WAJ KINDERGARTENERS RETURN TO THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT - Bittersweet Visit for The Gipper

A wintry-dreaming visit to the town’s sand/salt shed for the kindergarten class of teacher Taylor Thorington and classroom assistant Lexie Lane, accompanied by volunteer parents and highway department workers.

Their attentions were scattered in several different directions, as usual, but the kids continued the tradition of pretending they are snow being plowed, joined by real life highway department personnel (standing, left to right) working foreman Troy Aplin, highway superintendent-elect Robert “BJ” Murray and retiring roads chief Gary Thorington.

Windham-Ashland-Jewett kindergartener Katie is all smiles sitting in the cab of the town’s snowblowing machine.

WINDHAM - They usually do this when wintry weather begins to warm but a heartfelt exception was made by the kindergarteners from Windham-Ashland-Jewett, recently journeying to the town highway department.

Roads chief Gary Thorington, after thirty-one years with the local agency, has announced his retirement, effective at the end of December.

So, the “Gipper” as he is affectionately known, won’t be in his customary post for the return of the robins, prompting teacher Taylor Thorington to move the calendar ahead for the annual school field trip.

“Typically, this trip has been taken closer to early spring,” Ms. Thorington said, stepping in for Christi Corrigan who similarly retired, this year, after three decades at WAJ.

“However, with the “Gipper” also soon to be retiring, we thought it would be a special moment for him, to enjoy one last group of little friends from WAJ,” said Ms. Thorington (a niece through marriage).

“We had the privilege of learning about the importance of our local highway department and what their job entails,” Ms. Thorington said.

“The students had a wonderful time and were even able to check out some of the equipment that is used in the daily operations to keep our roads safe,” Ms. Thorington said.

The Gipper, in a subsequent interview, said the autumn visit to the highway garage, located along Mitchell Hollow Road, was “bittersweet.” 

“Their attention was all over the place, as usual, so their teacher had to remind them about “bubbles,” the Gipper said, smiling.

“When she said that, the kids had to puff their cheeks out, like bubbles, and with their cheeks full of air they couldn’t talk anymore.

“You gotta’ love it,” the Gipper said. “We’ve always loved having the kids here. Christi was always trying to teach them what public officials do.”

That tradition will continue albeit differently. “I figured it’d be a bit emotional, this being the last time I’d do this,” the Gipper said. “But it didn’t really hit me until their bus pulled out of the parking lot.”