Connecticut Avenue runs strong with places available for all ages and ethnic groups. The avenue is filled with shops and restaurants, and at every corner are small residential neighborhoods. The Founding Church of Scientology sits just blocks from the Dupont Circle metro station. Tony Bokas, a member of the Scientology Church and Maryland resident, described the area as an essential spot in the District that attracts a huge number of politicians. "Important people come by all the time with police squads ...

A HIGHER PROFILE ; CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OPENING MORE VISIBLE FACILITIES, INCLUDING ONE IN NEW HAVEN FRANCES GRANDY TAYLOR; Courant Staff Writer Hartford Courant 09-09-2005 A HIGHER PROFILE ; CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OPENING MORE VISIBLE FACILITIES, INCLUDING ONE IN NEW HAVEN Byline: FRANCES GRANDY TAYLOR; Courant Staff Writer Edition: STATEWIDE Section: LIFE Despite such high-profile adherents as Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Chick Corea and Kirstie Alley, the Church of Scientology can seem as mysterious to outsiders as its reclusive founder, science-fiction ...

Scientology: religion, sect, cult or scam? Whichever it is, its making big moves in Westville. From a car coasting up Whalley Avenue in Westville, it's easy to miss the yellow banner across the old Hallock's furniture store. Look closer: It announces the impending arrival of the Church of Scientology. The church is now housed in a small storefront a block away—but bigger things are coming. Since purchasing a small storefront from the adjacent Frame Shop 20 years ago, the Westville Scientologists ...

"We’re considering several sites in Greater New Haven," said President John L. Fast. "We’d like to stay in the city of New Haven." Fast said the principles of the H.P. Hallock Co., who are members of the Fast family, decided to sell the three-story building and find a one-story facility, for the convenience of customers. The 20 employees know about the pending move, Fast said. The company employs another 30 people at its branch stores in Branford and West Haven. Hallock’s, ...

CLREAWATER — At 52, F. Brown McKee is bitter, disillusioned and out of a job. McKee is not a victim of the slumping economy. Instead, he is a casualty little publicized reform movement that has emerged within the controversial Church of Scientology. Church spokesmen downplay the extent of internal unrest. But dissidents say Scientologists throughout the country are unhappy and want changes in the way the church is run. Their concern mirror those of the public at large — the recent ...

Seven graduates, including the executive director of the YWCA, received diplomas last night at the first graduation of the first public Narconon drug rehabilitation program in the country. About 40 attended the ceremony at the YWCA. Among those graduating were Maryclare Granata, the executive director of the YWCA, and Patrick Healey, an investigator at Legacy, Inc. Healey directed the Narconon program. Although primarily geared toward detoxified drug addicts, Healey said the program is open to alcoholics or to anyone who needs ...

New London may soon have a drug rehabilitation program that guarantees 80 per cent rate of cure after only four to eight weeks of treatment. "There are no other existing program that have a higher rate of cure than 30 per cent," said the Rev. James Meisler, minister of public relations of the Church of Scientology of New York. "Narconon guarantees an 80 per cent effective rate of cure." Narconon is an offshoot of the Church of Scientology. "If a drug ...