Don't forget about the Library fundraiser tonight! Call Apizza Tuscana at 663-2256 between 5:00-8:00 p.m.; order a pizza, or anything else on the menu, for regular price and a Killingworth Library volunteer will deliver your pizza for an additional $5 donation to the Library; cash or checks accepted. Have the pizza delivered to your door, Sheldon Field, or the KES ball fields! Treat yourself and support our Town Library.

Hale-Ray Ends Softball's Season
Hale-Ray of East Haddam defeated the Haddam-Killingworth Softball team, 4-0, yesterday in the quarter-finals of the CIAC Class S tournament, ending the Cougars' run at a repeat of last year's State Title. Ironically, Hale-Ray was the team HK beat in the Title game in 2003. Hale-Ray is undefeated on the year and will play the winner of the Coginchaug/Parish Hill game on Tuesday. The Cougars finish their season a respectable 15-7.

Elementary School's Folk Dance Festival
Under the direction of music teachers Joel Spinetti and Irina Rubalsky, the first and second grade classes at Killingworth Elementary School performed Dances From Around the World yesterday. Students performed traditional folk dances from countries like Germany, Israel, Mexico and England. photos courtesy Sue Irwin

Killingworth resident Susan Saporito-Irwin has written in response to First Selectman David Denvir's May 22 call to hear from residents who supported the intermediate/middle school project at referendum last year. Saporito-Irwin has collected almost 400 signatures from "the 'yes' votes that have all but disappeared". Read her complete letter here.

In his weekly address, First Selectman David Denvir reminds residents that the mosquito season is upon us and the best ways to avoid problems, like West Nile Virus, are to be vigilant about eliminating standing water, and protect yourself and family when outside. Read David Denvir's complete remarks here.

Mock Crash Warns Students Against Prom Night Drinking
While some Haddam-Killingworth High School students enjoyed the activities of the annual Street Festival, others observed what could happen with one teenaged error in judgment. Connecticut State Troopers, the LifeStar helicopter crew, and the Haddam and Killingworth Communities' Fire and Ambulance teams, united with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) today to stage a re-enactment of a real-life car accident involving a drunken teenager driving after the prom. The student actors, covered in "blood", were pulled from the wreckage of two cars involved in a head-on collision caused when a teenaged driver, under the influence of alcohol, lost control and killed one of his passengers and the pregnant wife of the second car's driver. State Troopers and EMS staff talked the audience through what happens when a fatal crash occurs: the initial body count; the sobriety test; the jaws-of-life necessary to extricate the bodies; the survivors' anger and grief; the medical team's response; the LifeStar evacuation of a victim and the Trooper's visit to the families of the dead. Though there was some nervous laughter in the crowd, organizers hope students leaving tomorrow night's Senior Prom are more informed about the price of their decisions. For those parents not able to witness the re-enactment, there are more photos included here. Parents, please remember the car keys start in your hands!

Burr Announces Students of the Month
Burr Elementary School announced its students of the month for May on Team 6-1. They are: Tyler Montesi, Jamie Venuti, Francesca Mastria, Danielle Machold, Andrew Frederick, and Andrew Brough. Students are chosen for their excellence in academic effort and good citizenship. Congratulations to these students! photo courtesy Terrie Shimoda

Images From Middle School Softball
The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School Softball team was well on its way to another win yesterday. The Cougars played Westbrook in their final game of the 2004 campaign.

Girls Track Places Second at States: Baseball Advances
The Haddam-Killingworth Girls Track and Field Team finished second, yesterday, at the CIAC Class S Track and Field Championships. The SLC Champions finished second to Old Saybrook in the meet in New Britain. The Cougars were led by winning performances from; Kimber Stannard in the 100m; Meghan Scanlon in the 200m; The 4x100m Relay with Taryn Allegra, Scanlon, Stannard, and Katelyn Deimel; the 4x800m Relay with Maygan Salzano, Lauren Padula, Meghan Wilson and Danielle Funaro. Other strong finishes: Stannard placed second in the 200m; Scanlon placed second in the 400m; Funaro placed second in the 800m; Salzano placed fifth in both the 1600m and the 3200m; Allegra placed second in the long jump; Lauren McKinnon and Kelsey Pratt tied for fifth in the high jump; Pratt placed fifth in the javelin and Amanda Hurlburt placed third in the discus.

In the CIAC Class M Championships on Wednesday, the Boys Track and Field Team received outstanding performances from Sean Gallagher, who won the shot put competition, and the 4x800m Relay Team that placed second. The team finished with 19 points.

The Baseball team defeated Stonington, 5-2, yesterday to advance to the quarter-finals of the CIAC Class M Tournament. Tyler Riordan pitched a complete game, striking out five, for the win. The Cougars will take on the winner of the Foran/Nonnewaug game, Saturday in Waterbury at 3:30 p.m. For complete game coverage, read today's Middletown Press.

Shoreline Foundation Holds Camp Open House
The Shoreline Foundation for Community Recreation will hold an open house from 1-3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 6 for its summer camp at Deer Lake. Area residents are invited to see what the camp offers for children 4-14. For more on the camp read the New Haven Register, visit the website, or call 458-6612.

Baseball and Softball Advance in State Tournament
The Haddam-Killingworth Baseball team defeated Avon, 3-0, yesterday to advance to the second round of the Class M State Tournament. Stonington will visit the Cougars today at 3:30 p.m.

The HK Softball team defeated East Windsor yesterday, 5-1, in the second round of the Class S Tournament. The Cougars will play Hale-Ray in the quarter-finals at Eastern Connecticut State University, Friday at 4:00 p.m.

OBITUARY
The New Haven Register reported today that Anthony Santarcangelo of Old Mine Road passed away Tuesday, June 1 at St. Raphael's Hospital. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and worked for the U. S. Postal Service for 28 years. Santarcangelo is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Denise Mastracchio and Debra Inguaggiato, sister Josephine Swart, brother-in-law Frank Pandolfi, and sisters-in-law Sue and Mary Ann Santarcangelo and Olga Santa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, June 4 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Therese's Church, 555 Middletown Ave, North Haven. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Father McGivney Cancer Center, 1450 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06511.

Elementary School Spring Concert
The Killingworth Elementary School Music Department presented its Spring Concert last night in the all-purpose room. The Jazz Band and Fourth and Fifth Grade Band performed under the direction of Joel Spineti. Choir Director Irina Rubalsky led the Fourth and Fifth Grade Choruses, and the Fourth Grade Select Chorus that performed a selection of spiritually inspired songs including "The Gospel Train" and "Let My People Go". photos courtesy Mike Irwin.

K-Sox Drop First of the Season
The Killingworth Juniors Red Sox team suffered its first loss of the season, Tuesday night, in a 2-1 heartbreaker with a tough Portland 2 team. Coach Jody Loso said he remains encouraged by both his team's pitching and defensive work. Loso said, "My pitcher, Willy Tobelman took the hill for the K-Sox and gave us six strong innings and fanned eight Portland batters. I can't ask for more than that". Loso also strongly complemented catcher Reed Sturman who kept Willy "dialed in" over the entire six inning stretch. Another noteworthy performance came from Brendan Hatin who put on a "fielding clinic" at second base by turning line-shots into outs. Although it took the K-Sox until the sixth inning to get to the Portland pitcher's no hit performance, the combination of an Evan Bruen walk, followed by a Hatin single and a Louis Annino double finally produced the the single K-Sox run. With Hatin and Annino aboard Tobelman attempted a little "Pond Ball" Irene Sheldon style, narrowly missing a three run homer when his hit pulled slightly foul. The two runners remained stranded and ended the K-Sox final offensive charge. Loso finished by saying,"Obviously, I don't like losing, but I tip my hat to the Portland pitcher; he pitched a heck of a game!". The K-Sox will be back in action this Friday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Brickyard of Haddam.

The Killingworth Library is holding a fundraising event, Saturday, June 5 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Call Apizza Tuscana at 663-2256. Order a pizza, or anything else on the menu, for regular price and a Killingworth Library volunteer will deliver your pizza for an additional $5 donation to the Library; cash or checks accepted. Have the pizza delivered to your door, Sheldon Field, or the KES ball fields! Treat yourself and support our Town Library.

HK Recreation Offers NYC Planets & Space Excursion
Start the summer with an an intergalactic experience featuring "planets and space" in New York City. On Saturday, June 26, enjoy lunch at Planet Hollywood and visit the American Museum of Natural History, featuring the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The centerpiece of the Rose Center is an 87-foot sphere housed in a cubic, glass-walled structure. Inside the sphere you will fly an unforgettable journey through a re-creation of our Galaxy and beyond. The package also includes the IMAX film Volcanoes of the Sea. There will be time to explore the museum exhibit halls such as the world famous dinosaur halls and the brand new Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth where you can stand at the lip of an exploding volcano, feel an earthquake and ride out tornadoes and hurricanes. The $86 fee includes admission to the Rose Center for Earth and Space, IMAX film, Museum of Natural History, lunch at Planet Hollywood, Tour Director, and Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation. For departure times, information or to register call 345-8334.

Planning & Zoning Sets Public Hearing Date for School
At its regular meeting last night, the Killingworth Planning and Zoning Commission accepted the Reg. 17 School District Building Committee's application for the Haddam-Killingworth Intermediate School and set the public hearing date for July 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the KES all-purpose room. This is an opportunity for the public to voice their support or opposition to the approval of the application. The commission also set the date for the public hearing regarding the 'Ridges at Deer Lake' subdivisions for July 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the KES all-purpose room.

Boys Tennis Wins SLC Title: Softball Cruises into Second Round
The Haddam-Killingworth Boys Tennis Team capped off its, 12-0, undefeated season with a Shoreline Championship yesterday at Old Lyme. Cougar star Guilio Gallarotti led the way in the singles competition. For complete results read the Middletown Press.

The HK Softball team dominated first round opponent O'Brien's Tech in a lopsided 23-2 contest yesterday. Chelsea Griswold got the win on the mound with a one-inning close from Chelsea Anderson. The game was called in the fifth inning. Danielle Vitali had 3 hits, three runs and 2 RBIs and Rachael Langevin went 2-2 and scored three runs. The second round game is today at the HK field against East Windsor at 4:00 p.m.

Yesterday's first round Baseball game against Avon was postponed until today at 3:30 p.m.

Images from the softball game:

Emmanuel Church Summer Concert
The Emmanuel Church will present its Four Seasons on the Organ summer concert on Friday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. This is the second concert in the series and will feature Kola Owolabi on the organ, the Zalenka Ensemble; Mateusz Zechowski and Daniel Brimhall on oboes and Maria Jeleztchava on the bassoon. The church is located on Emanuel Church Road off Route 148. There will be a reception following the concert and all donations will go to the Organ Fund. For more information call 663-1109.

Explore Connecticut's Trails
As part of the state-wide celebration of Connecticut Trails Day 2004, the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust, the Killingworth Historical Society, CT Forest and Park Association, and Lower CT River Valley Horseman's Club invite you to join them for a fascinating walk, history lesson and nature hike along Titus Coan Road, Saturday, June 5. Town Historian and former First Selectman Dave LeVasseur will join historian Tom Lentz in providing background on Reverend Titus Coan, famous for his role as a missionary to Hawaii in the mid-1800s. Naturalist John Himmelman will also be on hand to point out some of the plants and animals encountered. Coan's birthplace is located along the road and is marked by an enormous engraved rock. Two remarkable mill sites, a dam and millpond are located on the Menunketesuck River at the end of this beautiful walk along an old town road. Organized walks will begin at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. from Whitewood Farm. Directions: from the Route 80/81 traffic circle, drive east 1.7 miles to Titus Coan Road on the right (next to mailbox 94), and drive down Titus Coan Road 0.2 miles to parking at landowner John Shepard's horse barn on the left.

There are hikes, walks and adventures planned for all over the state on Saturday. Visit the CT Forest and Park Association website for opportunities in other towns. According to the site, there is a hike planned for 10:00 a.m. rain or shine, on the Killingworth Reservoir Trail. The trail is located within the Connecticut Water Company's Killingworth and Kelseytown Reservoir Connecticut Water watershed property. The trail traverses through open fields, crosses over the Menunketesuck River via a footbridge, passes an active beaver pond and travels along an old woods road. This is a 2.5 mile trail with minor hill climbing. The hike will leave from the Platt Nature Center on Roast Meat Hill Road.

More ambitious hikers can explore the Hammonasset Recreation Area. The 7+ mile hike will be led by Kate Powell of the Regional Water Authority. The hike is on one of Killingworth's most scenic properties and has a few moderate hills. Bring water and a snack. The hike will leave at 8:30 a.m. from the hiker's parking area on Route 80, 1.7 miles east of the Route 79 rotary.

Arts Center Presents Shadow Puppet Program
The Arts Center at Killingworth will present Shadows Around the World, a shadow puppet show performed by puppeteer Jim Napolitano, on Saturday, June 5 at Old Town Hall (Behind the Congregational Church). The show is a roller coaster ride of short stories, vignettes and songs drawn from the oral tradition of storytelling. Performances are at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. In addition, a workshop for children ages 6+ will be held at 12:30 p.m. Participants are instructed in the basic skills of shadow puppet construction and are able to experiment with different materials and styles. Tickets for the performances are $5. The materials fee to participate in the workshop is $6 per child. Reservations are strongly recommended for the workshop. Tickets for both the performance and the workshop can be reserved at 663-5593.
Napolitano is a graduate of the University of Connecticut's Puppetry Program. He has performed around the country and around the world, including The National Culture Center in Japan and The National Theater in Taiwan. The program is presented with funding from SBC. The Arts Center at Killingworth is a nonprofit organization focused on the presentation, development and creation of the visual and performing arts in New England, particularly the Connecticut Shoreline Area.

The Killingworth Memorial Day Parade
The Town honored those who gave their lives to protect and preserve the way of life we all hold so dear with its Annual Memorial Day Parade. For more photos of the parade visit here. The page may load slowly because of the many photos; please be patient.

For President George W. Bush's remarks on Memorial Day and the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. visit here.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. For more history about Memorial Day visit here.

Elementary School Thanks Volunteers
The Killingworth Elementary School Teachers and Staff thanked the many volunteers that helped make KES functions happen over the year with a breakfast, Friday May 28 in the KES all-purpose room. The faculty and staff prepared the breakfast for the various volunteers. The Jazz Band led by Mr. Spineti and the 4th Grade Select Chorus led by Mrs. Rubalsky entertained. KES students made thank-you cards containing a gift of flower seeds for each volunteer. photos courtesy Sue Irwin.

Girls Track Celebrating 2004 Shoreline Championship
The Haddam-Killingworth Girls track and field team won the 2004 Shoreline Conference Track and Field Championship, Thursday. The HK boys team finished third. Here are some images from the meet and the celebrations. Photos courtesy Carol Dupuis.

Shoeless Joe
by W.P. Kinsella
ISBN: 0395957737

"Years and years later, I'd wake in the night with the smell of the ballpark in my nose and the cool of the grass on my feet. The thrill of the grass..."
Shoeless Joe Jackson

Ray Kinsella appears to be a down-to-earth, practical young man. He's a loving husband to his wife Annie, and a devoted father to his daughter Karin. He has recently purchased an Iowa farm, complete with its classic square farmhouse. Ray is learning about farming, and the family is just breaking even with their corn crop.

It all changes the day Ray hears the voice that tells him, "If you build it, he will come."

Defying logic, Ray plows under part of his new crop in order to build a baseball diamond on his land. He is certain that if he builds the field, the famous left fielder Shoeless Joe Jackson, born in 1887 and dead since 1951, will come to his baseball field and play ball.

One by one, baseball players from teams long ago arrive on this special baseball field and begin to play. One player, Moonlight Graham, will step out of time and change the fate of the Kinsella family. This magical story of hope, love, and baseball will captivate and inspire you. Even if you weren't a baseball fan before reading Shoeless Joe, don't be surprised if you find yourself drawn to a baseball game one warm and dreamy summer night.

W.P. Kinsella won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award for the novel Shoeless Joe. The book is the basis for the film Field of Dreams.

Susan Miller is the Associate Director of the Arnold Bernhard Library at Quinnipiac University. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Music from Ohio State University and a M.S. in Library Science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Contact Susan at covertocover@killingworthtoday.com