Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 2

THE HARTFORD COURANT: Thursday, December 7, 1995 Splendid Sinatra reminds us of just how good we can be Between now and Francis Albert Sinatra's 80th birthday on Dec. 12, there'll be much celebration of the man and his music. Berhaps my good friend Denise will call to tease me. She's a revolutionary, feminist, Cincinnati Bengals fan. But Denise would miss the revolution if it were televised opposite the Super Bowl.

Nevertheless, she has the nerve to harangue me from time to time about the apparent incongruity of a child of the Sly Stone generation's loving Sinatra's vintage music. It's simple, really. In his prime the 1 950s through the mid-'60s Sinatra performed his craft exquisitely. Anyone who hopes to be good at anything can learn from his example. Through the years, there have been many singers with more beautiful or compelling voices than Sinatra's.

Yet the chairman of the board's body of work stands out. Sinatra's attention to his craft has, over time, produced music that makes his recordings a grand academy of American popular songs a living, breathing, swinging, finger-popping museum. Ella Fitzgerald's "Song Book" albums form another of the great academies. Sinatra sang the best songs. He recorded with outstanding musicians and arrangers.

He used the best recording techniques that were available to him. Moreover, Sinatra was a supplicant to the music. He studied other singers' phrasing and intonations. He studied instrumentalists to gain greater control of his breathing. When he sings "I Get a Kick Out of You," he segments the words terrifically, as if using the valves on a trumpet.

And yet he sang in his own voice. As a way." He was funny that way. Sinatra's best work reminds me how good Americans have been and continue to be at the things we do. Beyond marketing. Beyond hype.

We have a tradition in our country of being good. Sometimes, the Kenny Gs and the Madonnas in our popular culture make us forget that. Sometimes the morning shock jocks who confuse wit with nastiness make us forget. Sometimes the politicians with their cloudy campaigns and transparent motives make us forget. But there's always something there to remind us.

Shaker furniture's spare splendor reminds us. Michael Jordan's flights of fancy or fancy flights to the basket remind us. No matter how high any of us fly, we are grounded in the tradition of others' greatness. Everyone from Mark Twain to Duke Ellington is a part of who we are, who we can be. For example, Toni Morrison, who has 1 been honored with Pulitzer and Nobel prizes, says she hopes to elevate her game as a writer, just as Jordan and other black players have taken basketball to new heights.

When I hear Sinatra at his best, I'm inspired and challenged to find my voice, as he found his. When I hear Sinatra sing, I'm encouraged to seek new and better ways to tell my stories. When I hear Sinatra sing, too, have high hopes. Happy birthday, Francis Albert. Jeff Rivers is an associate editor of The Courant.

Jeff tCi Rivers singer, there was nothing false about him. As he mastered his craft, Sinatra was rarely content to merely sing the words. He told the stories in the songs. Sometimes he revealed a lifetime of living in a pause or a phrase: "When I was seventeen it was a very good year He understood the songs so well he was so confident in himself he sometimes changed the lyrics just a little. This time of year, you can hear him sing "Jingle bells, jing, jingle bells, jingle all the gress and ratification by the states would trample the right of free speech under the First Amendment and could lead to disputes over interpretation of the tersely worded measure.

"When I think of the real problems of this nation right now I'm appalled," Sen. Dale Bumpers, said on the Senate floor. "Everybody here in this body knows that this is pure, sheer politics." 5 Mar1 iii.iiii-rwniiTii.ri wiiiniiiiiiiiiii I'i'MniiiifWirMWiini ii iiii i iiiiiii in tl saying, 'What happens said Harold Hubschman, a leader of the campaign. "This is by no means a defeat for us." The secretary of state's office said at midday Wednesday that the Free the Pike coalition had informed the office that the group wouldn't be able to submit the minimum 64,928 certified signatures. At 10 employees per mile, the authority has one of the largest work forces of any highway system in the country.

The authority has continued to issue hundreds of millions in bonds even after its original debt was paid off. Suit alleges abuse by priest PROVIDENCE A retired Roman Catholic priest is named in a lawsuit filed Wednesday by a Burrillville woman who says that he sexually abused her and that the Diocese of Providence ignored her complaints. Mary Ryan, 34, is the second woman to sue Monsignor Louis Ward Dunn, a former priest at St. Thomas Church in Providence. Phyllis Hutnak, 44, of Charlestown, filed a similar suit in March.

Frank Fitzpatrick founder of Survivor Connections a Cranston group that is an advocate for sexual abuse victims said three others have made similar accusations against Dunn and have sought legal representation. More than two dozen lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by at least nine priests in the Providence Diocese have been filed in the past 2Vi years. Diocese spokesman William Halpin declined to comment directly on Ryan's case, but noted that Bishop Louis Gelineau placed Dunn, 74, on administrative leave from St. Thomas in March 1994, just after Ryan filed a complaint alleging sexual abuse. The company has had one report of an accident that might have been caused by the defect, but no reports of injuries, spokeswoman Francine Romine said Wednesday.

Study: U.S. behind in literacy WASHINGTON Nearly one in four Americans aged 1 6 to 25 lacks basic literacy skills, according to an international study released Wednesday. Among seven nations studied, the United States ranked sixth in literacy ahead of only Poland, said an official of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the 16-25 age group, more than half were in the lowest two of five skill levels, according to the survey, "Literacy, Society and Economy." Among Americans in that age group, 23.5 percent placed in the lowest level and 30.7 percent in the second-lowest level. Education Secretary Richard Riley, however, viewed the numbers in an opposite light.

"We are on a par with many of our international competitors, and in. some areas we do better," he said at a press conference. Flag amendment criticized WASHINGTON A proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit flag burning drew sharp criticism from Senate opponents Wednesday, as supporters insisted the flag deserved special protection as the national symbol. The amendment, which passed the House overwhelmingly last April, is several votes short of the 66 needed in the Senate, amid questions about how it would be applied in practical terms. Eight senators remained undecided, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, told reporters.

Opponents argue that passage by Con Turnpike agency foes miss goal BOSTON Despite the grumblings of and the eye-catching news reports, activists were unable to gather enough petition signatures to get a proposal on next year's ballot to abolish the Massachusetts Turnpike authority. But the activists say they may try instead to.Jobby the legislature to get their bill parsed. J4k lot of people are calling us now and TJje cargo ship Mount Olympus sank 700 miles northeast of Bermuda Saturday. A headline on a story on Page A10 Sunday ws incorrect. Kit a last-minute programming change, CBS has dropped "New York News" from its'-lineup and is replacing it tonight at 9 with "Murder, She Wrote." The change was ndfreflected in the "TV Tonight" column orfPage E5 of today's Enter section, which wagprinted in advance.

The fractions V4 and Vj did not print correctly in four cookie recipes on Page G3 of Wednesday's Food section. The recipe for The- Hole in the Wall Gang's Chocolate Coconut Diamonds calls for 1 'A cups brown sugr, not 1 cup. The almond shortbread recjpe requires Vi cup of sugar, and the recjpe for apricot-walnut bars requires VA cups of flour. The recipe for Almond-Apri-coJSiscotti calls for lVf cups of whole al-mqnds. Each recipe will be reprinted in its entirety in next Wednesday's Food section.

has not yet filed an application with' the state Department of Public Utility Control seeking the right to offer local exchange service in Connecticut. The compa-nyjaid it is awaiting a ruling by the agency to determine if it is feasible to compete for local telephone business. A stofy'on Page A3 of Wednesday Courant waslncorrect about position. SOW-TO INTERRUPT YOUR VISIONS Of 5U6ARPLUM5, BUT IT'S RECESS 7 Dec. 7 18 shopping on bs; ten no, days to Christmas 1 i vie for the seat of disgraced former Sen.

Bob Packwood. Democratic Rep. Ron Wyden and Republican Gordon Smith appear to be the winners. Much of the attention surrounding Tuesday's primary focused on the mail-in process and whether it would work as advertised increasing voter participation without increasing the risk of voter fraud or diminishing a basic democratic ritual. By Tuesday night, state election officials estimated that more than 55 percent of registered Democrats and Republicans had marked and returned their ballots.

That compares with the 43 percent turnout in Oregon's last primary balloting in May 1994. Election officials also had promised a short and efficient election night, and that seemed to be the case. By 8:30 p.m., 30 minutes after the close of voting, results representing almost 50 percent of total vote were announced. Ford recalling police vehicles DETROIT The Ford Motor Co. is recalling 62,800 1993-94 Crown Victoria police cars to inspect bolts that attach the steering system's upper control arms to brackets on the car's frame.

Ford said the bolts might loosen under extreme use and make steering difficult or impossible. The reader representative Elissa Papirno is The Courant's associate editor who serves as reader representative. She investigates reader concerns about the accuracy and fairness of our news coverage. Readers may call her at 241-3900, or toll-free at 1-800-524-4242, Ext. 3900, these hours: Monday, 8 a.m.

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Portions of today's newspaper are (irlnted on recycled paper with recycled nk and The Courant can be recycled. Broad Hartford, CT 06115 4 U.S. tipped off Swiss officials MEXICO CITY A tip by U.S. drug agents launched an investigation that uncovered Swiss bank accounts holding at least $84 million for the brother of Mexico's former president, Switzerland's top prosecutor said Wednesday. Swiss Federal Prosecutor Carla del Ponte, in Mexico to oversee a joint investigation into Raul Salinas de Gortari's millions, also confirmed what lower-ranking officials have already suggested: The money is suspected of being laundered drug profits.

Del Ponte said prosecutors in Bern, Switzerland, had begun criminal proceedings against two Mexicans for suspicion of laundering drug money. She apparently was referring to Salinas' wife and her brother, both arrested in Switzerland on Nov. 15. Army, rebels clash in Burundi KIGALI, Rwanda The Burundian army and Hutu rebels clashed Wednesday in several parts of Burundi's capital, but the army reportedly drpve them out after a daylong battle. Aid workers in Bujumbura said they were told to stay in their homes during what they called the fiercest fighting in months.

Radio Burundi said at least three people were killed, but a source speaking on condition of anonymity said four were dead and at least 24 wounded. The government of Burundi, a tiny central African country bordering Rwanda, is largely made up of majority Hutus, but the army is controlled by Tutsis. The two groups have been waging what diplomats call a low-level civil war for power since October 1993, when the first elected Hutu president was killed in a failed army coup. Papandreou's health worsening ATHENS, Greece Premier Andreas Papandreou's health worsened Wednesday and doctors performed a tracheotomy after efforts to remove him from life support machinery were unsuccessful. A medical report issued by the hospital said the operation to open a hole in his windpipe was successful and Papandreou returned to his room in the intensive care ward.

It described his condition as "stable." "As the use of the respirator is expected to continue, a tracheotomy was deemed necessary, the report said. From The Courant's wire services Make your Holiday's Even More Becker's Diamond Necklaces Choose from a tremendous selection of different styles and prices ranges. Starting at: $295 $25,000 ay Lottery numbers Wednesday, Pec 6, drawings Connecticut Dallyi453 Play Foun 9924 Cash Lottos 1, 3, 14, IS, 30 No winning tickets were sold. Powerfaalli 1, 2, 3, 26, 27) Powerball 19 Estimated jackpot $14.7 million. New York Daltyt 710 WlnFoun 0463 Pick 10: 4, 8, 13, 18, 17, 18, 19, 27, 32, 33, 34, 47, 54, 55, 56, 65, 69, 7 1, 73, 75 New York Lotto! 1, 2, 34, 37, 46, 50 supplementary number, 24 Massachusetts Dally: 5098 Megabucks: 19,28, 29, 32, 33, 37 Maine-Vermont-New Hampshire 331 and 2429 Megabucks: 4, 5, 6, 10, 22, 30 Rhode Island Daily: 8553 For Connecticut lottery results.

call Courant Source after 10:30 p.m. at 246-1000 or 1-800-246-8070. Source 5688. For Powerball results, enter Source 5687. For all other states that have lotteries, enter Source 5689.

Touch-tone telephone required. 'UTjlt Becker's Holiday Sale you'll Never Forget! bit iiiil I Mail-in vote appears a success PORTLAND, Ore. In a special primary that also served as a report card on the United States' first all-mail election for a statewide office, a veteran Democratic congressman and a Republican state legislator appear to have won nomination to If you have a delivery question or problem Call our Circulation Customer Service Department at 525-S555 or, toll-free, 1-800-472-7377 before 10 a.m. (12:30 p.m. Sundays) for action the same day on a delivery problem.

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