OBITUARY
Paul Groat, formerly of Killingworth, passed away Tuesday, July 20 after a swimming accident in Middletown. According to the Middletown Press, Grout leaves behind his wife Theresa and two children. A memorial graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 28 at 11:00 a.m., at Evergreen Cemetery in Killingworth. Swan Funeral Home, 80 East Main St., Clinton, is taking care of the arrangements.

KYL All-Star Majors Out of Contention
The Killingworth Youth League Majors lost, 10-7, last night to East Lyme. The loss puts Killingworth's record at 0-3 for the Section II State Tournament and out of contention for the title. They play again today at 3:30 p.m. against the top team, Avon. Read all about the valiant effort of the KYL All-Stars in today's Middletown Press.

In his weekly address, First Selectman David Denvir pays tribute, and formally says good-bye, to Trooper Michael Perry, who as been promoted to Sergeant and will be leaving our small town for new duties in Hartford. Read David Denvir's complete remarks here.

Estuary Council Senior Center Applies For Grant
The Old Saybrook based, Estuary Council of Seniors has applied for a federal Small Cities Program grant to pay for the expansion of its senior center. The Estuary Council is a nine town service organization that provides transportation, meals and health related services to area seniors, including those from Killingworth. The $750,000 grant will be used for a 4,000 foot addition and renovations to the center. The Council's new executive director, Mitzi Eilts, was hired back in early June after the Council ousted former director, Sherre Jackson. Jackson came under fire for some of her decisions regarding the center's expansion project. Read more about this in today's New Haven Register.

Former Sanitarian to Pay Restitution
Former Killingworth restaurant sanitarian, Thomas Armentano, has been ordered to repay expenses and wages he did not earn from the town of Killingworth, based on a sentence imposed by a Middlesex Superior Court judge. Armentano was charged with fraud and sentenced last week to pay restitution to several area towns and complete 200 hours of community service. Read more about this story in today's Hartford Courant.

This week, Around Town On Foot travels to the Platt Nature Center and the Platt Nature Trail. This is a wonderful trail for kids and adults. The Nature Center is run by the Killingworth Land Trust and offers maps and guides for the half-mile walk. The highlight of the walk was counting how many different mushrooms we could find. For more information on identifying the mushrooms you see, visit this New England mushroom site. Get out for a hike this weekend and enjoy a family adventure right in your own backyard. Visit Exploring the Killingworth Trails for a preview and trail information. A new trail will be added every week throughout the summer. Send your trail suggestions or comments to editor@killingworthtoday.com

Connecticut Mastery Test Scores Finally Arrive
After many delays in receiving the Haddam and Killingworth Schools' CMT scores, Schools Superintendent Gary Mala unveiled some of the findings at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting. Read all about Mala's presentation in the Middletown Press. For more information on the tests, visit the State Department of Education site for student testing.

School Ready to Move Forward
Following the Planning and Zoning Commission's approval of the special exemption to build an intermediate/middle school on the Rte. 81 site Tuesday night, the Reg. 17 School District is expecting to get approval from the State Traffic Commission and permission from the State Department of Education to send the project out to bid this fall. Read more about the Commission's decision and reactions in today's New Haven Register. Read comments from Schools Superintendent Gary Mala in today's Hartford Courant.

Septic Lagoons Open Again With One-Year Lease
According to the Hartford Courant, the septic lagoons off North Tower Hill Road have been reopened after the Town and property owner Rose Dudek came to an agreement for a one-year lease on the two-acre site. The lagoons are used for the disposal of residential sewage. Read all about this issue in today's Hartford Courant.

KES Included in Mentoring Program
Haddam and Killingworth Youth and Family Services is expanding its mentoring program to include all five district schools including Killingworth Elementary. The program recently received $100,000 from the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. Ernest Nagler, the director of the program is looking for additional mentors to provide support to our area youth. Learn more about the mentoring program on the HKYFS website and in today's Middletown Press. There will be two-hour training sessions held at Haddam-Killingworth High School at 6:45 p.m. in the lower media center on July 21, Sept. 22, or Sept. 18 at the Killingworth Public Library at 8:45 a.m.

One more chance to fill out the Pay As You Throw Committee Survey. This brief survey will give the committee needed feedback on how to further improve practices at the town's Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Center. The survey is available here online. Any additional comments may be sent with the survey or directly to Chairman Steve Hollander at shollander01@snet.net

KYL Majors Fall to Tolland
The Killingworth Youth League Majors All-Star team was defeated by the Tolland All-Stars, 5-2, last night, in the first round of the Section II Tournament in Middletown. Read more about the game in today's Middletown Press. The KYL team will play again tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Hubbard Park in Middletown.

Region 17 School Application Approved
At its regular meeting tonight, the Killingworth Planning and Zoning Commission approved the Reg. 17 School District's special exemption application to build an intermediate/middle school on its Rt. 81 site. Charles Martens, Thomas Lentz, James O'Brien and John Speicher voted in favor, Louis C. Annino, Jr. voted against and David Hale abstained. The special exemption was approved with several conditions including submission of a specific map and footprint notation; additional landscaping considerations to buffer the neighboring residents from noise and bus fumes; an increase in the height of the fence on one side of the ball field closest to Rt. 81 and the addition and increase in the height of the fence  along the emergency access road which borders the southern side of the school, and protects students from the cliff area.

In discussions prior to the vote, Annino voiced his opposition to the application based on the project's sewage treatment facility, that he said was in opposition to the town's plan of "sewer avoidance". He questioned whether the Board would allow the system, if the Town didn't desperately need a school. Martens responded that he saw the sewer avoidance policy differently and said it was to "avoid sewer lines running up and down the streets". Lentz added that the Town's intent was that each home have its own sewer system and the school plan complies because it is self-contained. Prior to abstaining, Hale brought up the suggestion of a boundary agreement with Harold and Mary Webber, written in the project's A-2 survey. He said he was "not sure if it is an A-2 survey or not". He said the whole project hinges on the driveway and passing this would leave a "bad taste" in his mouth. Lentz responded that the Reg. 17 engineers indicated at the July 6 hearing that the driveway could be moved based on surplus in sightlines. He also said this was a matter for the courts and not the Board's decision.

Kid Fest and Family Fun Day at Rock Church
This Saturday, the Living Rock Church will hold its Kid Fest and Family Fun Day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. under the Pavilion. The admission, lemonade and iced teas are all free. Activities include a petting zoo, Balloon Sculpture and Face Painting by Killingworth's The Good News Clowns, Bead Jewelry stations, age-appropriate Field Events and Games, Martial Arts demos by Tang Soo Do Academy of Old Saybrook, Make-A-Plate, mini "Rock" concerts featuring contemporary music and kids' Sing-A-Long, Egg and Ring Toss, Treasure Hunt, Decorate-A-Cookie, Fire Brigade Race, Sidewalk Chalk Art contest, High Striker, and Story Telling for the young ones. Activities will appeal to children from pre-school to young teen. There will be prizes and games for all. There will also be a "Kids-Stuff Tag Sale" on the church grounds. Items for sale will be restricted to "kid-oriented" items. Cotton Candy, Snow Cones, Hot Dogs and Sodas will be for sale during the day.

In addition to a day of fun, a KidCare Photo ID event will be available. Parents can obtain free, standardized, high quality photographs of their children for their KidCare ID booklet in which they can also record and maintain current vital statistics of their children. Project KidCare, developed by Polaroid Corporation in conjunction with The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), is a program designed to raise awareness of child safety and provide parents with an effective tool to aid law enforcement authorities in the search for a missing child.

Event will be held rain or shine. The Pavilion at Living Rock Church is located one mile south of the Route 80-81 Circle at 138 Rt. 81, Killingworth, CT, 06419. For further information please call 860-663-2069 or visit www.living-rock.org.

Amendola Comes Through For All-Stars
Last Thursday night, Killingworth Youth League first baseman Maxx Amendola came to the plate and made history by hitting in the winning run to give the Killingworth 12-year olds the District IX title. Read more about Amendola and the Championship game in today's Middletown Press.

Congregational Church Announces Capital Campaign
The lovely white church on the knoll is about to have a face-lift. According to its press release, the Congregational Church of Killingworth has organized a Capital Campaign Committee to begin raising funds to refurbish and support its existing facilities. The campaign's objective is to provide the base of support to manage, maintain, and preserve the facilities. The campaign seeks to put in place new and exciting resources that will position the church to face the many new challenges of ministry that the new century will bring.

Early settlers built the Congregational Church three centuries ago. During this period, it has been a wonderful facility that has housed its members and supported community activities, but now it is in need of repair. Structural work on the steeple, the sanctuary, repainting, and upgrades in rooms for education are planned. In order to better serve the community, improvements are also planned for the church-owned "Old Town Hall" building. This building serves as Killingworth's community center, and is a meeting place for Scout organizations, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Senior Citizens, and the Arts Council, Land Trust as well as many numerous community groups. The committee also hopes to fund some environmental initiatives, such as replacement of asbestos tiles and underground oil tanks. Finally, additional parking spaces will be added to the property.

The campaign itself will be held from September 12 to October 19. Tours of the church will be held on July 25, and September 12 following the 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship services. The committee asks you to join them for a tour of this historic country church, and consider helping with a donation. For more information on the campaign contact the church at 663-1789.

KYL Looking for Tournament Help
Killingworth Youth League Baseball is hosting a Minors All-Star tournament this week and is looking for volunteers to help prepare the fields for play, announce at the games and help man the concession stand. The games will take place at Sheldon and Rocco Fields throughout the week until July 26. KYL will offer community service hours to high school students. Anyone interested in helping should call Fiona at 663-3392.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab 5's Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better
by Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Carson Kressley and Jai Rodriguez
ISBN: 140005446X

If you've ever watched this outrageous and popular weekly show, now in its second season on HBO, you know what miracle workers the "Fab 5" can be. And if not, you can now read the book, and gain the same useful tips on "looking better, cooking better, dressing better, behaving better, and living better". Men and women alike can enjoy and benefit from the suggestions that Carson (fashion), Ted (cooking), Thom (interior design), Kyan (grooming), and Jai (culture) have to offer.

Each of the five sections of the book is written by the corresponding Fab 5 expert in that area. In the cooking section, Ted Allen includes not only recipes for meals and cocktails, but also the essential tools needed for a functional kitchen. Kyan Douglas writes the grooming chapter, and outlines a daily regime for skin health, with tips on products and accoutrements of good hygiene. Fashion is made easy by Carson Kressley, as he gives advice on color and cut of clothing for the most flattering fit, and helps demystify rules on combining wardrobe elements. Jai Rodriguez helps us with public speaking, and provides guidelines for being on one's best behavior. The group's interior design magician, Thom Filicia, talks about transforming your space into its most useful and attractive arrangement.

Read Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and have some fun exploring improvements with the Fab 5, whose motto is "all things just keep getting better."

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