Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 14

B4 THi HARTFORD COUIANTt Saturday, July 30, 1911 Eastern Edition "1 vQ SELECTED TOYS AND MINIATURES 30-50 OFF ALL DOLLHOUSES AND DOLLHOUSE KITS 30-50 OFF Police suspect arson in East Hartford house fire By TRACY GORDON Courant Staff Writer EAST HARTFORD Police and fire officials are investigating a suspicious fire that Thursday night destroyed an abandoned house, which had been condemned by the town building department The two-story house, at 250 Park had been condemned earlier this year after town building officials found it to be unfit for human occupancy. Area residents said thev had seen abandoned building, according to police reports, and authorities are investigating whether the fire may have been set. "There is a strong suspicion of arson," Deputy Fire Chief Richard A. Morrison said Friday. Three fire companies fought the blaze, which began at 10:24 p.m., for about 45 minutes before it was declared under control shortly after 11 p.m., he said.

No one was injured. Only the charred shell of the house remained standing Friday. Deputy Fire Marshal Richard Metcalf said a obtained Friday, but investigators were unable to enter the building because of its condition. He said the building will first be torn down before fire officials can investigate the rubble. No one had been living in the building for about three months.

Harry Ravalese, 456 Main owns the property, town records show. In April, after receiving a complaint from a citizen, Housing Inspector Nunzio Parente inspected the home and found 35 housing code Because of the citizen's mm Elaint, a police officer checked the uilding and wrote in his report that, "this building is a hazard and an attraction to area youths." twmc.smANBAm.smur.smroNiAiM THE-foODENTOT The building department ordered the house boarded up and declared it unw tor numan occupancy, Canton Green 166 Route 44, Canton, CT (203) 693-0598 The Scott Family, Owners Thurs. Sun. 12-4 The Ravalese's were in the process of restoring the 90-year-old home, Harry Ravalese said Friday. Where finding the perfect toy is child's play.

ne saia nis lamuy nas owned the property for 90 years. They had not youths entering and exiting the search warrant for the house was violations. maue a damage estimate, ne saia. fT JULY 13TH-S1ST lr uius cuicnng ana exiting me searcn warrant tor ine nouse was violations. maae a damage estimate, he sail 3-town program stresses innovation in learning By FELICIA G.

SMITH BMHMHHim outside, we play more math games Courant Staff Writer ThirhiMrpnaisftrfioniiWorAf The children also designed nosters nf thorn. trccitcss We use dice, chips and score sheets to learn our math. If it rains and we can't go outside, we play more math games. Scott Johnson Student in summer school program in Tolland Summer Enjoyment Elegance and Durability, NOW ON SALE! Save 30 to 50 on ALL Our Great Patio Furniture lines! selves listing things they like, hobbies and descriptions of pets. Also, the children were assigned to imagine themselves a rabbit and describe what they would be like.

Wilson said the older students use paperback books rather than textbooks. The program has changed during its three years. "This year we brought in an art teacher," Wilson said. "She teaches the students music and movement as well." Wilson said those subjects are just as important as others. Studies show that when children take breaks from lessons and work on art projects, they learn better in the classroom, said Jan Bacewicz, the program's art teacher.

Some of the students' art projects have been tie-dyeing, making clay pots, doing paper designs and making spider webs. "I tried to pick out activities for certain grades," Bacewicz "Each grade needs an activity that will excite them as well as keep their interest. All grades wouldn't have the same enthusiasm over the same activity." At Monday's session, students will receive awards for attendance, academic improvement and good citizenship, Wilson said. TOLLAND How many children do you know who learned to add by counting dog biscuits? This summer, kindergartners at the Cooperative Summer School Program for youths from Bolton, Vernon and Tolland are learning by that and other innovative methods. "The program works on improving attitudes towards learning," said Betsy Wilson, program director.

"We're trying to get away from the standard textbook activities and use motivating materials, things they can work with." The summer school began July 5 and ends Monday. Sessions are being held at Parker Memorial Elementary and Tolland Middle schools in Tolland. In its third year, the tri-town program has 150 students in kindergarten through Grade 6. There are 14 teachers, eight teacher aides and a nurse from the school systems involved. Children are referred to the program by teacher recommendation, Wilson said.

The summer school is open to all students, she said. "This type of cooperative town summer school is the only one of its kind," Wilson said. The program is paid for by a state grant Wilson said one of the program's goals Is to I S. I A Stroll us! increase the children's self-esteem, which is accomplished by getting children to participate directly in class activities. Small group instruction is the best way for students to learn, she said.

"The children also get to know students from other towns." The basis of the program is new teaching methods. "I don't use flashcards because the kids aren't directly involved," said Sheri Barna, a kindergarten teacher. Games like the "Wheel of Fortune" help third-graders such as 9-year-old Scott Johnson of Tolland learn to spell. "Last week, we had to spell That was really hard," Scott said. "And then to go over our hard-g and sof t-g sounds, we played We use dice, chips and score sheets to learn our math.

If it rains and we can't go Farmington Gardens 402 Meadow Road 677-4454 9 to Fri. til 8 closed Sun. July Aug. FARMINGTON i Conference at UConn gives hints on instructing gifted Buy the Best Portable Spa on the market today from the Best Dealer in Connecticut Factory Authorized sales and service. Full line of Spa Pool Chemicals, decking and landscaped materials in stock! PRODIGY 304B.00 JET SETTER 300S.00 INDOOROUTDOOR By STEVEN GIELD Courant Staff Writer STORRS James Christopher was seeing too many students who didn't do homework, failed their courses and lied to their parents about their grades.

And these were students the school system had put in a program for the gifted and talented. "One student had failed Grade 7, failed Grade 8, and then we identified him as gifted and put him in our program," said Christopher, who is assistant director of the East York school district in Toronto. "He hadn't passed anything in years." The lesson, Christopher said, is that even students identified as gifted can be chronic failures in school unless they get counseling and support. The teachers who heard Christopher speak this week and nodded knowingly at his remarks had come from around the world to Confra-tute, the University of Connecticut's annual conference for the gifted and talented. The two-week event, which ended Friday, offered more than 600 participants the chance to learn the latest developments in education of the gifted, a subject in which UConn professors Joseph R.

Renzulli and Sally Reis who presided over the conference are acknowledged leaders. "It's wonderful, there's nothing else like it," said Carolyn R. Cooper, the coordinator of gifted and talented education at the Parkway school district in St. Louis County, Mo. "A group of us from Toronto came to Confratute in 1983 and got a lot of ideas from Joe Renzulli and Sally Reis," Christopher said.

Confratute is in some ways an intensive training program with classes on computers and film production and in other ways, not unlike an adult summer camp, with a sock hop, a fitness program and a talent show. In one class, teachers learned how to pull pieces of string through plastic straws to make kites in different geometric shapes, such as the pyramid, or tetrahedron. "Instead of just teaching areas and perimeters, you can show chil dren the shapes, and make something with them," said Kate Miller, an elementary-school teacher from Tacoma, pointing to a tetra-hedral kite she had covered with pieces of purple crepe paper. Josephine Radocchio, principal of Forbes Elementary School in Tor-rington, said Renzulli's theories stress the importance of giving all students the chance to do special projects or activities. For example, she said, a teacher who invites a musician to class might ask students to make simple instruments, such as reed flutes or cigar box guitars.

Bright students would do more, writing and performing tunes for their homemade instruments or writing reports about how real instruments are built, Radocchio said. 'The reason we use the Renzulli model," she said, "is we're looking for gifted behavior in all children." Christopher said many students of above-average intelligence do poorly in school: some because they never developed proper study habits, others because they are bothered by family problems or by pressure to do well. "Many kids went through life very happy until they were identified as gifted then they felt like failures," he said. Teachers in East York were asked to call parents regularly, with good news as well as bad, Christopher said. "They're not allowed to tell the parent the child has a problem unless they've thought of a solution," he said.

Christopher said he began regular counseling sessions for students in the gifted program, in which they could discuss how they felt about their classes and themselves. Students are asked to critique their performance in every class, and to sign a "contract" to improve one aspect of their work, he said. One student who signed a "contract" to do his homework found that doing the work helped him do better in class, and get along better with his classmates, Christopher said. "A little skill like that has a ripple effect on behavior, attitude and performance," he said. CLASSIC 3695.

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to $750 Alexander Julian Reg. $625 Balisano; 8:30 p.m., Affordable Housing Myth abd Reality, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Capitol Region East. A bus trip to the Middlebury (Vt.) Inn for a holiday celebration will be sponsored by the parks and recreation department Nov. 19 and 20. The trip will leave Nov.

19 at 8 a.m. from town hall and return about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20. Cost is $130 for resident senior citizens, $135 for East Hartford residents and $140 for others based on double or triple occupancy.

Single occupancy in an additional $20. Payment in full is required Aug. 19. GLASTONBURY The Vfsitinf Nurse Association will not have a Wood pressure screening Tuesday. The next screening will be Aug.

25 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the senior citizens center. Appointments may be made a day in advance by calling 659-271 1 Ext. 295. A canoe trip exploring Selden Creek and Selden Island will be sponsored by the Connecticut Audubon Society's Holland Brook Center, Tuesday from 9 a.m.

to noon. Participants may bring their own canoes, life preservers, lunches and binoculars. Fee is $3 for society members and $6 for others. Directions and canoe rental Information will be sent upon registration. More information is available by calling 633-8402.

MANCHESTER A poetry festival will be sponsored by the student senate of Manchester Community College and conducted by the Connecticut Poetry Society Aug. 6 from 1 ato 5 p.m. in the program center of the Lowe Building. Participants may read one or two poems at the festival. The Dana Improv group will entertain with humorous skits and there will be poetry critiques.

A caterer will be available. Admission is free to the public. The Alliance for the Mentally III of Manchester will meet Monday at 7 p.m. at Genesis Center, 1 05 Main St. The support group welcomes families and friends of people with prolonged mental illness.

A blood cholesterol and Mood glucose screening that requires no fasting will be conducted Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Super Stop Shop at 342 Broad St. Participants will receive a chart showing fat and cholesterol contents of food and cholesterol level guidelines. Fees are $8 for the cholesterol screening and $5 for the glucose screening. Manchester Evening La Leche League will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

at 33 Country Lane in East Hartford. The topic will be nutrition and weaning. More information, help with breast-feeding questions and directions are available by calling 644-41 09 or 646-7277. VERNON The rock bands Avant Garde and Mar-riah will perform in a free concert sponsored by the recreation department Monday at 7 p.m. et Henry Park.

Rain date is Tuesday. Tom Callinan and Bill Walach will perform old and new folk music Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the same place. The children's department of Rock-ville Public Library will be closed during August for renovations. The ways and means committee of the senior citizens center will meet Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

at 26 Park Place. Bingo will be played Monday and Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. at the senior citizens center, 26 Park Place. There will be no senior bus pickup for these sessions.

The regular bingo bus schedule will resume Auq. 15. Activities for senior citizens at the senior citizens center, 26 Park Place, the week of July 31 include: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., renters rebate application; Monday, 9:15 a.m., Golden Steppers; 1 p.m., bingo; Tuesday, ways and means committee meeting; 10 a.m., setback; 1:15 p.m., pinochle for fun; Wednesday, Tri-Town shopping; 10 a.m., cribbage; 7 p.m., beginners dance; Thursday, 8 a.m ladies golf; 1:15 p.m., pinochle; 7:15 p.m., RockvilleVernon seniors; Friday 7:30 a.m., trip to Saratoga; 9:15 a.m., sewing group; 10 a.m., bridge. AREAWIDE Red Cross bfood mobiles in the area the week of July 31 will include: Thurs day, 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m., Irish American Home, main hall, Commerce Street, Glastonbury; Friday, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., Rockville General Hospital, conference center, 31 Union Rockville. Information on eligibility to donate is available by calling the nearest Red Cross chapter or Greater Hartford headquarters in Farm-ington, 678-2795. The program schedule on Public Access Channel 26 Dial, the week of July 31: Monday: 6 p.m., Jimmy Swaggart; 6:30 p.m., America's Defense; 7 p.m., Heart-reach; 7:30 p.m., Out and About with Jay Michaels; 8 p.m., Crafts in the Making, beginners. Tuesday: 6 p.m., Jimmy Swaggart; 6:30 p.m., Senate Reports, Manchester Community College; 7 p.m., Vernon town council meeting, live. -Wednesday: 6 p.m., Jimmy Swaggart; 6:30 p.m., Tolland Congregational Church; 7:30 p.m., Crafts in the Making, advanced; 8 p.m., Vicky's Topics.

6 p.m., Jimmy Swaggart; 6:30 p.m., Home Health Report; 7 p.m., Consumer Access; 7:30 p.m., America's Defense; 8 p.m., Notes from the Capitol. Friday: 6 p.m., Jimmy Swaggart; 6:30 p.m., Faces of Rumania; 7 p.m., Sports Farn, Tallweed Golf Open; 9 p.m., Downtown. Saturday: 6 p.m., Manchester Community College Relays; 7:30 p.m., Sports Fan; 8:30 p.m., Vicky's Topics. Sunday: 5:30 p.m., Tolland Congregational Church; 6:30 p.m., Jimmy Swaggart, One-Hour Crusade; 7:30 p.m., Square Dancing, the Best Kept Secret; 8 p.m., Vicky's Topics. In August, the Greater Hartford Red Cross Chapter will train people with medical backgrounds to volunteer as health history interviewers to screen potential blood donors for their health status.

Training will be held Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. at St. Mary's Church, Willard Avenue, Newington, 678-2802; Wednes-dayfrom 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Bristol Branch, 240 Stafford Bristol, 583-1309; Aug.

10 from 9 a.m. to noon at headquarters, 209 Farmington Farmington, 678-2802; Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon and 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Nathan Hale Branch, 25 Terrace Drive, Vernon, 875-3377.

Now $24900 SUITS reg. to $875 Camp CONNRI, named for the two states that it serves, will celebrate 10 years of service at trie residential camp in Ashford Tuesday. A 2 p.m. re-dedication service will be conducted by Major Israel L. Gaither, division commander of The Salvation Army, Southern New England Division.

The public is invited. The office of pubic relations at 278-0240 has more information. EAST HARTFORD Program schedule on Public Access Channel 26 Dial, week of July 31: Monday: p.m., Intro to Reading; 7:40 p.m., Road to Reading with reader Andre LeBrosse; 8:05 p.m., special Update Edition with guest Tim Gagnon; 8:35 p.m., Young Astronauts program sponsored by Pratt Whitney; 9:1 0 p.m., Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell presents Dan-sa-tion, a 40s through 80s jazz band. Tuesday: 10 a.m., Reggie's World, Fitness, part two; 10:30 a.m., Connecticut Excursions, Old Newgate Prison museum; 11:30 a.m., Ronald McDonald visits Langford School; 7:30 p.m., repeat ca-blecast, informational workshop on the bond referendum. Wednesday: 7:30 p.m., Update Edition with Philip Cone; 8 p.m., Selden 3iewer House, grand opening; 8:40 p.m., East Hartford Fine Arts Commission presents saxophonist Brian Sparks and pianist Paul Bisaccla.

Thursday: 2 p.m., magician Bruce Amato performing at Pitkin School; 2:30 p.m., Update Edition with Philip Cone; 3 p.m., Intro to Reading; 3:30 p.m., Road to Reading with reader Andre LaBrosse; 3:25 p.m., "Rumpelstiltskin" performed by Newington Children's Theatre sponsored by the parks and recreation department; 7:30 p.m., TV 26 newscast with Allan Driscoll; 7:45 p.m., Connecticut State Babe Ruth Tournament with pre-game program and East Hartford vs. East Lyme. Friday: 7:30 p.m.. Update Edition with Philip Cone; 8 p.m., TV 26 newscast with Allan Driscoll; 8:15 p.m. "ft Seems to Me" with Andy Nelson and guest Pat Alexander Julian Reg.

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