Directors to keep Coventry girls stunned Greenwood open /3 In Class L semlflnals/18 IfflanrlffBtpr Ipralft Wednesday, June 8, 1988 Manchester, Conn. — A City of Village Charm 30 Cents J Speed up is urged U to buy post office Bv Andrew J. Davis though the federal government eventual move. Monchester Herald has not made definite plans to "That very well might abandon the building. Plans to happen.’ ’ she said. Director Stephen Cassano will build a 34,000-square-foot post If MARC moves to the post ask the Board of Directors to office on Sheldon Road may be office, it will free up space at speed up the proposed purchase delayed for up to four years Bentley. The five classrooms of the Main Street post office to because of federal budget cuts. used by MARC could either be give officials more time in Work on purchasing the post used by the town Recreation planning a permanent home for office should begin immediately Department or possibly the Man­ the Manchester Workshop. because it will allow town offi­ chester Board of Education for Cassano wants the town to cials time to plan for a proposed special education programs, hr purchase the building, and con­ move to the building. Cas.sano said. vert it into a permanent home for said. Officials may be able to With the full reopening of the Manchester Association for negotiate a fixed price, and it will Highland Park School, the Re Retarded Citizens’ Manchester also allow MARC time to seek out creation Department is shifting Workshop, now housed at the federal grants for needed renova­ some of its programs to Bentley Bentley School building. That tions. he said. School, while its offices will be plan would facilitate the full “ Knowing the federal process, temporarily housed at the Nike reopening of the Highland Park it takes a long time” Cassano site or a proposed lodge at Center School. said. Springs Park, Cassano said. Cassano said he will ask the MARC directors have yet to The directors also will discuss directors at their Tue.sday meet­ meet on the proposal, said Laurie building the lodge Tuesday, he David Koot/Manchestar Herald ing to look at purchasing the Prytko, executive director of said. United States Postal Service’s MARC, However, she would not Whether the Recreation De A BABE IN ARMS — Adaline Laughlin, into a wicker cradle woven by Pam main office at 479 Main St., even rule out the possibility of MARC’s partment moves fully to Bentley manager of Tomorrow’s Antiques, a new Broderick. Both women are Manchester will hinge on purchasing the post crafts shop in the Manchester Historical artisans. office and whether a new town Museum, sets a doll made by Gay Mertz hall is built. Cassano said. Plans Tenants encouraged to build a new $15.5 million town hall should be put before the voters in November, he said. For sale: Tomorrow’s antiques by school reopening The directors are stilleansidcr ing three town hall'irroposals. Bv Andrew J. Davis caro. director of the day treat­ There have been no changes in with a Manchester connection Manchester Herald ment program, said the move plans since then Postmaster should benefit the program be­ Alden Victoria announced in meeting in early April, said Laughlin. February that because of federal By Nanev Pappas The full reopening of Highland cause it will move them closer to Manchester Herald But in six weeks of research, she was both Park School will not cause Manchester High School. The budget cuts, the building of a new post office may be delayed for up pleased and surprised to discover how many problems for the current tenants program plans to send some of its Some craft shops and galleries boast that they 8 accomplished artisans are current or former of the school and Bentley School 24 students to the high school next to four years, said Jeff Bragg, municipal assessment adviser carry wares from around the world. But Manchester residents. In some cases, Laughlin building, who will be required to year on a part-timebasis. he said. Tomorrow's Antiques, the new craft shop in the for the state Office of Policy and has made unexpected discoveries about friends. move, said program officials. “ Our programs run very well Manchester Historical Museum on Cedar Street Management. For example, she learned that Betsy Utting, a Mayor Peter P. DiRosa Jr. and here, but I understand,” he said. will have quite the opposite claim to fame. quilter who now lives in Terryville, attended Board of Education Chairman “ That’s not a problem” While the federal government kindergarten in the very building which now is not required to do so. they That store, which officially opens on Sunday Richard W. Dyer announced The town Recreation Depart­ afternoon, will have a highly exclusive selection houses the historical museum. Tue.sday that Highland Park would give the town first chance ment. also housed at Highland of items. It will carry only things made by Almost everyone contacted has been pleased would be fully reopened in 1989. at buying the post office when it is Park, would move some of its artisans who are now, or have lived or worked in with the prospect of the Manchester showcase. The school, originally scheduled closed. “ Out of courtesy, they programs to Bentley, while its Manchester. to be opened to kindergarten would ask the town.” he said . Already on hand are weavings, stained and offices would temporarily relo­ A gift shop which specializes in regional items blown glass, porcelain pieces, jewelry, baskets, through grade 3. will either open The proposed facility would be cate to either the Nike site or a is common, but one that carries just one town’s quilted wall hangings, vases, porcelain dolls and up to grade .5 or to grade 6 the first built on 12 acres purchased by the proposed lodge at Center Springs products is quite rare, said Adaline Laughlin of paper goods. year depending upon enrollment Park. The Board of Directors will postal service on Sheldon Road. Hackmatack Street, who will manage the shop By the time the shop opens Sunday, about 25 figures, among other factors. discuss the lodge plans Tuesday. Post office officials had indicated Dyer said. that when the post office is clo.sed, for the Manchester Historical Society. local artisans will be represented. Laughlin’s Recreation Department Direc­ The reopening will force the a storefront facility might be "Apparently there are very few museums that aim, she says, is to feature works by tor Scott Sprague said he would shuffling of current tenants at opened in downtown. carry only their own town’s crafts. In fact, we professionals who rely on their craft for the Highland Park and at the town- prefer to move the offices to the haven’t heard of any,” said Laughlin, a major part of their income. Since the shop is lodge because the Nike site is not Cassano said he hoped the pewtersmith, who is president of the Society of confined to the museum’s central lobby, it can owned Bentley School building. storefront facility could be kept at The town closed Bentley as a centrally located. Connecticut Craftsmen. only accommodate a limited number of works the post office. school in 1982. “ The space is fine, but it’s not a In truth, the challenge seemed almost from each craftsman. MARC’s workshop serves 1.38 The reopening will force the good location.” he said. “ It’s not insurmountable when the historical society’s clients with such programs as a school district's day treatment central. It’s out of the way. museum committee brought up the idea at its See ANTIQUES, page \Z program at Highland Park to be bakery and food services, said a relocated to Bentley. Joe Falla- See TENANTS, page 12 MARC spokeswoman. Two Manchester teachers among 12 who fail skills tests affected teachers are good at their positions. About eight Man­ teaching standards, mainly as a results. retaking the test in July, te.st Bv Andrew J. Davis their profession, he said. He chester first-year teachers took result of education reforms Four other teachers in the state results should not be available Manchester Herald questioned whether the test ac­ the test or received a waiver, passed by the General Assembly were forced to resign because until August. Deakin said. The complished its intended goal Two of the 12 Connecticut Deakin said. in 1986. they did not take the test. lateness of results will put the school district in a bind, if either since one of the two teachers did public school teachers who failed The test, which is required of In most cases, according to Those four and the 12 who did 9 poorly in mathematics, but teach­ newly-hired teachers, empha,s- state officials, licensing prob­ not pass the test — five of whom of the teachers fails a second basic skills tests are teachers in ing math is not required in the the Manchester public school ized areas such as basic writing, lems have occurred when school are employed in the New Haven time, he said. It is hard to find qualified teacher’s job description. system. Wilson E. Deakin, assist­ reading and math skills. districts hired teachers at the last school system — are among 41 teachers forced to quit their jobs candidates in such a short span of ant superintendent, said today. Teachers with Scholastic Apti­ minute, and processed the paper “ I have a concern whether the Deakin would not identify the tude Test scores over 1,000 work and administered the basic this year under the new licensing time, he said.