High School Track and Field Teams Triumph at Invitational
The Haddam-Killingworth High School track and field team hosted its Invitational Track Meet at the HK Fieldhouse today. Both the boys' and the girls' teams were the overall winners of the invitational meet that included 12 girls' and 14 boys' teams from area schools. Top finishers for the Cougars include, Meghan Scanlon in the 300 meter run; Danielle Funaro in the 1600 meter run; the HK girls 4x200 meter relay; the HK girls 4x800 meter relay; Ryan MacNeeley in the 600 meter run; B.J. Palumbo in the 1600 meter run; the HK boys 4x200 meter relay; the HK boys 4x400 meter relay; the HK boys 4x800 meter relay. Complete meet results are available at Coginchaug Sports Timing.

Images from the meet:

Middle School Boys Basketball Wins Winthrop Tournament
The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School boys basketball team defeated host Winthrop, 55-43, to win the championship game of the John Winthrop Tournament yesterday. The Cougars defeated Portland, Thursday to earn the final match-up. Tournament MVP Ryan Hawkins was high scorer for HK in the championship game with 17 points, followed by All-Tournament team member, Greg Cumpstone with 15 points. Other HK scorers included Alex Pollack with 7, Alex Langevin and Matt Martin with 6 each and Dan Wendt with the remaining 4 points.

Middle School Girls Basketball Spilt Games in Tournament
The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School girls basketball team lost to Portland, 34-42, in the opening game of the 23rd Annual Westbrook Middle School Tournament Thursday. Seventh-grade tri-captains Allie Rand and Michelle Fillion led the Cougars with 15 and 10 points respectively. Kim Peterson also contributed 4 points and Erin Moriarty and Shelby VanHuysen each scored 2 points.

In the consolation game Friday, HK defeated Westbrook, 51-15 in a one-sided match-up. The Cougars scored with 10 different players. Michelle Fillion, Allie Rand and Colleen Phelan were top scorers with 8 points each; Kelsey Buttendorf had 7, followed by Kim Peterson, Erin Moriarty, Ally Pratt, and Shelby VanHuysen, each with 4 points. Seventh graders Gillian Dudek and Deana Loso each had 2 points.

The middle school girls are up again Tuesday, Feb. 3 against Old Lyme at HK.

Girls Basketball Narrowly Loses to Morgan
The Haddam-Killingworth girls basketball team came within a few points of beating Morgan of Clinton last night at the HK Fieldhouse. The Cougars lost, 44-46, but it is clear that in the last month, HK has become a different team than the one that lost to Morgan in mid-December 19-52. HK led at the half, 24-20, but could not hold off the Morgan last quarter charge where they outscored HK 12-5. Kelsey Pratt led all scorers last night with 16 points followed by Kristin Hetsko with 14, including 4 three-pointers, and Candice Webber with 8. The Cougars are now 7-7. Morgan was led by Kate Fillion with 13 points; the Huskies are now 10-4.

David Denvir reveals his love of classical jazz and his desire to shed some light on the public and private discussions about the new middle school in his weekly address to residents. Using a musical analogy, Denvir explains why he and the other selectmen called on the Board of Education to hold a public meeting about the new school. Read the First Selectman's remarks to residents here.

Prevention Council Meeting
The Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth Prevention Council will hold its monthly meeting, Feb. 11 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. in the Haddam-Killingworth High School lower media center. Join parents, school staff, students, local clergy, Board of Education members, Selectmen of Haddam and Killingworth, members of local law enforcement, members of the business community, social service and youth organizations and many other interested community members in a collaborative effort to move forward with prevention programs for the benefit of all youth and families in the H-K Community. For more information on the Prevention Council contact Cheryl Chander at 345-7498 or CChandler20@comcast.net

Middle School Boys Basketball Earns Championship Match-up
The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School boys basketball team came back from a 9-point deficit in the first half to pull out a, 33-26, victory over Portland in the opening game of the Winthrop Tournament yesterday. The Courgars meet Winthrop in the championship game this afternoon at 5:00 p.m. at the John Winthrop Middle School in Deep River. After falling behind 13-22 at the half, the HK defense, led by Ryan Hawkins, turned things around and outscored Portland 20-4 in the second half. The Cougars were led in scoring by Greg Cumpstone with 8 points. Also contributing to the win was Chris Arrigoni with 7 points, Ryan Hawkins with 5, Dan Wendt with 4, Matt Martin with 3 and Ryan Conway, Alex Langevin and Kyle McGowan with 2 points each.

Superintendent Proposes $28.18 Million School Budget
Region 17 Interim School Superintendent, Robert Goldman presented a $28.18 million budget to the Board of Education for the 2004-2005 school year. The proposed budget reflects a 6.97 increase from the current spending according to the Hartford Courant. Goldman will step down from the interim position Saturday and former Killingworth Elementary School Principal, Dr. Maureen Fitzpatrick will step into the interim role until newly appointed superintendent, Gary Mala can take over in March. In the budget, Goldman recommended a full-time instructional specialist for language arts be appointed at the elementary schools, an additional full-time first grade teacher at Haddam Elementary, part-time health and physical education and world language teachers at Haddam-Killingworth Middle School, and a health and physical education teacher at the high school.

Boys Basketball Defeats North Branford
The Haddam-Killingworth boys basketball team defeated North Branford, 56-36, tonight at the HK Fieldhouse. The Cougars were led by senior captain Matt Finlayson with 21 points including 3 three-pointers. He was aided by Ryan Murray who pitched in 15 points followed by Brett Zanardi with 10 points. The T-Birds were led by Karl Debacher with 15 points and Matt Crandley with 9. The Cougars are now 9-2 and sit atop the western division of the Shoreline Conference.

In junior varsity action, the Cougars fell to the T-Birds, 54-65. HK was led by Perry Pratt with 15 points followed by Brian Foley with 12 points.

Images from the varsity contest:

Teen Drinking Ordinance Proposed
Board of Education member, Richard Cabral asked the Board of Selectmen to pursue an ordinance that would allow police to enter private property to break up parties where teenagers are drinking alcohol. The selectmen have declined the request according to the Hartford Courant. First Selectman David Denvir said the ordinance was unnecessary because there are laws in place to allow police to arrest minors for drinking in public and that personal property rights should prevail over what he called "an unprovable deterrent idea". Cabral said he came forward as an individual and not as a school board representative. The proposed ordinance can be petitioned to a town meeting by voters.

Discussions Open Again on Venuti Property
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen have reopened the issue of purchasing the 260-acre Venuti property according to the New Haven Register. First Selectman David Denvir said the board envisions the parcel as open space with recreational uses, as well as a way to stabilize the tax base by removing it from residential development. The 2002 asking price of $8 million was a deal breaker in previous discussions. The town's need for additional recreational facilities and the costs associated with the purchase of new parcels as opposed to using town-owned property is also an issue. The Region 17 School Board chose a 72-acre parcel on Route 81 in Killingworth as the site for a new intermediate/middle school and received approval for the $48.3 million plan. The $5.6 million plan to develop the town-owned Bosco property for recreation was defeated by voters in 2003 referendum.

Kindergarten Registration Postponed
Due to the snow, Kindergarten registration for today has been postponed until Thursday, Jan. 29 from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Board of Selectmen Request Meeting on New School
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen has formally asked the Reg. No. 17 Board of Education and the school building committee to hold a public information session on the $48.36 million intermediate/middle school project according to the Hartford Courant. The building committee sent an informational mailing to residents but against First Selectman David Denvir's advice, did not schedule an informational meeting. Michael Board, acting head of the Killingworth Taxpayers Association is quoted as saying he has many questions on the building project and that, "by their (BOE and building committee) silence it is sending a signal that perhaps there is something to hide".

Board of Selectmen Hears Request for Road Sweeper
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen was asked, Monday, to appropriate $15,000 for the purchase of a used road sweeper from the town of Westport, according to the Hartford Courant. Highway department foreman, Jim Ward said it would replace a 1976 sweeper purchased from Clinton in 1994. The board agreed to discuss the proposal.

Suspected Mail Thief Arrested After High Speed Chase
A 36-year-old East Haven resident has been arrested after allegedly ramming a police cruiser following a high-speed police chase through East Haven, West Haven and New Haven. According to the New Haven Register, the driver, John Kraszewski, also struck a pedestrian, sending her to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said he is a suspect in a Milford armed robbery and has outstanding warrants in several towns. Police also said he is a "prime suspect" in a rash of mail thefts in Greater New Haven and the Shoreline.

On December 20, a newspaper carrier found opened mail in the Evergreen Cemetery on Green Hill Road. Dumped mail was also discovered in the Killingworth True Value store dumpster. The recovered mail came from 25 Killingworth and Madison mailboxes on Green Hill, River, Fawn Hill, Coughlin, Cow Hill, Cow Pen Hill Roads. Killingworth Resident State Trooper Michael Perry said at the time, that postal inspectors would lead the investigation. On Dec. 29 Trooper Perry reported that investigators were close to an arrest.

Middle School Update From Reg. 17 Building Committee
In a letter to residents, the Regional School District No. 17 Building Committee updates the progress of the new intermediate/middle school. It states that since the referendum, Feb. 10, 2003, the committee has been hard at work fulfilling the voter mandate to design and construct the school within the $48.365 million approved budget. To date:
*Pavelka and Secondino property selected and purchased for $1.29 million.
*Architects, Jeter, Cook and Jepson designs were approved to Reg. No. 17 Board of Education.
*Response to plans are expected back from State Department of Education in mid-January.
*Inland Wetlands Commission approved project subject to four items of clarification, Dec. 9, 2003. The plan incorporating the four items was resubmitted Jan. 6, 2004.
*The Zoning Board approved variances on Sept. 22, 2003
*Plans will be brought before Planning and Zoning Commission
*Traffic study is under review by State Traffic Commission
*Engineers are working with the Department of Environmental Protection on design of water treatment system.
*Surveyors and attorneys have established property lines and are prepared to resolve boundary disputes.
*The project remains on schedule and on track financially with construction commencing Spring 2004.

The Building Committee holds regular meetings, that are open to the public, on the third Wednesday of every month.
For more information contact the Superintendent at 345-4534 or Kjell Tollefsen, Chairman of the Building Committee at tollefsenk@sbcglobal.net.

Elementary School Family Night
On Friday, Jan. 30, the Killingworth Elementary School PTO will hold a 'Board Game and Pizza Night' for all KES Families. It will be held in the KES all-purpose room from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The $10.00 per family fee includes a 14- inch pizza. To make a reservation, call Tracy Plumley at 663-3710.

The KES-PTO meeting on Monday, Feb. 2 features guest speaker Dr. Renee Rhodes. She will present an update on the Community on Global Values Program. The meeting will take place in the KES music room at 7:00 p.m.

More Snow On the Way: Plan Your Garden

 Another winter storm is looming and as much as the white stuff delights skiers, some may be looking ahead to spring and the garden. In this months Yankee Magazine, there is a profile of the Twombly Nursery in Monroe, Connecticut. In the print-only article, it says, "the problem with winter is it lasts too long. We don't mind the fact of winter, but a spate of several solid months filled with frozen ground and nothing to ponder but slumbering beds can make gardeners a little antsy." Ken Twombly planted a garden scheduled to peak in the "depths of winter" after a winter's trip to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, England. Twombly and his wife, Priscilla decided that New England could support winter gardens as well.

The online version of Yankee profiles author Rita Buchanan and her book, The Winter Garden. Buchanan designs her landscape for all seasons and uses the winter to plan and layout her garden, check dimensions and get a feel for the views from her windows. The article includes a list of plants that will add movement, color and interest to your winter garden.

State Representative Speaks on Mentoring Program
State Representative Brian O'Connor (D, 35th District) volunteers an hour a week to mentor a 6th grader at the Jared Eliot Middle School in Clinton. The 33-year-old bachelor says he has been mentored all his life, first by his parents, then by different coaches and teachers. He credits State Senator Eileen Daily as having a major influence in his life and decision to enter public service according to the Clinton Recorder. January has been proclaimed National Mentoring Month. Rep. O'Connor got involved through a program co-sponsored by the Governor's Prevention Partnership, a public-private association formed to encourage "drug-free and safe" young people. The Killingworth mentoring program is named "All Hands On Deck". For more information on the program visit the Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services site or call Essie Spencer at 345-7498.

Haddam-Killingworth Mentoring Program Seeks Volunteers

January has been proclaimed National Mentoring Month by President of the United States George W. Bush. All over the country, communities are organizing their human resources to benefit the community youth through mentoring and volunteer activities.

The Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth, through its Prevention Council, has launched a mentoring program called "All Hands on Deck". The program looks to expand the School Mentoring Program with a $100,000 grant from the Dept. of Justice Drug Free Communities Support Program whose objectives are to reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse. Studies support the fact that mentoring works to decrease substance abuse. In a landmark study of 1,000 young people, children with mentors were 46% less likely to start using drugs, 27% less likely to start drinking, 53% less likely to skip school and 33% less likely to engage in school violence.

According to the HKYFS press release, the Prevention Council has organized this mentoring program as a joint initiative between the towns of Haddam and Killingworth to "engage individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits to work together to increase the number of mentors in our schools to assure brighter futures for young people and to assist in achieving their potential". The time commitment for volunteers is one hour per week. The project goal is to have 100 mentoring pairs in our area schools by September 2004. Ernest Nagler has been hired to work as the School Mentoring Program Coordinator and will be responsible for recruiting adults to be mentors.

The Drug-Free Communities Support Program was an initiative of the Drug-Free Communities Act that was signed into law on June 27, 1997. The Act provides financial assistance and support to community coalitions to carry out the mission of reducing substance abuse among the nation's youth. In September 2003, the Department of Justice announced that communities nationwide would receive $54.1 million to aid in their efforts to limit drug use and promote drug-free communities.

To become a mentor or learn more about mentoring contact Ernest Nagler, the All Hands On Deck Project Director. He can be reached at the Haddam-Killingworth Middle School at 345-8567. For information on the Prevention Council contact Essie Spencer at 345-7498

Mars Rover 'Opportunity" Lands Safely

NASA second Mars Exploration Rover landed successfully on Mars early this morning and sent signals back to Earth. With no guarantees that the twin to MER Spirit would land as easily, NASA held its breath waiting for the landing. According to the NASA press release, Opportunity landed in a region called Meridiani Planum, halfway around the planet from the Gusev Crater site where its twin rover landed three weeks ago. It was just 48 hours ago that NASA lost transmissions from Spirit. "In the last 48 hours, we've been on a roller coaster," said Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for space science."We resurrected one rover and saw the birth of another."

Opportunity returned the first pictures this morning that revealed a "surreal, dark landscape unlike any ever seen before on Mars" according to the morning's press release. "The terrain is darker than at an previous Mars landing site and has the first accessible bedrock outcropping ever seen on Mars." Dr. Steve Squyres, principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin Spirit said "I'm flabbergasted. I'm astonished. I'm blown away. To read more on the twin rovers go to http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov.

Cougar Aquatic Team Compete in Pentathlon

The Cougar Aquatic Team is competing in the short-course pentathlon yesterday and today at the HK High School Pool. The CAT swim program consists of swimmers ranging from 7 to 21 years of age. The team is currently in the short course season which runs September through March. Results for this weekends competition will be posted on the CATSWIM site.

Images from Saturday's Heats

Bagwell Returns to Connecticut to Receive Honors

Major League baseball player Jeff Bagwell, who grew up in Killingworth and attended the University of Hartford, was back in Connecticut Saturday to have his No. 27 retired and to be honored with a Hartford Hawks memorabilia locker at Hartford's annual Hot Stove Dinner according to the Hartford Courant. Bagwell, 35 is entering is 14th season in the major leagues. As first baseman of the Houston Astros, he has amassed 419 home runs and 1,1421 RBIs. The buzz in Houston right now of course is the Astros acquisition of Yankee pitchers Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. Though Yankee fans may be disappointed to lose two of their aces, Bagwell has clearly got to be excited about the upcoming season.