Date: Mon 30-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

human-interest-Nancy-Larin

Full Text:

Nancy Larin's Long Day At The Polls

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Nancy Larin was up and out the door at four o'clock Tuesday morning. A long

day lay ahead.

It was Election Day and the Newtown resident was responsible for making it

work. For the most part, her job as head moderator was simply to ensure that

each of Newtown's polling places was in order. She tallied the votes and

absentee ballots, announced the results and helped solve problems.

In a way, Mrs Larin was in charge of enforcing democracy. She'll tell you it's

just a way for her to give back to the community.

"I really enjoy working the polls. I see a lot of people I don't see during

the year," she said in an interview in the middle school gymnasium Tuesday.

Serving as head moderator is nothing new for Mrs Larin. She's been doing it

for several years and goes to moderator school every three years to stay

fresh.

Mrs Larin has been known to put in 22-hour days when the polls are open.

"I've been up as late as 2 am some years tallying the votes," she said. "I

always announce the results publicly in the Edmond Town Hall lobby, even if

there's nobody there."

On Wednesday, she took the Newtown results from Tuesday's election to state

police headquarters in Southbury. From there, they were taken to Hartford.

Let's face it, voting can be a little confusing, especially for those new

voters. Mrs Larin understands it can be an intimidating experience and is

always there to lend a helping hand.

"People sometimes panic. I just try to calm them down," Mrs Larin said.

Newtown voters are forced to deal with an extra element of confusion --

different polling places. Because not all Newtown voters vote for the same

state representative, four separate polling places are set up -- one in each

district. People often show up at the middle school, forgetting they're

supposed to be voting at Head O' Meadow School, Middle Gate School or the

Sandy Hook firehouse.

All townwide referendums are held at the middle school.

Mrs Larin was chosen to serve as head moderator by the registrars of voters.

When The Polls Close

When not serving as head moderator, Mrs Larin runs her own calligraphy

business from her home. It is called, Nancy Larin: Scribe.

"Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing," she explained. "I try to take

words or sayings or messages and put them on paper so that they're pleasing to

the eye. I mat them and frame them."

Mrs Larin said she hardly knew what calligraphy was all about 15 years ago.

But she started taking classes, discovered she had a real talent and fell in

love with the art.

"I got hooked," she said.

Mrs Larin and her husband, Jim, moved to Newtown from California in 1969 with

the plan that they would stay for six years. They have been here ever since.

"We love it here. You don't stay somewhere unless you're happy there," she

said.

She grew up in Cold Water, Michigan (about halfway between Chicago and

Detroit). After graduating from college, she moved to Denver, where she met

Jim, who had grown up in the Seattle area. Eventually, the couple moved to the

East Coast as Jim took a job with Laser Optics in Bethel. He still works there

today.

Mrs Larin volunteers her time for many organizations, including Meals on

Wheels and the Visiting Nurses Association. Being able to give is in her blood

-- literally. During her lifetime, she has given 8.5 gallons of blood.

Mrs Larin is also a member of the Newtown Woman's Club (General Federation of

Women's Club), is president of a women's stock group (banded together to

invest), two book clubs and a homemakers group.

She loves to play golf at Rock Ridge Country Club, plays tennis in the winter

and can also be seen down at the bowling alley.

Jim and Nancy Larin have two grown children: Kathy, who lives in Washington,

DC and Kane, who lives in Boston.