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The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

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Former Astronaut Talks to Youth In Fanwood About Space Careers

DEBORAH MADISON

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

FANWOOD — Ask any group of fiveyearolds what they want to be when they grow up, and nine out of

of them will say an astronaut. By the age of 10, however, that number

dwindled to zero. Trying to remedy this lack of est in the astrosciences is former

astronaut and Director of the lenger Learning Center in Florida, Dr. Norman Thagard. Dr. Thagard, who resides in Florida, was the vited guest of the Children’s ment of the Fanwood Memorial Li

brary on July 20. Dr. Thagard talked to a large group of children and parents about his career as a doctor, an electrical neer and an astronaut with NASA

1978 to 1996. A fivetime shuttle flight veteran,

Thagard was the first American to live on the MIR Space Station in the exchange program between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Dr. Thagard lived on MIR for 115 days with four cosmonauts in 1995. He was also an astronaut aboard the Magellan Mission in 1989, which launched a satellite that took tures of the planet Venus.

Among the slides presented by Dr. Thagard were photographs taken aboard the MIR Space Station ing the astronauts laying on the ing and retrieving bags that were

floating throughtheweightlesscabin. Other slides showed how additional modules were docked into the MIR while in space, as well as views of the earth from orbit.

Dr. Thagard explained how teorologistsand mapmakersusethese aerial photos.

As the only medical doctor aboard the MIR, it was Dr. Thagard’s sponsibility to take blood samples

from the crew to test them for the effects of longterm space travel on their health.

“Being in space and weightless for periods of time is like being on bedrest,” he stated. “You lose muscle tone and bone mass, and get very weak when you return to the earth’s gravity,” he explained.

Motivating children to appreciate is the reason why the designed Challenger Learning ter in Florida was built, Dr. Thagard

said. Equipped with a spacestation simulator and a mission control ter, the learning center gives kids

handson experiences in the sciences. “They are required to solve actual

engineering problems at the con trols,” Dr. Thagard explained.

“Good grades are important no matter what your career choice is going to be,” Dr. Thagard advised the children, “but especially if you want to become a scientist or astronaut.”

There is a drastic shortage of sci interence majors, especially among

American children, Dr. Thagard re Chalmarked.

“Asian students are outnumbering were given an opportunity to ask

questions about space exploration and Dr. Thagard’s missions. Dr. Thagard explained that the nauts had to be velcroed to the walls

at night so they wouldn’t bump into things while they slept.

He also explained how the lack of gravity makes using the toilet a tricky task involving a bowl with a vacuum hose.

“My favorite space food was irra

Cheri Rogowsky for The Westfield Leader and The Times meSPEAKING ABOUT SPACE… Former United States astronaut and Director of the Challenger Learning Center in Florida, Dr. Norman Thagard, spoke last

at the Fanwood Memorial Library to youth and their parents about choosing a career in the astrosciences.

American students in the science remajors,

which is unfortunate, be cause Americans have historically been the best scientists in the world,” he added.

Prior to the former astronaut’s meeting with the children, a recep tion for Dr. Thagard was held in the library and attended by Fanwood Mayor LouisC.Jung,Councilwoman Cynthia Swindlehurst, Fanwood Li brary Director Dan Weiss; President of the Library Board Steven Clark, newlyChildren’s

Librarian Susan Staub, CenAssistant

Librarian Kerry Maione and the press.

The program was organized by Ms. Staub as part of the Children’s cenSummer

Reading Program, which features guest speakers on a variety astroof

topics. After the slide show, the children

diated steak that comes in foil pack ages,” Dr. Thagard told the children. “I also liked the Russians’ mashed potatoes with onions,” he added.

Dr. Thagard also admitted that al though he doesn’t believe in UFOs, he does believe in aliens. However, he estimates that they are probably so far away that we’d never run into them.

When asked if he would consider coming out of retirement to travel in space again, Dr. Thagard said only if he was invited on the next flight to Mars.

SPECIAL RUNNERS… Members of the Westfield Police Department, along with law enforcement officers who reside in Westfield but work for other agencies, recently participated in the 17th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. The local contingent, pictured above, carried the torch

engithrough Westfield along its route towards the Opening Games of the Special

Olympics in Trenton. Through the officers’ efforts, the police department generated more than $2,000 in donations to support the Special Olympics.

Westfield Inspection Facility to Start Taking

Appointments Only

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Motor Vehicle Inspection Facility, loBy cated at 410 South Avenue East, will begin performing vehicle inspections by appointmentonly,startingTuesday,

astroAugust 1.

Although the new appointment sys10 tem does not begin until August, New Jersey motorists can start making aphas pointments now by calling 1888NJ MOTOR.

By Thursday, August 30, motorists can log on to www. cleanairnj. org to schedule an appointment online.

“The new appointment system will inhelp decreasewait timesattheWestfield

Departfacility,” said James Singer, general

manager of Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group. “This will make the vehicle inspection process faster and more convenient for motorists.”

Parsons reminds motorists to check all paperwork before going for an infrom spection.

A current driver’s license, registraDr. tion and insurance card are required beforean inspectioncanbeperformed. The registration does not have to be new, just valid.

Commencing August1,theWestfield facility’s hours of operation will be from 6: 30 a. m. to 5 p. m. Monday throughFriday,with latehoursonTues days until 7: 30 p. m.

The facility is also open from 6: 30 a. m. to 12: 30 p. m. on Saturdays.

Consumerscancall,tollfree,1888NJ MOTOR (those outside the state cancall6098956886),withquestions about the new inspection program, or visitwww. cleanairnj. org.

Questions regarding such areas as licensing, registration and title should still be directed to the current New Jersey motor vehicle services’toll free number,18884863339.

Local Soroptimists Name New Officers

WESTFIELD — Soroptimist InThursday ternational of the Greater Westfield Area, a community service group, held its joint installation of dinner last month with Suburban Essex at Bella Italia Restaurant in Orange.

Marie Kennedy, Governor of the North Atlantic Region of Soroptimist International, installed the club’s new officers, includingLenoreScurry,Presilong dent; Maria Tsitsiragos, Vice PresiEveryone dent; Marion McLean, Secretary, and Dorothy Zimatore, Treasurer.

Directors are Theresa Caldaraio, Isabel Arnone and Stephanie Wood.

For more information about joinscience ing the club, please call Ms. Scurry at (908) 2321913.

Westfield Community Center Offers Osteoporosis Program

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Community Center, located at 558 West Broad Street, is currently offer

picing a free program for senior citizens

who live in Union County. Entitled Project Healthy Bones, the program concerns osteoporosis.

showThere is no minimum age for attend

ceilees but it is geared to senior citizens.

Project Healthy Bones combines exercise along with lectures on os teoporosis given by guest speakers.

Exercises include flexibility train ing, weights and balance, along with education on treatment and nutri tional factors.

The program, which is run by RSVP (Retired Seniors and Volun teer Program) of Union County in conjunction with St. Barnabas Medi cal Center in Livingston, can accom modate 12 people.

Sessions are held twice a week, Wednesdays and Fridays, for an hour and a half beginning at 12: 30 p. m.

For furtherinformation,pleasecall Marion Coffee at the Westfield Com munity Center at (908) 2324759.

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