"This is a big week for us as we are not only celebrating our 79th birthday, but also a change in name and a refocus on what we do best, which is working with the young people of the community," Forand said. "This is the beginning of a new era of service to the West Hartford community and beyond and we are grateful to the town for all it has done for us over the years."
The Science Center of Connecticut, which is the largest children's museum in the state, has been located at its current home on Trout Brook Drive since 1958 and includes The Gengras Planetarium, the second largest of its kind in all of New England, The Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton and the Science Center Preschool. Forand said that the change in name will be accompanied by a new logo for the museum, which features a rocket blasting off, as well as the new motto for the organization, "Igniting Curiosity Through Science and Nature."
"We are going back to the future with our name change," Forand said, alluding to the fact that the Science Center was originally called The Children's Museum when it was founded in 1927. "This is a great time for us as we continue to grow where we have been planted."
Mayor Scott Slifka offered his thanks to Forand and the entire staff at the Science Center for the work they have done educating children from all over the state and New England and said that he looks forward to having the museum remain in West Hartford for many years to come.
"The Science Center has long been a part of this community and their plans to relocate to Elmwood in the coming years will be a catalyst to strengthen the neighborhood and encourage further economic development in that part of town," Slifka said. "It is with great pleasure that we proclaim May 10 to be 'The Children's Museum Day' here in West Hartford."
In other news from Tuesday's meeting, the council voted unanimously in favor of appropriating a $1,000,000 state grant to implement improvements to athletic fields at the University of Connecticut's West Hartford branch. The grant will pave the way for the construction of new baseball and softball fields that will be located at the corner of Trout Brook Drive and Asylum Avenue.
"This is very exciting news for all who participate in town sports leagues," Mayor Slifka said. "This marks the end of a three years process and our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all who have made this possible."
The design phase for the new fields is scheduled to begin this summer with a completion date expected for the spring of 2008, Town Manager Jim Francis said. The renovation of the fields will include a new parking lot.
"This will be a great addition to our town," Francis said.
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The Town Council presented Edward Forand Jr., President and CEO of the Science Center of Connecticut, with a proclamation at their meeting on Tuesday night that commemorates May 10 as "Children's Museum Day" in West Hartford.
Forand, who made an announcement on Wednesday that the Science Center of Connecticut will be officially changing its name to "The Children's Museum," addressed the council on Tuesday, saying that the change in name will also bring a new focus to the museum that has been in West Hartford for more than 50 years.
"This is a big week for us as we are not only celebrating our 79th birthday, but also a change in name and a refocus on what we do best, which is working with the young people of the community," Forand said. "This is the beginning of a new era of service to the West Hartford community and beyond and we are grateful to the town for all it has done for us over the years."
The Science Center of Connecticut, which is the largest children's museum in the state, has been located at its current home on Trout Brook Drive since 1958 and includes The Gengras Planetarium, the second largest of its kind in all of New England, The Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton and the Science Center Preschool. Forand said that the change in name will be accompanied by a new logo for the museum, which features a rocket blasting off, as well as the new motto for the organization, "Igniting Curiosity Through Science and Nature."
"We are going back to the future with our name change," Forand said, alluding to the fact that the Science Center was originally called The Children's Museum when it was founded in 1927. "This is a great time for us as we continue to grow where we have been planted."
Mayor Scott Slifka offered his thanks to Forand and the entire staff at the Science Center for the work they have done educating children from all over the state and New England and said that he looks forward to having the museum remain in West Hartford for many years to come.
"The Science Center has long been a part of this community and their plans to relocate to Elmwood in the coming years will be a catalyst to strengthen the neighborhood and encourage further economic development in that part of town," Slifka said. "It is with great pleasure that we proclaim May 10 to be 'The Children's Museum Day' here in West Hartford."
In other news from Tuesday's meeting, the council voted unanimously in favor of appropriating a $1,000,000 state grant to implement improvements to athletic fields at the University of Connecticut's West Hartford branch. The grant will pave the way for the construction of new baseball and softball fields that will be located at the corner of Trout Brook Drive and Asylum Avenue.
"This is very exciting news for all who participate in town sports leagues," Mayor Slifka said. "This marks the end of a three years process and our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all who have made this possible."
The design phase for the new fields is scheduled to begin this summer with a completion date expected for the spring of 2008, Town Manager Jim Francis said. The renovation of the fields will include a new parking lot.
"This will be a great addition to our town," Francis said.
