World's Fair 1964

My father in 1939 had the opportunity to go to New York World's Fair when he was 17 years old. In 1964 he wanted my brother Bobby and myself to go to the 1964 World's Fair in New York. We stayed in a YMCA and spent about 5 days in New York. We finally had to go home because we were running out of money. My favorite memory was the exhibition by the state of Illinois. Walt Disney built a talking and moving Abe Lincoln that was truly lifelike. Today if you go to Disney World you can see the model version in the President's Hall.

Abe Lincoln Exhibit

The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City.^[1] Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding", dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe"; although American corporations dominated the exposition as exhibitors. The theme was symbolized by a 12-story high, stainless-steel model of the earth called the Unisphere.^[2] The fair ran for two six-month seasons, April 22–October 18, 1964 and April 21–October 17, 1965. Admission price for adults (13 and older) was $2.00 in 1964 but $2.50 in 1965, and $1.00 for children (2–12) both years.^[3]
The site, Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the borough of Queens, had also held the 1939/1940 New York World’s Fair. It was one of the largest world's fairs to be held in the United States, occupying nearly a square mile (2.6 km²) of land. The only larger fair was the 1939 fair, which occupied space that was filled in for the 1964/1965 exposition. Preceding these fairs was the 1853-54 New York’s World’s Fair, called the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, located on the site of Bryant Park in the borough of Manhattan, New York City.
The fair is best remembered as a showcase of mid-20th century American culture and technology. The nascent Space Age, with its vista of promise, was well-represented. More than 51 million people attended the fair, less than the hoped-for 70 million. It remains a touchstone for New York–area Baby Boomers, who visited the optimistic fair as children before the turbulent years of the Vietnam War, cultural changes, and increasing struggles for civil rights
In many ways the fair symbolized a grand consumer show covering many products produced in America at the time for transportation, living, and consumer electronic needs in a way that would never be repeated at future world's fairs in North America. Most American companies from pen manufacturers to auto companies had a major presence. While this fair wasn't officially a BIE sanctioned world's fair, it should be recognized in history as the first exhibition of any classification that gave the attendee interaction with computer equipment. Many corporations demonstrated the use of mainframe computers, computer terminals with keyboards and CRT displays, Teletype machines, punch cards, and telephone modems in an era when computer equipment was kept in back offices away from the public, decades before the Internet and home computers were at everyone's disposal.

In Memory of Aaron

Last night Linda and myself went up to Richie and Ashley's house for dinner and a brief ceremony to pray for Aaron. Richie had cooked up a pork loin with tomatoes and a special sauce on white rice. Tasted great. After dinner we offered up some food and lit candles in Aaron's memory.Aaron died July 19, 2009. Each anniversity Ashley and Richie have had a small service to remember Aaron. Three years have passed and each day I have a moment or two where Aaron is in my thoughts.
Love you always!
Dad

Being at Home

Just got back to my apartment in Norwalk. I spent the last 10 days or so in Fitchburg with my wife. It was great to be with her. We did little things but I enjoyed her company and our conversations. It was great seeing Gene and Linda Henry one night and then Don and Joyce the next night.I also enjoyed going to Kelley's and Ashley's homes for a day. Looking forward to the end of the week and my going back home.

July 14th and I am back in Fitchburg for 5 days. Picked up the four grandchildren and they will be sleeping over. I marvel at how old they are getting. Four wonderful kids who make Linda and myself proud. Going to Ashley's house in Ashby tonight. The northern lights might show if the night sky is clear. Anyway, we will have an outside fire going and we will be putting marshmallows to the fire test. The kids will also enjoy seeing the four ducks that are enjoying the pond.

Bucket List

Visit Grand Canyon
Visit Scotland
Go to an Olympic event
To get healthier
Go to a major tennis or golfing event
To read a minimum of 12 books each year -finished Erik Larson's "IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS" a true story of love, terror and an American family in Hitler's Berlin. Have also read "How They Croaked" a book about how some famous people died. Recently completed "blink" by Malcolm Gladwell which is a story about the power of thinking without thinking. Completed "GREAT BATTLES Decisive Conflicts that have Shaped History". Presently 1/29/13 reading "The Journal of Ben Uchida" who as a teenager was Citizen 13559 at Mirror Lake Internment Camp in California 1942 for Japanese Americans. Read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult which I would recommend. Completed Raising the Curve by Ron Berler. This book is about my school (Brookside) and the attempt to improve our test scores. Interesting and fast paced read. Just finished :Ted Williams the Kid" by Ben Bradlee Jr. Listened to APRIL 1865 on tape - a 12 part story about one of the greatest months in America's history. Reading "Parcells" at this time. Half way to my minimum goal.
Visit San Diego again
To be continued

School 2012-13

It may be summer but the coming year is full of questions. The system has had a major budget issue that still has not been solved. At this point there will not be an asst principal, a librarian, intervention specialist as well as a half time utility aide. We will also we losing 3 classroom teachers that will increase classroom size. All summer work - schedules and student assignments are on hold. I have made a decision to continue to work in Norwalk for two more years and I hope the above will look better at the begining of the school year. The lost of my asst Jenna is a major blow to the school. The loss of our librarian Paula also another major blow.
Update - Latest news - Brookside is scheduled to receive a 1/2 time asst principal and a full time intervention aide. We will also get a 1/2 time librarian. Looking a little better but we will be losing teachers as well as the services of Jenna and Paula.
Latest update - Dr. Marks, Norwalk's Superintendent has resigned. She will be leaving around August 17th.
More updates - Jenna has taken a job in Darien. It is a great move for her. We have lost four teaching positions, a half time librarian will be in place. We have new people in the following positions: half time asst principal, nurse, librarian, intervention aide, ESL teacher,  half time ESL teacher, and we will be hiring 5 to 6 new paraprofessionals.

Raising The Curve

Ron Berler was a mentor at Brookside and he also married a Brookside teacher. Ron is a professional writer by trade. He has written numerous newspaper articles as well as stories for different magazines. He also has written two books with a sports theme for children. Ron came to me about two years ago and suggested an idea about writing about Brookside School. He said he would like to spend time at the school and his basic idea was to discover why a school fails or succeeds. During the 2010-11 school year Ron spend nearly every day in the fifth grades listening and writing notes about what he was seeing and hearing. Ron also did many hours of video and audio taping myself as well as a few teachers, students and the Superintendent of Schools. This past year Ron has spent his time in reviewing his notes and writing his story. Ron completed the book and sent it to his publisher. Ron has indicated that the book company editor enjoyed the story and is very excited about the book. Ron has just finished the final editing and it is scheduled to be out on March 5, 2013. The title of the book is Raising The Curve. It will be exciting and interesting to finally see what Ron thought about his year at Brookside.