The center includes a lost-and-found section and a message board where people can leave each other notes. Watch video
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Sheila Stroh, of Bethel, Conn., pointed to the sign that read “Lost People Center” as she posed with her husband John. Linda Najam of Danbury, Conn, snapped a picture.
“Linda’s husband teases me that I’m a lost soul,” said John Stroh, who was enjoying the Big E on Connecticut Day.
People like to make wisecracks about the Lost People Center, but it’s a serious operation to its dedicated staff and volunteers.
“We have a 100 percent success rate,” said volunteer Linda Balakier, of Chicopee, who was at the Lost People counter Wednesday with two other cheerful volunteers and Big E staff member Thomas Williams of Chicopee.
The Lost People Center was established at the Big E in 1989, according to Noreen Tassinari, director of marketing at the Eastern States Exposition.
It includes a lost-and-found section and a message board where people can leave each other notes.
There’s also a room where lost kids can play video games while they snack on pretzels, chips, juice and other goodies.
Only half of the people who get lost at the Big E are children. “More often it’s the adults who get separated from their company,” said Tassinari.
In 2011 there were 43 “searches” for lost people, said Tassinari, of which 23 were children under 16.
Cell phones have made a world of difference. In 1992, there were 343 searches.
Tassinari said that if a child is lost, the response is quick.
“We have a strong police presence, and people who work the gates and information centers will immediately notify the Lost People Center,” she said.
Earlier in the day a 4-year-old child had gotten separated from his aunts and escorted to the center by police.
“He was not scared at all,” said Balakier. “He was a chatterbox. He answered all our questions – and then he was interviewing us!”
The aunts soon turned up. “Another success story,” said Balakier.
Very small children are seldom lost as they are often ensconced in strollers, which appear to be everywhere. In the space of 15 minutes, 27 strollers passed the Lost People Center.
The center has an efficient system for logging lost and found items, though too many people neglect to follow up on their lost items. In fact, said Tassinari, in 2011, 497 items were turned in to the lost-and-found, but only 247 items were reported lost.
Zulma Arroyo-Cruz, of Southington, approached the counter balancing a stuffed potato in one hand and a Citibank card in the other. The card had been left on the counter of the eatery.
People come to the Lost People Center to ask all kinds of questions that have nothing to do with lost people.
“Where are the cream puffs?” asked a woman standing in front of the cream puff sign and its arrow.
“Where is the fried lasagna?” asked another woman.
“Where am I right now?” said another.
In most cases, the volunteers direct the questioners to the nearest information booth. A number of them are current or retired schoolteachers, and used to helping others.
They smile at the wisecracks, even if they’ve heard them before.
“I was lost, but now I’m found,” quipped a woman in a beret as she passed the counter.
“I’ve been lost since I was born,” joked John Petitpas, of East Hartford.
Another popular comment, according to volunteer Mary Powers: “I’ve lost my mind. Can you help me find it?”