The TORRINGTON YOUR PARENTS LIVED In & Would LOVE FOR YOU To PRINT & Send Them THIS ONE Or Sit Them At The Screen With A Mouse And SHOW Them HOW:-)

We all have certain things in our past we are not proud of. We could have hurt someone's feelings,rendered a sin which we wish we did not commit. Told a white lie that to a loved one that they never forgot.Yes, we all have a skeleton or two in our closet or dresser drawers. I have many , though that is not what this Wednesday column is about! Caught your attention though?<P>Growing up in Torrington, I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.Most of them are now a little more grown up, still living in town and I hope a few are reading this story! And there are quite a few great people that made a difference in the community that are no longer with us as they are looking down from the Heavens today.

Last week, in my daily travels, I came across about 100 Torrington Register newspapers from 1963 to about 1974.

They are so cool.Do not get too excited, they are not worth much,as far as value, but they are the best reading.Just the advertisements of the older establishments in town ,as well as the price of a full dinner of soft shell crabs at Steak & Brew for $3.99 and a 2 pound lobster as well for $5.59 , makes it even worth a trip down memory lane. So lets begin.

To start, I found a great picture in the Torrington Register of a group of the YMCA's "junior leaderettes". A young picture of a Marie Cranvanzolo,a very young Nancy Sullivan ,Michele Farley and even Susan Fraher. All turned out to be leaders. All cared.

Linda Nawalniec was to enter Creative Hairdressing Academy of Hartford in the fall.Chris Germano was off to Southern Conn.
Nick Testanero was playing for the Kuarter Klan and poked a double that night.Cookie Zeller ,playing for Christy's Cafe had hit a triple as well in the same Slow-Pitch league.

Just to let you know , you could buy a 2 family house on the East End for $8,500.00. Or, in Harwinton, you could buy a 3 acre lot with a home on it for 18 grand!

In 1969, the likes of Debbie Colucci ,James York ,Walter Grammatica and a girl that I remember as a goddess, Roberta Crowley ,boarded a Royal Dutch Airlines with 8 others teenagers for a 21 day tour of Europe. I was 12.

Victor Muschell was "considering Mayoral nomination." I wonder if he ever ran or if he was still working on the downtown revi?

The following men:: Paul Stevens , Primo Zanderigo , Henry Josefow , Ed Picz , George Dingwell , Clem Crovo , Lou Tibbals , Ray Perregaux and Ed Gisslebrecht all had one thing in common, they were selling Firestone Tires.

Mrs. Angela Amicone and a forty year younger vice President of the Altrusa International club named Dee Donne were just getting back from a conference in Montreal.

Next door,in Harwinton Conn we had a cast of Brigadoon being announced by the HarBur theatre. Dennis Callahan was playing "Charlie" and a musician named Doug Grieco was playing "Archie"

A great bunch of ladies called the St Francis Mother's Club were visiting Johnny's in Forestville Conn for a banquet. Mrs.Burinskas,Mrs Beyer,Mrs Hogan,Mrs Fitzgerald and a lady name Alyce Driscoll,my wonderful Mom, were the officers.

A guy was setting up some of his paintings at Coe Park for an "outdoor show" none other than the great Richard Von Hoorn.

A bunch of awards were handed out at a "final scholastic assemble" to great names like Paula Rubino,Mary Ann Considine,Bonita Michelet and James Denza. A very good looking older guy named Edward Bush was making the presentations along with a very pretty lady named Mrs Gilda Gallicchio.
A friend of my Dad's, was an honest man named Robert Grier.He was being named the head of the local Torrington HELCO branch.He would serve as a city councilman years down the road.

The City of Torrington had just received a $ 114,626.00 state grant for ''road improvements" for 138 miles of our roads. TODAY, that 114 thousand would not even get us a half mile of improvements!

At the Century House restaurant on the top of the hill you could have a full 5 course chicken marsala dinner for $2.25 or stop in the Nutmeg Delicatessen at 405 Main street for baked goods, a dozen was under 20 cents.

If you wanted to dance, you could pile in a new 1968 Pontiac that you just bought for under $2,500.00, and go to Teddy's A Go Go and see a band called the Unknowns, guess they will remain unknown? and the Red Rooster had 80 cents lounge drinks and the Pig & Whistle Pub was showing the movie "Easy Rider".

A band named "Soul Continentals" were playing at Chico Restaurant at 48 Funston Avenue as well.

In 1974 we saw Bill Nataro, Driscoll's Ambulance's manager of their baseball team. He was unsure if he would start either Dave Murelli or Bryan Carey for a Regional tourney.Tom Germano was playing at the Cape Cod league and may not make the game.Biff Pond was paying first base!

If you wanted to cook at home, you could swing by Stanley's Market at 96 Washington Avenue and buy rib eye steaks for 89 cents a pound! For the ladies, Nugents was selling dresses, skirts and summer clothes for all under 8 bucks!

In 1969, we saw the real Rotary president at large, Arthur Poole, presenting awards to sports enthusiasts such as Paula Finn,Irene Milanese and even a young looking Doug Traub.

The Lions Club had a great party at the Yankee Pedlar and named a wonderful man named Dr.Ernest Lacore as its president. A very beautiful looking lady named Janet Sibley was awarded a degree at the annual commencement of Ithaca College.

As I began this column I said there are and were great people that helped Torrington to be a better place, Re-read these names.Most are still here,if not their children may be.At a time in Torrington's juncture when we may see a little uncertainty,let alone our new tax bills,let us take a little comfort of these few wonderful people and places we talked about today.I am sure a place or name came to you that you have not thought about in 34 plus years?

I dedicate this column to a man named Joe " PAT " Sabia whom was a great man,neighbor father and husband.

His son Joey owns Torrington Sash and door and is still a neighbor to me and my Mom up the street. Pat was a kind quiet man whom made sure service always came first!