Observer - Southington Library and Museum

Acting principal sits at Thalberg School
By ROBIN L. MIC_J L
Since Aug. 15, Beecher Lajoie
has been the acting principal
of Thalberg Elementary School
with the final appointment as
principal expected this mo tth.
But an error by the school
board in parhamentsry procedure
has not impeded him in performing
all duties of a principal at the
school which is located at 145
Dunham St.
On the opening day of
school, Laloie greeted all the
childr x at the door as well as
stopped in each classroom. He
has been very impressed with the
people he has come in contact
with at Th.albe , he
During the Aug. 15 school
board meeting, members had
voted to add the
item regarding
the appointment
of the Thalberg
School prmcspal
to the agenda.
But it was later
determined that
the item was not
added with a
mandatory twothirds
vote. Lajoie
was appointed
unanimously
but because of
the proced ure error,
his selection
is not yet officmL
Board members
said they -
peered Lalose
would be unanimously selected
fine dancers from a local cob demanslrnm their talents at the final canan
the Tawn Green last w ek. The band "Smokehouse" playM ta
another large crowd as the 12-week series come to an end.
OFFICIAL E STIMATE
More than 13,000
attended concerts
By ART ECONDO
as a- n¢ eda0r
The public's attendance at the
weekly concern on The Green has
surpassed all cxpect tion town offidal
report-
"It's been a wonderful prelect
especiafiy m see the support of the
business community and the enthusiasm
of the residents," proclaimed
W'dSam Maso, &roctor of
recreation.
The Park Depar -nent-sponsured
concerts officially concluded
Its 1996 series last week w th a perrefinance
by Smokehous a country
and western band that attracted
Masci said the 12 concerts
drew more than 13,000 people and
John Beardsley's recent performance
with his "Mystery Train"
band again proved m be the highlight
of the season.
a special lighting dedication ceremony
in June when the park Department
officially unveiled 14 vintage
lights that c trJe the Green.
Park officials put the crowd
figure at Beardsley's concert at
nearly 2,000 people. Last summer
the Elvis Presley impersonator
wowed a large crowd estimated at
the same number.
"It's been great to see the respouse"
Beardsley sa d after his recent
and exhausung performance
that we n,t beyond the usual cutoff
time. I really like coming to
Southington to do dus." Fans gave
him a standing ovation that lasted
for more than 15 minutes.
Concert coordinator Jerry
Limmer sasd he couldn't ask for
better cooperauon than he's re-
Beecher Lajoie, acting pfinc!pal
of-Reuben E. Thalberg
ementary School, stands beside
a portrait of the school's
ceived. Limmer credited the volunteers
who hdped with the weekly
dasssc car shows and the numerous
merchants who annually donate
materials and money Limmer
xs a veteran musscnn who helped
m start the concerts.
"At the final concert, people
were telhng me they were sorry to
see u end. they wanted st to connnue
for several more weeks," noted
Limmer. The concert idea was
the braznchfld of Lsmmer who
ssngs vocal wsth h s own, "No
Name Band."
Park officmls report that the
concerts taught have been in-Fopsrdy
for this year because mds
were not readdy avadablc for pohce
protection.
Also, since each band was pasd
for by a weekly sponsor,' the Park
Department's financsal commitment
was limned to post-concert
cleanup, pubhcsty costs, and a
supend fee for Limmer.
"Overall, these fvee concerts
have proved to be the town's best
attracuon In the summer," sasd
Richard Eg dio, park supenntendent
whose lob st was to keep the
Town Green litter fi'ce the day
ter each concer
Volunteers
needed
Volunteers are needed for
household hazardous waste collecuon
day which wall be held on
September 14, 1996 from 9.00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please call the
Southmgton Health Department
at 276-6275 m volunteer
CALL 621.3891
/f you know anything about
gang activity.
Cilizen involvement is an important
weapon in Ihe war against gang violence.
Pmsentecl as a Public Service by The Step Saver/Observer
again for the
principalship during
a second vote
scheduled for the
Sept. 12 school
board meeting.
His salary is set at
$75,622.
"We're really
happy," said
Maryanne
O'Brien, president
of the parent
teacher organization.
"The response
from the
parents and kids
has been great."
O'Brien presented
Laioie
with a gift basket
as he amved at the school on the
first day of class. He's really into
PTOs," she said. "He likes
parental involvement."
Lajose's position as pnncipal
comes aker 18 years of teaching
and five years as assistant principal
of Walter A. Derynosh Elementa:V
School. It h s been
major change, he sued, from
Derynoski, which is the largest
elementsry school in the system,
to Thalberg, which ss one of the
smaHast schools.
Derynoski had about 734
pupils last year, wtxile there are
249 at Thalberg this year.
As the first administrative mtern
in Southington, Laloie was
acting vice principal at Flanders
Lajuie said he has been verg
fortunate to serve as both administrator
and teacher in the local
schools. His own method of administration
is, "MBW, Management
By-Walking, he said, exphining
he regularly visits all the
"I want to be visible, have
good communication with parents,
students and teachers," he
said. "It's people during people
time and papers after hours."
The shelves of Laioie's office
are lined with books, many displsyed
to entice h arents.
pupils, and staff members who
may visit.
My primt concern is reading,
he said. I want to model
that, emphasize it in school, read
to the students. You have to
model that to make it an enioyable
experience." He explained
he also is an avid reader, particularly
of historical fiction. My
second objective is writing."
His immediate goals are to
learn ewery hin he can about,
Thalberg School.
aright now I want to study,
experience and live proced .
and protocols, Lajoie said. He
also has plans to implement several
new programs, including
R ding Recovery and the Earty
Intervention _Program, at the facility.
Lajoie said he selected teaching
as a career because of his
and Urhin T. Kelley elementary' family's love for education. The
schools.Wu kia ,th d ,cc --- radinmats-don2t leave-you TM
mer principals, Louis Fabri of said. He received his bachelor
Flanders, Thomas E. Gramirt of and masters of science degree
Kelley, and John Fiondeila of from the University of Hartford
Derynoski, provided a valuable and is presently pursuing his doc-
exp tience, Lajoie said.
torate at the University of Connecticut.
EX NSIV
Though he misses teaching,
EXPEPJENCE
he said more immediate change
His experience at Derynoski can be accomplished through be-
provided him with a working ing an administrator.
knowledge of discipline issues,
special education, parent teacher
organisanons, cultural arts, and
special programs. In addition,
When not on the iob, Laioie
said he enioys jogging, biking
and hiking, as well as worlang on
environmental issues. "Being
Lajoie has served on many edu- physically fit is as impo.r ...t as
cation-related ?wn a¢o
mittces, including the Spccia
m
he is a eucharistic mnuster
Education Alternative Delivery Dominic Church.
The Observer, Thursday'r September,, 1996_
Susan Phihr, fight, and James Brookins, look at some of the new fide
that will be open in 1997 at the new Lake Compounce Theme Park and
Entertainment Complex. ,, , r,.
Lake Compounce
sets sights on, '97
Area residents spent one last
Labor Day weekend at Lake Compaunce
.Ajn ment Park before
consu'uction begins in earnest fur
new tides and f=cil/ties.
"] he abbreviated opening Saturday,
Sunday, and Monday wag
des/gned to help the park hang onto
sts record of being the oldest
continuously-operated amusement
Among the rides and attrac-
Wildcat roller coaster, the historic
carousel, pirate ship, the lake front
and beach area, as well as two kiddie
rides and food booths.
Park officials displayed drawings
and plans for the new Lake
Compounce Theme Park and Entertainment
Complex that is
scheduled to open around Memorial
Day of next year.
Renderings of the new Lake
Compounce Theme Parkand-Enterminment
Comple strategically
placed inside the main entrance,
am-acted much attention fi m vlsi-
J. Norton,
whose family owned the .pm-k from
its founding in 1846 to 1985, said
he ss delighted the Compounce
legacy will continue.
operanon," he stud. He was qerring
to Kennywood Entertainment,
the firm that owns and operates
Compouace and hree other
Norton was busy showsng
Richard Munch, a mamber of the
American Coaster Enhhusiasts,
xo',md the
Munch said he h d come to
s .h __P jldcat roller coaster_.
Over the years, he has ridden
about 300 miler coasters around
the world. The first Wildcat was
built in 1927, and it was
ly rebuilt in 1986 from original
phns. Norton proudly showed the
hismtic carousal that is on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Norton said be is particularly
cited about Kennywood's proposal
m pat electric trnllcys in opera-
Lake Compounce wasn't a
t olley park," Norton said, ad.ding
years before s reemar scrv c w
established from Bristol in 189L
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