Debra Damicis – Assistant Director of Recreation James M. Geary – Recreation Leader 150 Sunnyside Avenue Waterbury, CT 06708 203-574-8292 ddamicis@waterburyct.org jmgeary@waterburyct.org North End Recreation Center Maria E. Torres-Padua – Director of Recreation Darius Butler – Recreation Leader Dwayne Clements – Recreation Leader 262 North Main Street Waterbury, CT 06702 203-574-8294 mtorres@waterburyct.org River Baldwin Recreation Center Victor Cuevas – Director of Recreation Jessica Donahue-DiBattista – Recreation Leader 135 East Liberty Street Waterbury, CT 06706

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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203-574-8342 vcuevas@waterburyct.org jdonahue@waterburyct.org Washington Park House Joyce Hotchkiss-Dubicki – Recreation Leader 283 Sylvan Avenue Waterbury, CT 06706 203-574-8297 jhotchkiss@waterburyct.org Waterville Recreation Center Debra Damicis – Assistant Director of Recreation 1433 Thomaston Avenue Waterbury, CT 06704 203-574-8352 ddamicis@waterburyct.org

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Madre Latina Inc.

www.madre-latian.com Madre Latina Inc., is a 501(c) 3 non profit organization based in Waterbury, Connecticut and surrounding areas. We were founded in November 2011 and attained nonprofit status in 2013.

We initially began as a support group for Latina Mothers quickly turned into a philanthropic group. We offer many opportunities to our participants to connect through various networking mixers, professional development workshops, group mentoring activities, health and wellness and much more.

Madre Latina Inc., help Latinas banish insecurities and break barriers. Madre Latina educates, connects and empowers Latinas to rise to their full potential.

Our programs and meetings are held monthly, quarterly and yearly, in person and virtually, offering our community the opportunity to build a Network for Latinas.

For more information visit: www.madre-latina.com/ office: 475235-2044

Rail

Metro-North Railroad provides rail service from Waterbury to Grand Central Station and New Haven as well as other locations.

Phone: 800-638-7646 www.mta.nyc.ny.us

The Waterbury Observer P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 1-203-754-4238

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“Thank You 73rd District Voters For Placing Your Trust In Me.”

The BAGS Foundation CT is a qualified vendor contractual through the Department of Developmental Services. Our mission is to provide individuals with growth, independence, and an opportunity to show their ability. Serving the community for 9 years. If interested in joining our staff, please contact us at # (203) 591-1182.

135 E. Liberty Street, Waterbury, CT 06706

State Representative Ron Napoli Jr. (D) 73rd District of Waterbury

Dr. Lisa Seabra-Veiga

1389 W Main Street Suite 202 Waterbury, CT 06708 203-597-9388 lisasveigadmd@gmail.com

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WATR is a part of the fabric of the community.

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Tune in at 1320am or on line at WATR.com for News, Talk and Entertainment, 24 hours a day.

Local News | Local Sports | Local Issues like no other radio station can do it!

Join us!

Steve Noxon

STREAMING LIVE AT WATR.COM AND TUNEIN RADIO

WATR’s personalities include: Tom Chute - Barbara Davitt - Steve Noxon -

Chris Fortier - Bob Sagendorf - Jay Crawford - Suzi Banda - Tom Graves - Joe Costa Larry Rifkin, Nathaniel Zembruski , Tom Hill - Fox News - Tom Shillue - Todd Starnes

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Observer Guide Coupon

Observer Guide Coupon

Valid thru 12/31/19 Valid thru 12/31/19

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StayWell Health Care, Inc. is committed to providing high quality, community health care and social services, including preventive medical and mental health services to the underserved population of the Greater StayWell Health Care, StayWell Inc. is committed to providing highInc. quality, Waterbury community.

Health Care, has adopted a community health care and social services, including preventive medical, dental, andcommunity mental health services the underserved the comprehensive, basedtoapproach to population serving ofpeople by providGreater Waterbury community. StayWell Health Care, Inc. has adopted a ing education, advocacy, and bilingual/bicultural comprehensive, community based approach to serving people services. by provid- All patients ing education, advocacy, and bilingual/bicultural services. All patients are accepted regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. are accepted regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status.”

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44 years of providing quality healthcare services in Waterbury

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Wishing all the citizens of Waterbury and Wolcott a wonderful 2019.

With compassion, ďŹ delity, and a true desire to protect the rights of all of our citizens.

Probate Judge Elect Matthew P. Vaccarelli

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Tony Hanson had a spectacular career at Holy Cross High School and is the 3rd leading scorer in UConn history.

Waterbury’s Great Hoop Stars Male

Column By John Torsiello To call Waterbury a basketball Mecca would be no understatement. The city and its high schools have produced a slew of superb male cagers, from Bob Markovic to Mustafa Herron.

We asked some veteran observers of the city’s hoop scene for their opinions on who the best male players they coached, coached against or saw over the years.

“I’ve got to say Billy Finn in the 1960’s,” said Crosby High School’s head boys basketball coach, Nick Augelli, who certainly has seen his share of talented players.”Billy was outstanding in every aspect of the game, shooting , dribbling, etc. I thought Steve Johnson was the ultimate athlete, and I have to mention Ryan Gomes of Wilby. He made it to the NBA. I don’t believe he was outstanding in high school but bloomed at Providence College.” Augelli also tossed out the names of Damian Saunders, B.J. Montiero, Anthony Ireland, Tyshon Rogers (the all-time leading scorer in the city). “All of these players had great high school careers and also great college careers.”

Ed Generali, former head coach at Holy Cross High School, said any review of the greatest male basketball players in Waterbury history is “a difficult subject to comment on since

I never want to neglect my players. But I feel there were many great ones in Waterbury. Unfortunately Billy Finn was before my time, but with all the history I couldn’t not mention him.”

He continued, “There was Tony Hanson. I didn’t coach him but saw him enough and what a tough competitor and great player he was and no one can neglect his college career. I would mention Stevie Johnson in my group as well; his athleticism and his shooting ability was without compare, and this was before the three-point shot.”

As for his own players, Generali said, “I have to say Harold Miller, an MVP in the LL state championship and a marvelous shooter and leader was superb. He had 52 against Ansonia in an NVL championship and went on scholarship to Northeastern where he won the Reggie Lewis Award as a senior. Edmund Saunders with his scoring and rebounding (over 2,000 points and over 1,000 rebounds), led us to four NVL championships and was Gatorade Player of the Year.

He was on the first UConn National Championship team and played an important role.”

Generali believes Mike Mallory “had a chance to be in this group if he didn’t blow out his knee.” But he recovered well enough to break the all-time scoring record for Southern Connecticut State University in the Northeast 10 league.

“Of course Mustapha Heron was a man among boys in his four years and was impossible to match in any aspect during

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com his career.”

Bobby Brown, former coach at Crosby, concurred with the consensus on Steve Johnson, who graduated from Crosby in 1976. “He was the best player I ever coached. I also believe the best player that I ever saw play in Waterbury was Billy Finn. The best `shooter’ I coached was Glenn Cantin. The toughest guy I coached was a tossup between, Joe Mike Terenzo, Dave Steck, and Jeffery Mitchell.”

Holy Cross athletic director Gerry Ciarleglio is another big Stevie Johnson fan, as well as his brothers, Clay and Bruce, who played at Holy Cross. “I was amazed at how good the Johnson brothers were. I grew up watching Stevie and thought he was a special athlete in basketball as well as baseball.”

Ray Behr, longtime coach at the Chase Collegiate School, believes Ryan Gomes was the best player he has ever seen come out of Waterbury. “It was a pleasure watching his talent when he was young at various venues in the city, including my clinic at Chase Collegiate. He was a versatile player with excellent instinct and great knowledge of the game. He had a soft touch, a strong game on the inside, was a strong rebounder, had a quick first step and understood the importance of boxing out and releasing the quick outlet pass.

Ryan played with patience, energy, effort and faith.”

Bob Ferrarotti has refereed numerous games in Waterbury and offered some thoughts on the best players he has called games for. “Keep in mind that I wouldn’t have seen all the great ones since we don’t service all the Waterbury schools, but I have to bring up players like Jim Abromatis, Tony Hanson, Anthony Ireland, B.J. Monteiro and Edmund Saunders, and of course Mustafa Heron in recent years.”

Let’s take a close look at the careers of some of Waterbury’s greatest male basketball players.

Bob Markovic led Sacred Heart High School to a 1949 state championship.

He scored 26 of his team’s 41 points in a win over Darien in the state title game.

Seared Heart’s Marty Sweeney was a three-time All-City selection. At 6-4, Sweeney was a rare big man in his era,

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Mustapha Heron had a brilliant career at Sacred Heart High School leading his tema to three state championships, and is now a star at St. John’s University. and averaged 19.3 points per game as a senior, Dick Clary, at 6-3, also excelled around the rim, earning All-City honors three times. He led the city in scoring two straight years, averaging 14.7 points per game in that span, and drove Wilby High School to its last state championship in 1953, and also to the semifinals of the New England tournament. In the state title game against New London, Clary scored 20 points.

Sacred Heart’s Billy Finn was sort of a Bob Cousy-type player who could do it all and with a strong dose of dash.

He was an All-NVL selection and AllCity pick twice. His death shortly after graduation shocked the Waterbury sports world and led to the naming of the Billy Finn award, which is presented each year to the city’s top senior

player. Finn averaged 14.2 points a game as a sophomore, and in his senior year blossomed to 22.5 points a contest.

He scored 52 points against Naugatuck in 1961.

Tony Hanson was perhaps a better person than he was a basketball player, and he was a magical talent on the court. He starred at Holy Cross and was a much-heralded arrival at the University of Connecticut, which he led to an ECAC New England title and a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Hanson was the Yankee Conference Rookie of the Year in 1974 and was an All-Yankee Conference First Team selection his next two seasons. His senior season was the Huskies was superb. He put up a season double-double average of 26 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest, leading him to a New England

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Wilby’s Ryan Gomes played in he NBA for 11 years.

Player of the Year honor. He is third in career scoring among all Connecticut basketball players (1,990 points), and first in field goals with 784. He was named to the UConn Basketball All-Century Team in 2001 as well as its Huskies of Honor.

Hanson, who passed away in 2018, played in Europe for several seasons, winding up as coach of the Tees Valley Mohawks in England. After retiring from basketball, he set up Hoop Dreams Social Enterprise, an initiative to help young people with education problems, using basketball to aid them. He was also chairperson of Middlesborough Black and Minority Ethnic Network, championing under represented ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. His charitable work led to him being awarded an MBE in 2007.

After a stellar career at Holy Cross High School, where he was named a High School All-America and to the AllState squad, Jim Abromaitis played forward for the UConn Huskies from 1975 to 1980. He’s a member of the UConn Basketball All-Century Ballot, UConn’s 1,000-point scoring club, and is currently a UConn Trustee and Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development. A teammate of Hanson at Holy Cross and then UConn, Ambromaitis scored over 900 points and averaged over seven rebounds a game during his collegiate career. Drafted by the NBA, he chose instead to play in Europe and enjoyed a solid career abroad.

Steve Johnson, along with his brothers Bruce and Clay, earned All-State honors. Steve Johnson was a three-time All-NVL pick and finished his career at Crosby with 1,494 points. He led the NVL with a 21.3 average his junior year.

His team won a City and NVL championship in 1975.

Phil Lott was a three-time All-NVL and All-City selection

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at Wilby High School, averaging 35 points a game as a senior and is the leading NVL career scorer with 2,230 points. Lott had a 60-point game his senior season , which was at the time the highest single-game total in city and NVL history.

Edmund Saunders starred for Holy Cross, averaging 28.9 points a game to lead the league in scoring as a senior. He scored over 2,000 points for his career before going on to play for UConn, where he was a member of the school’s first national championship team in 1999.

Darryl Parker blossomed as a player at Assumption College. He played 57 minutes as a sophomore in a four-overtime, 1983 NCAA Tournament loss to Sacred Heart. Parker, a 6-foot-4 point guard, finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The Sacred Heart grad is the only player at Assumption to finish with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 blocked shots.

Ryan Gomes, a Wilby grad, matured from a young, although very good, player to a collegiate star and a professional. He earned All-State, All-NVL and AllCity honors, leading the NVL in scoring as a senior with a 25.9 average. He went to Providence College, where he blossomed into an All-America. He had his best year as a junior, tallying 18.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Gomes played professionally from 2005-16, seeing action with four NBA teams.

He scored almost 5,000 points and averaged 4.6 rebounds a game.

Mustapha Heron was born in Derby and came to Waterbury to play for Sacred Heart, transferring there after playing one year at Wilbraham and Monson Academy. He averaged 22 and 5.3 rebounds a game as a junior at Sacred Heart, and scored 30.2 points and hauled in 8 rebounds per game during his senior season.

Heron went to Auburn University and led the team in scoring with 15.2 points a game and rebounding with 6.1 a game. At the end of the season, he was named to the SouthEast Conference All-Freshman team. He was also named to the SEC All-Community Service team for his work in encouraging academics for athletes at his high school, Sacred Heart High School, and in promoting a weapons buy-back program in Waterbury. Heron averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore, but announced that he was transferring to St. John’s University to be closer to his ill mother. He is presently playing for St. John’s.

We would be remiss if we didn’t offer a few more names, such as Kennedy High School’s John Booker, a great shooter, and Jimmy Piersall, yes that Jimmy Piersall, who led his Leavenworth High School (now Kennedy) team to a state title in the New England title in 1947, scoring 29 points in the finals. The former Major League baseball player is said to have referred to himself as “the Waterbury Wizard”.

We could mention more but we’ve run out of space. The names we brought up and others have conspired to put Waterbury on the regional and even the national map when it comes to basketball.

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Sales Manager Ed Donato 7 East Aurora Street, Waterbury, C 1-203-756-7841 QASO707@comcast.com

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The Aha Momen The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide 2019

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Millions of dollars have been invested into the Freight Street revit including a massive upgrade of all utilities; gas, water, sewer a

Story and Photo

By John Mur Five years ago Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary stood in a sun-splashed Library Park and announced that the city had received a $15 million TIGER Grant to begin a massive revitalization project of the Freight Street corridor.

He called it the “aha moment” of his administration, and said the impact would create a whole new section of downtown nestled between I-84, Route 8, the Naugatuck River and a

transportation hub located at the city’s iconic train station. The money was from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER grant program, and the $15 million was believed to be an initial installment.

“Once the Feds invest in a project,” O’Leary said at the time, “they usually keep funding it until completion. This is a game changer.”

Five years later the Observer asked to tour the area with Mayor O’Leary for

an update on the important project. On a brisk day in mid-January we began the tour with a stop at the train station.

State funding helped take down the old SNET Building on Meadow Street and opened up parking with increased visibility and volume.

“The parking lot will be paved this year and we’ll have cameras and lighting installed,” O’Leary said. “It will be a significant step forward.”

The rail line between Waterbury

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talization project and lighting.

Inside the former Anaconda Brass.

ographs rray and Bridgeport is getting upgraded and rail service will increase in and out of the city.

CT DOT is negotiating with the Pape Family (owners of the Rep-Am newspaper and the train station) to lease the south side of the building to create a train station that would provide shelter from the elements and offer coffee and snacks.

A swing around the corner onto Freight Street and change is visible, with even more dramatic ones scheduled to begin in 2019. The first step in the TIGER grant project was to dig up Freight Street and install new utilities.

Mayor Neil O’Leary has successfully worked with state and federal officials to secure tens of millions of dollars to clean up brownfield sites in Waterbury.

“We have new electric, gas, sewer, water and lighting along Freight Street now,” O’Leary said. “And we built a bike trail that will connect with the greenway we are building along the Naugatuck River.”

The significance of the massive utility upgrade is that the corridor is now prepared to handle whatever development comes along in the years ahead.

Mayor O’Leary pulled his black SUV behind the former

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When Neil O’Leary came into office he stopped the construction of a public works facility at the WIC property in Waterville and used the city own property to lure in business and increase the grand list. King Industries has just completed the first of several structures that will be erected at the WIC site.

Anaconda Brass factory on Freight Street and pointed to the decaying structure and said, “it’s coming down this year.”

The property is owned by D’Addario Industries in Bridgeport (it was purchased by Francis ‘Hi Ho’ D’Addario who was killed in a plane crash in 1986) and the site has languished since his death. Mayor O’Leary said the city reached out to the D’Addario family and said “we are tired of looking at the building” and the two parties reached an access agreement to allow experts on site to study the level of contamination.

Shockingly they found 3500 gallons of cyanide on the property in 2016 and the EPA used $1.8 million from an emergency fund to remove the deadly poison, and an additional 20,000 gallons of acids and liquids.

The city is currently working with the D’Addario family to demolish the crumbling building and further test for contaminants in the ground. Mayor O’Leary said he hopes to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with the D’Addarios and continue the brownfield remediation process.

“Anaconda will come down in 2019 and we’ll get funding to clean the ground like we did up at the Chase Brass property in Waterville,” O’Leary said. “When the process is complete we’ll have 20 acres in downtown Waterbury that will be flat with utilities in place for any project that wants to develop there.”

O’Leary said progress has been incremental and much slower than he hoped for, “but we’re light years ahead of

where we were. We’ve had more progress on Freight Street in the last five years that we had in the previous 50 years.”

Right next to the D’Addario property is a 130,000 square foot building owned by Marcel Veronneau, which was also part of the Anaconda Brass complex. Veronneau has plans to develop his building into senior housing and a hotel, but the city is wary that the site is contaminated with toxins and so far has not issued the permits Veronneau needs to proceed.

“Marcel can be part of the revitalization of Freight Street,” O’Leary said, “but we have to have proof that the site is clean before going forward with his project.”

Does O’Leary still believe that the TIGER grant was his “aha” moment?

“Absolutely,” he said. “Will it happen in my lifetime? That depends on how long I live.”

And Mayor O’Leary has now added a second “aha” to his eight years in office. After the tour of Freight Street the Mayor cruised over to East Aurora Street and the newly opened Public Works facility. In a remarkable series of moves O’Leary halted the development of the Public Works facility at the WIC property in Waterville, secured an empty building owned by McDermid for $1, leased out the WIC parcel to King Industries, and built the Public Works facility on East Aurora.

That was a pretty good “aha moment” too, O’Leary said.

“Perhaps the biggest to date. Time will tell.”

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Photograph By Michael Asaro

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The Unapologetic Patriot Zeqir Berisha 1942-2018

Story and Photographs By John Murray

Ziggy the Flagman was impossible to ignore. In 1999 Zeqir Berisha began waving the American flag through downtown Waterbury shouting “USA, USA, USA” and overnight he became the most recognizable (and loudest) man in the city. Dressed from head to toe in stars and stripes he burst onto the scene as an evangelist for America, a champion of freedom.

Who was he? Where did he come from?

Day after day Ziggy paraded through the streets of downtown Waterbury snapping an American flag and shouting as drivers honked their horns, gave him a thumbs up and called out encouragement. Each honk sent Ziggy into a patriotic frenzy, which led to more honks and hours of Ziggy standing on street corners snapping the American flag in a man-made hurricane.

Ziggy patriotic displays harpooned the complacency many Americans feel about citizenship, and about the United States. The mere presence of Ziggy challenged us to think about what it means to be an American.

Ziggy was a sight to behold, and as a journalist I had to know more about him. Why was he waving the flag in pouring rain, in zero degree temperatures and in the middle of a nor’easter? What was driving this patriotic one-man band? In December 1999, after driving past Ziggy a few times, I finally stopped my car, introduced myself, and made arrangements to interview him the following day over a cup of coffee at the East Gate Luncheonette.

One cup of coffee turned into five as Ziggy careened through his life story, and I occasionally had to remind myself to breathe.

He shouted, he pounded his fist on the table, he jabbed his fingers into the air, he snarled, he laughed, and at critical moments in the conversation Ziggy leaned in close and whispered.

Ziggy was a passionate man and digging out his story was a challenge as he spoke Albanian, Serbo-Croatian, German, Italian, English and Spanish, sometimes, it seemed to me, all in one sentence. Our first interview lasted several hours and the fire that drove this man was an intense hatred of communism.

Ziggy was an ethnic Albanian born in Sllovo,

Kosovo, which in 1942 was part of Yugoslavia. Albanians in Kosovo experienced sub-human treatment at the hands of Yugoslavian leader Marshall Tito, a communist dictator.

Ziggy’s mother died when he was three years old and he said he’d had a “Hell of a time” during his childhood.

Ziggy was segregated with other Albanians and taught in ill-equipped schools in Serbo-Croatian, and learned only Serbian history.

“In school they brainwash us,” Berisha said, “they give us candy and ask, ‘Are mother and father talking about government last night?”’

If students provided damaging information, and many unwittingly did, Ziggy said the police would beat the family,

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and sometimes shoot them.

One farmer had the audacity to name his workhorse, Tito, and when Serbian authorities found out they bludgeoned him into a coma, and Ziggy said the farmer died the following day.

Tito’s secret police were the UBDA and they often stormed into Albanian homes unannounced to seize whatever they pleased. Ziggy said the UBDA came into his house many times and took goats and robbed his family.

At the age of twenty Ziggy was drafted into the Yugoslavian Army, an event that made his father cry. Ziggy and other ethnic Albanians were forced to perform backbreaking labor in the army, and when they were exhausted, the overtures began. “They wanted me to spy on Albanian soldiers,” Ziggy said, “and they wanted the others to spy on me.”

It was an insidious way to divide and conquer, to keep Albanians on edge working against each other. And like the candy bribes in school, the Albanians were offered good jobs if they provided useful information on each other.

“Albanians were trying to set up Albanians,” Ziggy explained, “it was a miserable game and I didn’t know who to trust.”

And that distrust continued to haunt Ziggy when he reached America. Throughout his life he was always suspicious of who was working whom?

Were they KGB agents, “comunista”?

After two years in the Yugoslavian Army Ziggy went to work on a dairy farm in Switzerland where he said he milked and fed cows from 3 am to 9 pm. When Ziggy learned his

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wages were being sent back to the Yugoslavian government he fled over the border into Austria and sought political asylum. Ziggy lived in Austria for four years working at a steel factory, and then a paper factory.

In 1968 Ziggy returned to Yugoslavia to visit his family and was arrested in Belgrade and thrown into jail. “I swore allegiance to communism and talked my way out of jail,” Ziggy said, “and then I escape back across the border.”

Berisha eventually ended up in Rome where he ate at soup kitchens for four months before the Free Albania Organization helped Ziggy gain entry into the United States.

“I swore I was against communism,” Ziggy said, “and one month later I was on a plane to New York to breathe free air.”

After a brief stint in NYC he made his way to Waterbury and started working at Scovill Manufacturing. During an English class for immigrants at the old Crosby High School in downtown Ziggy met Blanca Guitierrez from Colombia. They married and had five sons together. Ziggy and Blanca were married for 45 years until she passed away in 2015. Blanca spoke Spanish and at first she and Ziggy communicated in Italian. Ziggy knew Italian from his time in Rome and Blanca had picked up Italian because most of her girlfriends in Waterbury were Italian.

All five of Ziggy and Blanca’s sons signed up to serve America. Abdul spent seven years in the U.S. Army, Ali worked for the U.S. Border Patrol, Alex was a U.S. Marine, Richard served in the U.S. Army and the National Guard, and Jeff (who is deceased) was in the Marine Reserves.

“They all served this great country,” Ziggy said, “but when I started wearing these clothes and waving the flag my own family laughed at me and called me clown. I got mad and challenged them, then they all support me.”

In the 1970s Ziggy became a self-employed laborer and a construction worker for local union #390. Ziggy was strong as an ox and over the years he was hired several times to single-handedly demolish a home with nothing more than a sledgehammer. Instead of paying a $25,000 demolition fee, developers would pay Ziggy $5000 and let him tear the house down. Ziggy would start at the top of the house and bust it apart with mighty swings and cart the debris away piece by piece in his truck.

While visiting friends in NYC in the 1970s Ziggy met three men in an Albanian coffee shop and they asked him for a ride to the Bronx. He was heading back to Connecticut, so he agreed. Before reaching the Bronx the car was surrounded by police officers with guns drawn.

It turns out that Ziggy’s passengers were under police surveillance and were smuggling machine guns in their bags.

Ziggy was arrested.

“I tried to tell them I was a worker and a family man,”

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com 67 Ziggy said, “but they found the guns in my car and thought that during these years some Albanians living in America I was guilty.” were continuing to spy on each other, and report back to Berisha said he was locked up for two weeks and brought communist authorities in Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania to trial where he received four months in prison. to gain favors for their family and friends back in the Bal“Judge don’t buy my story,” Ziggy said. “I was angry, but kans. it was my fault. In my country they would shoot me for this.

The cloak and dagger game, according to Ziggy, was alive Make me love America more.” and well in Waterbury.

In 1980 Ziggy wrote President Jimmy Carter a letter and “The Communists trained us to infiltrate and spy,” Ziggy volunteered to go to Iran and free the hostages. In 1984 Zigsaid. “They believed they could dominate America without gy sent President Ronald Reagan a telegram wishing him ever firing a shot.” a happy birthday and telling him he was doing a good job.

And during Ziggy’s five decades living in America he nevZiggy was enjoying his life in America, working hard, raiser stopped his war with the “comunista”, and celebrated deing his family, and was always on guard against the commocracy with more intensity and joy than seemed possible. munists.

“I was born to be free,” Ziggy said. “ In America I am a free The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet eagle. I love this country.”

Union raged on through the 1970s and 1980s, and Ziggy said When the Soviet Union splintered and Yugoslavia broke apart, the province of Kosovo – Ziggy’s home – continued to be dominated by Serbia. Kosovo was an island of ethnic Albanians surrounded

by Serbs who oppressed and persecuted them.

In 1998 Albanian rebels known as the Kosovo Liberation Army launched a war against Serbia to halt an oppression that had morphed into war crimes and ethnic cleansing. When NATO (led by the United States) launched airstrikes on Serbian forces, Ziggy took his patriotism to the streets of Waterbury waving the American flag through heat and cold and rain and shouted “USA” until his throat was hoarse, and his shoulders ached from hours of snapping the flag back and forth.

When Ziggy began waving the American flag on streets corners throughout downtown Waterbury he initially ran into problems with the Waterbury PD who saw his celebration as a safety hazard to motorists. The issue was quickly resolved, but Ziggy said, “if anyone try to take my flag they will have to kill me.”

It was the Kosovo War that transformed him into Ziggy the Flagman, but in reality Ziggy had been speaking out against communism three decades before that.

Ziggy had protested loudly when Jane Fonda came to Waterbury in 1988 to film Stanley and Iris. Fonda had visited Hanoi during the Vietnam War, a move that made her a traitor to many Americans. Ziggy was photographed at a rally holding up a sign that said, “Stanley and Virus” and had a bumper sticker glued

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Ziggy’s first interview with The Waterbury Observer was intense and lasted several hours.

across his forehead saying, “I’m not Fonda Hanoi Jane.”

Ziggy’s protests were not isolated to Waterbury and every few months he traveled to the United Nations to hand out pamphlets detailing atrocities in Kosovo.

Ziggy traveled to Detroit to protest against the Yugo car and went to demonstrations in New York and Washington D.C. where he burned the Yugoslavian flag.

In addition to working construction and raising five sons, Ziggy volunteered at Holy Land USA and helped Atty. John Greco repair his crumbling miniature Jerusalem. Ziggy poured concrete, chain sawed fallen trees and picked up rubbish left by tourists. Ziggy also drove the nuns on local errands and as far away as New Jersey.

“Holy Land means something to people with no money,” Ziggy said. “People who can’t afford to go to the real Holy Land, come here.”

For many years Ziggy lived a few houses away from Holy Land on Pemberton Street, and one night the nuns called to say vandals were marking up the front gate. Ziggy called the Waterbury police and rushed into the night. When the police arrived they found Ziggy with a shotgun in his hand patrolling the area in his pajamas. Whatever he did, Ziggy did with intensity. The vandals got away, but Ziggy was arrested.

“I called police for help and they arrest me for firing gun in

the air,” Ziggy said, with a go-figure shrug.

In 2000 I talked to Albanian community leaders in Waterbury about Ziggy, and several of them agreed that spying had existed in the 1960s and 1970s in Waterbury, but the practice died with the end of the Cold War. They said Ziggy’s personal war against communism in 2000 was too much and that he was trying to slay a dead dragon. The community leaders asked to remain anonymous because they didn’t want to engage Ziggy in public debate.

Ziggy said they were cowards. “Don’t like America?” he said. “Get out.”

The Waterbury Observer published a cover story on Ziggy in May 2000, and it was one of the fastest moving issues we ever published. Everybody had seen him, but Waterbury wanted to know who he was and why he’d been waving a flag every afternoon for the past 300 days.

And with that story began an 18-year friendship between Ziggy and The Waterbury Observer. He would stop in our office on Bank Street as he made his way through downtown, and he would stop at my house unannounced several times a year for a surprise visit. I would see Ziggy at every major event and parade in Waterbury and he always asked about my daughter, Chelsea, and my parents who he met one day inside The Connecticut Store.

Besides freedom, Ziggy was all about family.

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com One time I hired Ziggy to scrape bumper stickers off 40 plastic circulation boxes I had purchased from a failed newspaper in Hartford. Ziggy told me to buy him a few gallons of cleaning solvent and he would donate his time and energy to remove the bumper stickers.

I gave Ziggy the key to the office and expected that he’d clean a few on the sidewalk in front of the office every day.

My mistake. This was the man who demolished houses with a sledgehammer, and Ziggy tackled the entire project in one burst by lathering the boxes with gallons of solvent and scraping them with a wire brush. The office used to be a shoe store, and had a storefront tucked beneath HowlandHughes. When Hank Paine, our landlord, arrived the next morning 120,000 square feet of Howland-Hughes was filled with the pungent smell of solvent.

Hank walked through his building trying to discover the source of the smell, and after an hour he opened the front door to the Observer and was socked in the face by a torrent of toxic fumes. He placed a large industrial fan in the doorway, and with flashlight in hand, entered the office, afraid of what he might find. Hank said the fumes were so strong that he expected to find someone unconscious and possibly dead in the backroom.

Hank called me to make sure I was alright, and asked what had happened. I called Ziggy, who told me he had wanted to get the job done fast. He had used all three gallons of the solvent in a closed space, removed all the bumper stickers, and staggered lightheaded out of the office before he passed out. It was classic Ziggy; edgy and 100% committed.

For many years Ziggy was denied American citizenship due to the legal problems he encountered from the gun charges in NYC in the 1970s. Eventually, and with dogged determination, Ziggy became a naturalized American citizen on July 4th, 2006 in what he described as “the greatest day of my life.”

Ziggy loved American democracy, but he never fully accepted that dissent was an integral part of the process. When the Iraq War broke out a group of mild-mannered protestors stood on the Green in Litchfield to challenge American aggression, and when Ziggy found out he drove to Litchfield every weekend to protest the protesters. He stood across the street from the protesters shouting “USA” for several years.

We used to have long conversations about American politics and the role of the United States around the world. Our politics and our starting points in life were different, but we

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could have passionate and respectful discussions, and always ended up laughing.

That is until I went to Cuba in 2015. When I wrote an article that explored the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Cuba’s thawing relationship with the United States, Ziggy believed I had gone to the dark side.

Ziggy found me one day inside the Brass Mill Mall in August 2015 while I shopping for a suit for my daughter’s wedding. I was standing outside a clothing shop looking at suits when I heard, “comunista.”

I turned and faced a snarling Ziggy. “You comunista now,” he said.

“No,” I said. “Writing about communism does not make me a communist.”

“Comunista,” he repeated.

And then we argued – loudly - standing outside that clothing store. I challenged his beliefs, and he challenged mine.

Ziggy believed America could do no wrong, and I believed America could do better.

Two hours later we were drinking tea in the middle of the mall and Ziggy had agreed he would have fought with the Cuban rebels in the 1950s to topple an oppressive dictator, and I had agreed that the Cuban revolution had lost its way and morphed into an oppressive communist dictatorship. I thought we’d made peace.

But for the next three years whenever I saw Ziggy he continued to call me a “comunista”, and then quickly added, “but I like you anyway.” And then he would laugh.

With Ziggy everything was black or white, right or wrong; shades of gray were for weaklings and cowards.

When Ziggy got an ugly infection earlier this year he was hospitalized and ended up having a portion of his foot amputated. The infection lingered and Ziggy was in and out of St. Mary’s Hospital frequently as he fought through complications. His son Ali reached out to the Observer with news of Ziggy’s health problems and we posted the information on our Facebook page. The community showered Ziggy with love and gratitude. The first post reached 150,000 people and thousands of readers wrote comments of support and love to Ziggy the Flagman.

Ziggy told me he read every comment and the love he felt gave him strength to fight, and “reason to live.” School children sent Ziggy get well cards and we published a photo of a bearded Ziggy reading cards from his hospital bed on the cover of the April 2018 issue of the Observer.

Ziggy’s twenty-year crusade through downtown Waterbury had touched tens of thousands of people, and every year he received strong support in our annual Best of Waterbury readers’ poll for Person of the Year, the Best Thing in Waterbury, and Hero of the Year.

His relentless determination to wave the American flag, his unwavering support of active military and veterans, and his work to educate children how to respect the flag transformed Ziggy into a Waterbury icon, and arguably the most popular person in the city.

This past May his family rigged a wheelchair onto to a

continued on page 79

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Waterbury Connecticut’s Independent Newspaper

Issues. PeOPle. evenTs. Project Clear Water October 24th

The Waterbury Observer

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October 2016

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FREE Take One

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The Gathering Waterbury’s Angie Vargas performed a traditional Peruvian dance, Valicha and Anaconda, at The Gathering on September 24th

Photograph By John Murray

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A shepherd outside of Bilisht, Albania.

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Thousands of ethnic Albanians fled the Balkan Peninsula in the past 70 years and have settled in Greater Waterbury. Here is a peek at where they came from, and why they left their beautiful homeland.

Project Clear Water Tackles Issues

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Person Of The Year Kennedy High School Teacher Jahana Hayes Was Selected National Teacher Of The Year

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The Traffic Stop

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The nation is on edge after shootings in Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas have taken the lives of black civilians and police officers. As advocates for Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, and All Lives Matter are engaged in raucous debate, members of the Waterbury Police Department organized a community forum with black clergy and role played a routine traffic stop for the audience at Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Church. The police went through three scenarios to give the public safety tips, and stirred a controversy with a handout about “surviving” a police stop. Photograph by John Murray

The WATERBURY

Home Run Waterbury’s Maryam Moaken graduated from Crosby High School in June and recently received a $1000 Connecticut Red Sox Service Scholarship presented on the field at Fenway Park in Boston.

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Dan Lynch stood in one of Ziggy’s favorite spots - the Soldier’s Monument - and waved an American flag as Ziggy passed through downtown Waterbury on his final ride.

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trailer so Ziggy could wave his flag during the Memorial Day parade in Naugatuck. Ziggy was sick but he insisted on “thanking all the men and women who died so he could breathe freedom.”

I visited Ziggy a few times this past summer and seeing him in a wheelchair, housebound, was like visiting a lion in a jail cell. Ziggy wanted his freedom and hoped to wave the American flag again. Ziggy was subdued now, and softer around the edges. At the end of one visit he said I was “no comunista”, and apologized for calling me one.

Coming from Ziggy it was perhaps his greatest compliment, and I thanked him. The last time I saw Ziggy was in St. Mary’s Hospital in October. A series of infections had nearly taken him and a few days earlier doctors had used an emergency procedure to keep him going after he had stopped breathing.

When I got to Ziggy’s room he was in a deep sleep. It was the first time I had ever seen Ziggy still. Even in his wheelchair he had been waving his arms around talking passionately about veterans, freedom and his unabashed love of America.

Ziggy died of heart failure on Christmas night, and as news of his death swept across the community an outpouring of love and respect flowed from Waterbury to Ziggy the Flagman.

There have been calls for a city street to be named after him and for a bronze statue to be placed on the Green in his honor. These are wonderful thoughts, but Ziggy was just buried, and his family and this city are currently grieving the loss of a Waterbury icon. There is plenty of time in the future to decide how Waterbury might officially honor Ziggy, but hundreds of city residents signaled respect and gratitude to Ziggy by standing along his funeral route on December 31st waving an American flag in his honor.

At his funeral at St. Francis Xavier Church in the South End of Waterbury Ziggy’s son Ali delvered a moving eulogy for his father. He described his father as “a superhero. He was the world’s strongest man. He was known to carry refrigerators on his back up four flights of stairs. He never lifted weights or worked out – he was just a determined Albanian man with a solid work ethic who worked the type of labor that made him strong as an ox.”

Ali said, “Ziggy continued to hit the streets to wave the flag even as he got older and his feet began to hurt when standing and walking, even with a broken heart after he lost his son and the love of his life, and even after having his foot amputated from diabetes which left him waving the flag from his wheelchair. Any time Ziggy was down he would grab a hold of that flag and it would make him feel better.

It made him feel alive and strong, like Thor and his mighty hammer.” •

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New Park Coming To South End Site of the former Nova Dye factory

Column By Geraldo Reyes Jr.

Waterbury is shifting the focus of infrastructure projects to meet the needs of its most neglected citizens in the South End. Want some examples? Here are a few....

• The Loyola Apartments are game changer in the district; mixed use apartments, affordable living and market rate. These beautiful apartments are the latest in affordable living with individually controlled energy and hot water heaters per each apartment. The area has been deserted compared to the 60 - 70’s when thousands of families lived there. Since the urban renewal programs of the 70’s the area has been stagnant and under utilized. Fast forward to Mayor Neil O’Leary’s administration that promised to address the issues in the under served South End of Waterbury. In no particular order the following has been attended to; new basketball parks, blighted buildings taken down, Brownfields re mediated, abandoned factories demolished, expanding the Brass City Harvest gardens, air conditioning

in the North End and South End recreation centers.

Also there are large scale projects underway in the South End; • The Brass City Harvest food processing plant (24 jobs), the development of a new park at 313 Mill Street (which will be a little league baseball park with multiple use fields that I am championing be named the Roberto Clemente Sports Complex), a river walk along Mad River, the clean up and permanent expansion of River Baldwin Park, the next project for mixed use housing (44 Apts.) at West Liberty and South Main Street, the complete tear down of Anamet along the Naugatuck River (17+ acres of land), the four homes that were upgraded along South Main Street corridor to address the lead paint issues, the clean up of 777 and 835 South Main Street in preparation of the next steps for placing a building on that site, tearing down old Harry’s Garage on River Street, tearing down 45 Bond Street and the conversion of an old school into the St. Francis Xavier Apartments.

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com The project I want to highlight is the new park that will be constructed on the site of the former Nova Dye factory on Mill Street that will provide much needed green space for our children. There hasn’t been a ballpark down there since the closure of Brooklyn Park in the 1980’s. The ballpark will really add huge potential for the SALSA League to expand their coverage to include little league baseball and develop its own league. The last time baseball leagues were run by the South End was in the early 1970’s and was called the Clemente League.

As a teenager I spent several years living at 10 River Street along the Mad River which was the dumping site for Scovill Manufacturing, Nova Dye and others. Unfortunately the river was various colors based on what chemicals were being dumped in that day. As a teenager many of us spent time along and in the Mad River not knowing the ramifications of the contaminated waters. We didn’t know better.

We had a great neighborhood and there are many families that I still remember from those days. We played basketball at a single hoop at Mermen School, football on a small area in front of St. Mary’s Hospital and along green space at I-84 off Fuller Street, and baseball at the old Brooklyn Park, another neighborhood park that’s been gone for over 25 years.

That’s why the little league baseball park will be a key to revitalizing a community in South End. I always envisioned that we would rebuild Brooklyn Park but that ship sailed in the 1980’s when the park finally closed and business opportunities developed.

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The Nova Dye site was being discussed as a little league ballpark over 10 years ago. The factory was crippled and still standing and a blighted problem site in the community. In a community meeting over 10 years ago, I laid out on the white board a rough design of a ball field with an enclosed park at River Street - the ballpark connected by a foot bridge over the river and brand new playscape for the children, Now thanks to the support from Mayor O’Leary, Senator Joan Hartley and WDC this is about to come to fruition.

We didn’t know it at the time but the dominoes started to fall in April 2012 when Nova Dye went up in flames.

The intense fire at the factory was a scary evening in the South End as many didn’t know what chemicals remained there and whether they might explode. It was another awful evening with horrible air quality for quite a few days.

The abandoned factory was knocked down over 6 years ago and a lot of work went on behind the scenes to start the environmental clean up which is very costly and needed local, state and federal support, With the support of Mayor O’Leary, Senator Hartley, State Representative Victor Cuevas and Governor Dan Malloy the clean up moved forward. These elected officials supported this important project along the Mad River at every meeting and discussion we had about the needed green space and ballpark.

The cost of re mediation of Brownfields and rebuilding near water (with a 100-year flood zone) is extraordinarily high - but the elected officials listened and moved this proj-

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ect forward. It’s a slow process testing for compounds and chemicals in ground, and following the required testing.

These projects are typically done in four phases for cost control and for allowing the folks involved to secure the funding. It takes time and we’ve been patient. We have recently reviewed a preliminary architectural design that will include a baseball field, but we were shown other options that could work in the 3.5 acres site along the river. The South End community has spoken loud and clear that it wants to see a baseball field that could be used for multiple sports and take advantage of the beauty along the Mad River.

The idea here is that we will build a community baseball league that will get the families back to a park, one that they will be safe and an investment in the quality of life in the South End, It could be like a PAL South opportunity that could be managed by the SALSA League that today runs; soccer, basketball, fall baseball leagues and has travel teams for the children of Waterbury. The Hispanic Coalition could also play a huge role here in that they could possibly run the concession stands to help sustain and grow their organization which serves all of the South End. The possibility for youth soccer at the new park is huge.

The South End has a large population of Hispanics from soccer-loving countries; Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and Honduras and this would allow for a multi-purpose site that’s sorely needed.

As an example of build it and they will come, the full court basketball park at the River-Baldwin Recreation Center had

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been abandoned and blighted for 14 years was rebuilt and upgraded by Mayor O’Leary is now used daily by the community. Even in the dead of Winter players are out on the court shooting hoops. The opportunity to offer more sports programs in the South End community helps address some of the youth violence issues and offers children alternative options to crime.

The community hopes to have an approved design in early Spring and have the project go out to bid right afterwards. WDC and Jim Nardozzi have shown real leadership in moving this project forward and also we should all have great expectations for an improved River Baldwin Park, and along with the enclosure of that park will be a foot bridge over the Mad River. We want to open up that space and clear out the unwanted elements that reside in that park today, We all want a safe park that our children can play in.

The site across from the proposed baseball park will house a food processing hub, another exciting project for Waterbury’s South end. The Brass City Harvest plant will occupy a space that has been empty for 25 years and will provide job opportunities. The lot has been cleaned and re mediated by environmental standards. This project is breaking ground in the Spring and will be completed by November 2019.

I’m excited to see the South End community engaged and participating and the future looks bright for the area and its constituents. The old timers, like myself and others, are excited about the revitalization of the South End. •

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Teach A Kid To Fish The Waterbury Observer’s City Guide 2019

“3 Good Guys” Launch Program To Reach Inner City Kids

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Story and Photographs

By Simon Manning

Two years ago myself and my fishing partner (Keith Shepard) were fishing everywhere; from shore line fishing to party boats to private charters. One day I mentioned to Shep, “we should each take a kid out on the water and show them something different, and the kids can not be family.”

We talked about it for a while from time to time and then we decided to do it - we were going to treat two kids to a day on the water and teach them how to fish, clean fish, tie knots and provide them with their own fishing gear. I was at work and I mentioned it to my co-worker (Clay Johnson) and he said “that’s awesome” and wanted to know how he could get involved. Clay instantly was all in so we put our plan in motion.

We posted our idea on Facebook to find the the kids and planned to draw two names out, but theresponse was so strong we looked into chartering a bus and a boat to treat the kids to new experience. The three of us (Clay, Keith and myself) committed to raising the money and making it happen for the kids. We again went to Facebook to find kids and parents who wanted to get involved, and we reached out to businesses that we dealt with to sponsor a kid. We wanted all the kids to go for free, or a parent can pay and the child can come for free. We provided them with lunch, snacks and unlimited drinks and on the return bus ride we had a raffle of fishing gear, school supplies, a laptop, headphones, gift cards, and many more items free to the kids.

After the trip we had a BBQ and fish fry for all the people who donated and made this possible for the kids and (3 good guys).

Each one of us (3 good guys ) come from three different living situations and backrounds from childhood to teen to adulthood and we all see the need for this type of outing, to

reach all types of kids from the inner-city. For me the trip’s meaning wasn’t just to get kids to see the joy in fishing, but to know it’s fine to do what’s not known as cool or the it thing by you peers in the inner city neighborhoods. Basketball and football is accepted, but when you grow up in these parts of the city it’s not always praised if you play an instrument or play tennis, be a dancer or in a chess club to name a few.

My hope was to show the kids how much fun it is to do something different, such as fishing, and to see that other people like doing different things too.. On the trip we provided lunch that was donated to us by Cavolos Deli on East Main Street, and one of our major contributors is former NBA player Ryan Gomes, who in both years we’ve done this has helped in a major way to make this happen. Other lo-

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

Two of the 3 Good Guys. Keth Shepard, left and Simon Manning, right. Clay Johnon couldn’t make the trip .

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cal businesses donated money and supplies and Waterbury Computer Repair on East Main Street has donated a fully refurbished laptop each year to be raffled off free to one kid.

100% of the donations are used to make this a lifetime memory for the kids, and as you can see from the smiles in the photographs, the kids all had a wonderful time.

(Editor’s Note - this article appearreed in the August 2017 issue of the Observer, and now the 3 Good Guys have launched a fundraiser on Facebook to take 50 children fishing in the summer of 2019.

If you’d like to help you can contact Simon Manning on Facebook

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River Brigade

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The River Brigade was a collaboration between Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary, Kevin Zak LT. Dan Lauer, (WPD) Industrial Riggers and Naugatuck Mayor Pete Hess. The brigade is expected to be back in action in 2019 and for many years to come.

More than a decade ago Kevin Zak began the solitary task of cleaning and defending a one-mile stretch of the Naugatuck River from litter and debris. That led to the eventually formation of the Naugatuck River Revival Group and Zak and his wife Sondra became stewards of the river as it wound its way through Waterbury and Naugatuck. After a devastating sewage spill in October 2017, Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary came up with the idea of creating a River Brigade in the summer of 2018 to help heal the river.

The sewage was long gone, but industrial debris remained from more than 100 years of manufacturing along the watershed. Zak was hired by Mayor O’Leary to lead a brigade of 13 students to work 30 hours a week for eight weeks on cleaning the river.

“The experience had a profound affect on the young men and women and took our clean-up efforts to a new level,” Zak said. “We were all changed by the experience, including the river itself.”

The brigade removed tons of litter and trash, but also six steel girders (one 43-feet long) and an entire car engine from 100 years ago. Zak had been trying to figure out a way to get the girders out for a decade, and when Industrial Riggers yanked them out, Zak was overwhelmed with emotion and deeply moved.

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Great Expectations

Column By Danielle Hargrove

I that feel my world as a mother can be compared to constantly climbing a stepladder; while on a roller coaster.

And in more ways than I ever anticipated I am growing along with my three children; having one in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary school. Many parents wish there was a manual to navigate motherhood, myself included.

There is a constant questioning if what we are doing is right.

How do we find a balance between caring for a household, aging parents, working jobs, attending parent conferences, concerts, field trips, while helping multiple children with three different levels of homework while cooking a meal every night? How do we as parents take our own expectations and values and instill them in our children? How do we set them up for success; while balancing our frustrations, while forcing them to be responsible for themselves even when we know they aren’t ready?

When do we back off? How hard do we push? Do we let them fail?

I recently had someone tell me I should let my highschooler fail. Then she will face the repercussions. I don’t think so. No. Failure has never and will never be an option in my household. This made no sense to me. Where are expectations? And has the lack of them really filtered into our schools? I had them as a child. I was fortunate to have an extended family unit. Having expectations and not living up to them led to fear of disappointing my parents; fear of being an embarrassment to my grandparents. One of the things my own mother shared with me was; the worst thing my grandmother said to her, after my mom attempted to change a grade on her report card was “Maureen you disappointed me”…. After all who wants to embarrass your family?

I was essentially raised by grandparents who grew up in the Great Depression - a 50 year generation gap existed. Most of our children today don’t even know what the Depression was and the importance of what the WWII time period was to all of us. If WWII was a significant part of our history

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curriculum there would be such a different perspective and understanding of what is truly important in our lives. That was an expectation I had as a parent of what US History should include. That is another “wrung “ in the ladder I feel myself caught in between; the what some call “old school” mentality and this new age; technology and modern curriculum where my high schooler is learning Earth Science in her History Class, rather than about WWII. As the school years are passing with each child, I am finding that there are many simple “history lessons” that are in fact valuable life lessons that they aren’t being given the opportunity to experience. Simple skills being overlooked.

Learning is being dumbed down and the expectations being set are not being reinforced or supported properly. If Waterbury can send one of its own to the US Congress; than the bar should be set high enough to force us to send our children through the glass ceiling no matter what path in life they choose.

While meeting with Superintendent Ruffin last year one of the topics we discussed was portrait of a graduate. What qualities do we strive toward in being graduate ready vs life skills ready. And how both are interconnected. Not all students are college ready, yet all of our children need to have basic life skills that prepare them for the future. PSATs, SAT, college prep work, AP and honors should all be readily accessible: in addition to the workforce prep option. Too much disappointment, many basic life skills learned from my Pa such as how to build a deck, use an awl or table saw aren’t as accessible as they should be. Those skills could and should be taught with the quality and potential that the Waterbury school district has. Our district should be expanding its options to our future electricians, carpenters and cosmetologists. Children like my Elisabeth should not have to be fearful of not getting into Kaynor because she knows college isn’t her future path. She spent 8 years in the Waterbury school district and went into grade 9 completely unprepared for Kaynor tech, primarily with homework expectations and study habits.

Going through high school a second time with my Elisabeth is more difficult than I ever anticipated. The hours spent every

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The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com night on homework just to stay on task and a little ahead. The amount of help she needs every night is like nothing I could have imagined. She has to hand in hard copies, Google doc copies. Following up with email communication, navigating powerschool - all this talk about student self discipline, time management and self direction. Those are skills some adults don’t have and skills the Waterbury public schools did not prepare her for. If we are not preparing our children for the transition into high school how are we going to send strong graduates out into the real world?

There was a recent article in the Rep-Am regarding makeup work. Why is this district even looking at make up work without carefully reviewing homework practices?

I don’t know whose responsibility it is to set homework expectations. The school district or the principal? My middleschooler was out sick for 6 days and barely received anything. My 4th grader gets zero homework. What type of study habits is this creating? How frustrating when they will have them in the future. In not preparing them for where they are going after they leave here, is setting the up for failure.

So before the district makes policy or issue with make up work look at homework and its impact to effect solid study habits. One of the programs that I have had many years of experience with that has helped my children is the 21st Century After School. For the students enrolled in these programs - homework help is a major component. My high schooler essentially learned math with thanks to Mrs. Foster.

But what happens in these programs if homework isn’t being assigned.? Is this a district issue or a building issue? Whose oversight does this fall under to ensure expectations are being met? (Including those of the 21st century programs.)

Even if that simply includes making sure every child has a math and English assignment. And personally I have zero tolerance for the excuse thsat even if we assign it they aren’t going to do it. That is a pitiful statement that teaches our children nothing. And anyone who states or believes it has no place in the school district or teaching profession.

I fought for my current middle schooler to be tested Gifted and Talented. She scored at the top, yet what is she being offered that is going to ensure her forward success? She had no project to show at the Palace Theater last year and is now coming home from her TAG class with SODOKU puzzles.

This child said to me “Mommy I’ll find a cure for cancer; the cancer like Mima had.” I have gone to the BOE podium for years and said children like my Abby needed more.

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There is a shared partnership with the school system in that responsibility. A responsibility to this girl who believes she can find a cure for cancer. It is extremely difficult to draw the line where one responsibility ends and another begins.

Yet if we can spend time discussing the school districts responsibility to help with food and clothing than there is a line of responsibility to get our college ready scholars prepped for where they’re going.

The expectations should be great.

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SCARY PLACES AROUND HERE Column By Carmine Capobianco

Everybody loves a scary story – unexplained sightings, noises or objects. And everybody has a story. Waterbury has a lot of ethnicities that believe strongly in ghosts, demons and visits by any apparition that you can see through.

We’ve heard stories from our aunts of dead relatives coming back and giving us a sign that all is okay or that things will be okay or warning us to not do something stupid so that things may turn out okay.

A perfect example for me was the night I was driving a big order of candy to one of my stores in Southington. I had a Jeep with four wheel drive at the time. It was snowing and, when I reached Cheshire, the snow had stopped and the roads were clear so I disabled four wheel drive. This was a time when laws about wearing a seat belt weren’t enforced.

The driver in front of me on I-84 slammed on her brakes forcing me to slam on mine. I hit a patch of black ice, spun out, hit a guard rail and my Jeep rolled over three times. I was thrown to the back of the vehicle as it finally came to a stop, upside down. I was lying on the ceiling in the back of the overturned jeep, confused and without a shoe. I saw a

bright light and I figured this was the end. I was waiting for the voice of Jesus.

“You okay, Buddy?” I was ready to answer, “Yes, Lord,” when I realized it was a nice guy with a flashlight. I just replied, “I think so. Do you see my shoe anywhere?” I climbed out of the shattered back window, put on my slush filled shoe and noticed my candy bars all over the highway.

The night got better after that and, eventually, I got home – lucky to be alive and walking.

My mother had passed away the previous October and this accident happened on February 8, the day after her first post-mortem birthday. Naturally, according to my aunt, her sister, it was my mother who pulled me out of the front seat (I was not wearing my seat belt and the entire front of the Jeep ended up a pancake) and saved my life. Maybe it was.

And why didn’t she just tell me to keep on the four wheel drive or better yet, told me to stay home that night.? If it truly was her: Thanks, Mom! We also all have weird stories about something that is inexplicable that happened to us. We may be remembering it incorrectly and the more we tell it to people, the more we

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com embellish it. We just never tell it to the people who were there for fear of them saying something like, “That’s not what happened!” Or worse yet, “What? That never happened!”

Here’s mine.

It was early one weekday morning in the summer. I may have been about 12 or 13. I had planned on sleeping late as I was wont to do during summer vacation. My mom came into my room and shook my shoulder.

“Get up. Your grandfather needs you to help him do something.”

I rolled over requesting that she get my little brother to help him.

“He’s too small. Grampa needs someone taller.” My dad was at work so his help wasn’t a useful suggestion.

I yanked my sheet up over my head and asked her what was so important this early.

“There’s a dead cat hanging in the garage.”

I opened my eyes, kicked the sheet off and hopped quickly out of bed.

“What?”

“There’s a dead…” she began but I, curious and excited about an imminent adventure, was already out the back door.

When I got outside my grandfather was sitting in the webbed folding chair puffing on a Parodi guinea stinker. He saw me coming and slowly rose out of his chair and we both walked towards the left side of the garage where the door was raised. There was the corpse of a cat hanging with its head caught in the space between the open garage door and the ceiling. Grampa explained that he couldn’t pull the cat down or close the door. We’d have to work as a team to free the corpse and maneuver it out the best we could.

Grampa put the now extinguished stinker between his teeth as I volunteered for the gruesome corpse duty. He yanked on the rope that would close the door and I pulled on the rigor mortised furry feline until it finally released.

The tail was stiff and when I looked at the face, its tongue hung gruesomely from the side of its mouth. It was sad but it was kind of cool, too. Something I would tell my grandchildren. Little did I know at the time that this tale would get pretty serious.

I placed the dead cat in the driveway and sighed deeply as I entered the garage and returned with the pointy shovel.

“What are you going to do with that?” Grampa asked.

“I’m going to bury the cat.”

Grampa convinced me instead to get a plastic garbage bag, put the cat in it and place it in the trash can.

He was a kind man normally, but I guessed he wasn’t a cat fan.

And that was that.

We called them “garbage men” in those days and they came the next day. In Waterbury, at this time, these city workers, from what I can recall, strolled down our driveway with large canvas containers they carried on their backs, emptied our metal cans into them and returned with our trash to their truck. Usually when I went into the backyard afterwards, I would have to pick up the overturned cans and

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put their lids back on as terrible curse words streamed gutturally from my throat. This particular day as I was standing the cans back up in between words describing deviant acts, I suddenly stopped. Earlier this morning, I thought, they carried away the poor dead cat who was probably already at his eternal resting place at the city dump.

We lived on the second floor in a three family house my dad owned near Holy Land USA, a primitive art shrine to stories of the Bible. We lived in the shadow of the sixty foot cross that lit up at night. It was comforting. The only time I was creeped out was when a statue of Mary on tour that wept blood was brought to the chapel there and at night I could see her silhouette in the chapel window when I looked out from the porch. One night, I thought I saw her move.

The first incident, as I recall, occurred when I was speaking with a friend on the kitchen phone. We were making afternoon plans (he lived one street over) as I went over to the apartment’s back door, phone pressed against my ear.

I looked out the screen door to the porch and could see outside. There were stairs rising to my left that led to my grandmother’s apartment and movement caught my eye. I whipped my neck to the left and to my surprise I saw the back end of a cat with its tail wagging slowly back and forth over the side of the staircase. I asked my friend to hold on and I went to the porch to have a better look at the stairs.

There was no noise and no cat so no tail.

The following day, I was in the kitchen as my sister was vacuuming the living room. I had already “Pledged” (Lemon Pledge – the wax) the wooden Colonial furniture. We were one of the few Italian families that didn’t wrap the couch in hard plastic as some relatives in the Town Plot section did. We lived comfortably on the living room furniture although my mom would freak out if we sat on our beds after they were made.

I heard a little scream, the vacuum got shut off and my sister called my name. When I entered the living room, my sister shakily told me that a cat had darted past her and run under the couch. Warily, I poked around and moved the couch but found no furry visitor.

The following evening, my friend and his sister (whom I had a secret crush on for a long time) came to our house and we hung out in the basement which had a stove, a TV and a kitchen table where we sat playing UNO. The hot crafty thing at that time was something called “Paint on Wood” which was a kit consisting of a paint-by-number drawing on a piece of wood usually of something having to do with the time we won our independence from England. There were eagles and old flags usually and I had just finished a set of two 8 x 14 panels – one of a minuteman with a musket and one of what was presumably his wife. These hung on our paneled wall near a clock in my direct vision but no one else’s.

We were about an hour into an UNO game when I glanced up to check the time. In front of the minuteman I had painted was a furry tail slowly wagging back and forth. I turned to my friend and was just about to tell him to look at the tail when the picture suddenly fell to the floor.

Continued on page 105

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“PEACE IN ONESELF” by Thich Nhat Hanh We can only listen to another person and understand their suffering if we have first looked deeply, embraced, and been kind to our own fear and anger. We make peace with our own fears, worries, and resentments and look deeply to understand their roots.

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The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com 105 Continued from page 97 on the camera lens. Some people believe that orbs are actually the called Funstuff with Carmine for fourteen years. We had a big fol- soul of a human or, sometimes, an animal that has died. The ball lowing because it was a silly show although we sometimes did shape, using less energy than a full apparition, makes it easier for some serious episodes dealing with safe gun handling and domes- them to move around before they become a full-blown apparition. tic violence. We had pulled one of Connecticut’s greatest hoaxes In his church video, the orbs, although they were stationary and (best saved for another article), had fun with many high ranking easily explained for a few moments, changed shape – into a bell or politicians – including mayors and state reps, explored the lives of a cylinder, and darted across the screen making no apparent patanimals with visiting pythons, hissing cockroaches and tarantulas terns and stopping occasionally. The video camera was on a tripod and played games live with callers giving away prizes provided and didn’t move and no one in the video had any idea what was by local restaurants to winners. Most people found us when they happening around them. I couldn’t explain this at all. It was very creepy. Then, live on the air, Bill suggested for the final show, we channel surfed during commercial breaks from South Park.

It was during one of the final seasons that our late friend, Bill should visit one of Connecticut’s most haunted graveyards, NauLubak, agreed to do a series of Halloween shows with us with the gatuck’s Gunntown Cemetery.

The sign says that this cemetery dates back to 1790 and believgoal of trying to prove the existence of ghosts. ers claim that they have seen a black ghost dog, the spirit of a man Bill was a great guy, always fun, always informative, and his with a lantern leading a horse and a little boy who plays near the many appearances on Funstuff included visits with snakes. At one back wall who can sometimes be heard laughing. point in a conversation we had, he mentioned that he was a “psyI was in. chic photographer” and showed me pictures he had taken in variA few days later I met Bill at the Big Y parking lot. I had brought ous graveyards around the area. Smoky apparitions surrounded a few friends who wanted to get scared and Bill brought a van the old tombstones in the photographs but I still wasn’t a believer loaded with video equipment. We followed Bill to the narrow road convinced that the “faces” seen in the smoke were kind of conwhere the cemetery was and everyone pitched in running cables, trived. The goal was to do six shows combining live call-ins and setting up three tripods and three video cameras. It was dark alpreviously shot videos, including his appearance on the Geraldo ready and Bill said that we will definitely be visited by Naugatuck Rivera show. policemen and asked to leave.

We would try to get as much video He almost had me when, on the fifth show, he presented a video as possible and Bill said he would review the footage before the he had shot in a church at a party. He said, as I recall, that the fi nal Halloween show the following week. church was known to be very haunted. In his photos, orbs or small Once everything was up and running, I decided to explore the bubbles of light were visible but I knew from experience that many rest of the cemetery.

I nervously strolled to the back wall readof these orbs could be caused by dust particles or foreign objects

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ing headstones along the way with a flashlight. There were weird things left on the graves but when I reached the back wall, I found several headless Barbie and Ken dolls strewn about. There were other small creepy dolls with heads staring back at me. I began taking pictures hoping to get some psychic phenomena when I closely examined the photos later.

After about a half an hour of this and not seeing anything strange right away on the small LED screen at the back of my camera, I went to see Bill who was in the back of his van staring at the monitors that were wired to the three cameras placed in the cemetery.

“This is a creepy place but I haven’t seen anything in my photos.

Any suggestions?”

“Go back through the gate and take a left. Walk all the way to the tree,“ Bill instructed with his deep serious voice. “People call that the “Spirit Tree”, the most haunted place in the cemetery, and you’re bound to get something there.”

I entered the graveyard again and followed Bill’s instructions.

I walked past the three cameras and as I reached the third, a guy named Nick was watching the little monitor on the third camera.

“See anything?” I asked, walking by.

“Nope.”

I reached the “Spirit Tree” and walked around it. It looked old and I sensed something ominous as I stood under it. I took more photos but saw nothing strange. Finally, I said to the tree (not that I make it a habit of talking to trees), “If there are any spirits here, show yourself now!”

I stepped back and as I raised my camera, I heard a loud thud and felt a tremor beneath me like something exploded underground.

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The next thing I knew, I experienced something to this day that I can only explain as “something passed through me from the left side of my body and out the right side”. The feeling caused me stand up perfectly straight. I was confused.

I turned towards Nick who was a little hunched over looking at the camera’s monitor. I was about to yell to him if he felt that thud when I saw him stand straight up suddenly.

I ran over to him and asked him what happened. He told me he had the same experience I had – something had passed through him. Something or someone had moved across the cemetery making his presence known.

I guess I was finally convinced that there is something out there.

The police finally came and Bill promised them we would pack up and leave.

The following week on the show Bill said that he had watched all of the video footage and saw nothing unusual but was happy about my experience. There was a bit of proof and he felt he had won.

I told him I did have a photo that he would be interested in seeing and I asked the people in the control booth to put it up on the monitor in the studio so Bill could see it. It was a photo of Bill in the graveyard.

He laughed his deep laugh when he saw it. There, floating above his head in the photo was a transparent Casper. That Friendly Ghost. I was good at Photoshopping even back then. I miss Bill and the long conversations we had both on and off the air. He was a sweet man.

I know Waterbury and I know it has a million stories.

These are just a few.

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Welcome to 2-1-1, Connecticut’s community resources database. Our database information for approximately 4,600 health and human service providers and 48,000 service-sites to help meet your needs. Most of the resources are Connecticut-based. You can access this database directory by selecting an option below. If you do not find the service you need, please dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Connecticut to speak to a specialist. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What is 2-1-1?

2-1-1 is Connecticut’s free, confidential information and referral service. Simply by dialing 2-1-1, a toll-free number throughout Connecticut, callers can reach knowledgeable, multilingual staff and get information, referrals or seek help in a crisis. 2-1-1 is supported by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut United Ways.

BASIC NEEDS: Food/Energy/Housing/Transportation • HOUSING: SUBSIDIZED RENT RE-ENTRY SERVICES FOR EX-OFFENDERS • CONSUMER SERVICES DISABILITIES / OLDER ADULTS • DONATION OPTIONS • EDUCATION GOVERNMENT / COMMUNITY ACTION / ENVIRONMENT • HEALTH CARE INCOME: Employment / Financial Literacy / Public Benefits INDIVIDUAL / FAMILY SERVICES • KINSHIP CAREGIVERS LEGAL ISSUES / CRIMINAL ISSUES • MENTAL HEALTH CARE PARENTING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT • SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUPPORT GROUPS • TEEN SERVICES / YOUTH SERVICES

www.211ct.org United Way 2-1-1 Handled More than Half a Million Requests for Information in 2012.

During these challenging economic times, it is critical that people know where to turn for help.

In Connecticut, for over 30 years, residents have been able to find that help through United Way 2-1-1, a centralized information and referral service funded by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut United Ways and administered by the United Way of Connecticut. A call to United Way 2-1-1 gets people connected to the health and human services assistance they need.

Now more than ever, this is proving to be a critical resource for state residents who are struggling to make ends meet. All told, in 2012, 2-1-1, handled nearly 413,000 calls offering more than half a million referrals.

www.unitedwaygw.org

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com

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The Largest Day Spa in Connecticut celebrating 30 Years in Business

Guilford Middlebury visobello.com 203-598 203 598203598-7525 7525

34 $850,000

Please contact our Admissions Office at 203-721-6354.

142 S. Elm Street . Waterbury, CT 06706 . www.sacredhearthighschool.org

The Waterbury Observer | P.O. Box 910, Waterbury, CT 06720 | 203.754.4238 | waterburyobserver@gmail.com Celebrating 25 Years 25 Years Celebrating

Established: September,1994

Established: September,1994

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Our Mission: Our Mission: The Waterbury Neighborhood Council is is The Waterbury Neighborhood Council comprised of the presidents and representatives comprised of the presidents and representatives the Neighborhood Associations throughout from thefrom Neighborhood Associations throughout Waterbury.

The Waterbury Neighborhood Waterbury. The Waterbury Neighborhood strives to encourage involvement CouncilCouncil strives to encourage citizencitizen involvement in both neighborhood and citywide issues, in both neighborhood and citywide issues, to to strengthen neighborhood organizations, strengthen existingexisting neighborhood organizations, and to foster the creation of new ones. and to foster the creation of new ones. The The Waterbury Neighborhood Council understands Waterbury Neighborhood Council understands that active citizen participation and involvement that active citizen participation and involvement in the issues that affect the quality of life in in the issues that affect the quality of life in Waterbury is an essential requirement for both Waterbury is an essential requirement for both the preservation of our neighborhoods and the the preservation of our neighborhoods and the development of the City of Waterbury. development of the City of Waterbury.

Bank Street Flower Planting by WNC

Bank Street Flower Planting by WNC

Bank Street Flower Planting by WNC To Learn More About Your Neighborhood Group Neighborhood Council Offi ce Opening Soon At 77 Bank Street in Downtown Waterbury Stay informed: www.wtbync.org To Learn More About Your Neighborhood Group Lisa informed: Velez, President Stay WNCwww.wtbync.org Celebrating https://www.facebook.com/WaterburyNeighborhoodCouncil/

P.O.BOX 931, Waterbury, CT 06724 WNC Phone: (203) 805-7897 https://www.facebook.com/WaterburyNeighborhoodCouncil/ Lisa Velez, President

25 Years

931, Waterbury, 06724 To Learn More AboutP.O.BOX Your Neighborhood Group CT www.wtbync.org Lisa Velez, President Stay informed via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WaterburyNeighborhoodCouncil/ WNC Phone: (203) 805-7897

P.O.BOX 931, Waterbury, CT 06724 WNC Phone: (203) 805-7897

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THE POWER OF

Working together, the organizations of Waterbury HEALTH are providing comprehensive, high quality care to our community. From primary and specialty medical care to acute and emergency healthcare services to home health and rehab services, Waterbury HEALTH offers a vast network of services to help keep you healthy and well and take care of you when you are sick or injured. That’s the Power of WE.

The Greater Waterbury Health Network is now...