In his weekly address, First Selectman David Denvir unveils the "new" plan for the Bosco Recreation Complex and answers the most likely questions on how this plan differs from the original and how to make it a reality. Read David Denvir's complete remarks here.

This is the final trail of the summer for Around Town On Foot. Access to the trails site will remain available from the sports and recreation tab on the left side of this page. This week we traveled to Wolf Hollow Trail, right off Route 81. This trail begins across the street from the elementary school. It doesn't look like much of a trail in the beginning but quickly turns into the surprise trail of the summer. The dry river bed is full of wonderfully colored mushrooms, rocks and lichen. It is not a marked trail, but is open and easy to traverse. Our hike ended when the dry river bed turned into an active river bed about 30 minutes down. The horses didn't mind the intrusion, but be careful not to stray on the private property on either side of the trail. We hope you have had a chance to enjoy some of the suggested trails this summer or at least enjoyed finding out a little more about Killingworth's natural beauty. Visit Exploring the Killingworth Trails for this week's preview and trail information. Visit the links section to add to your hiking experience.

Living Rock Church Offers Health & Fitness Fair
On Saturday, August 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., The Pavilion at Living Rock Church will host a Health & Fitness Fair. Blood pressure screening will be offered in addition to chiropractor, dental, and massage demonstrations. Healthcare professionals, such as physicians, practitioners, health and exercise organizations will be on hand, as well as homeopathic and holistic health specialists. Seminars will include Alternative Medicine, Heart Health, Early Detection and Prevention of Alcohol & Drug Dependencies, and Stress Management. Various exercise options will be presented. Admission is free and open to all ages. Improve your mind, improve your health! Fitness can be Fun! For more information please call 663-2069 or visit our website at www.living-rock.org.

Youth In Action Continue Summer of Help
Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth are encouraging positive community activities for teens through its Youth In Action program. Funded by the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council, students in the program receive transportation, supplies and community service credits to participate in area projects. Last month, 10 students volunteered to help out at the Great Connecticut Jazzfest. This week, five students lent their landscaping skills to give a fresh look to a resident's yard and garden. Ernie Jones may have been taken aback to see five young women step out of the van, but he couldn't have been more pleased with the end result. From running the tractor and weeding the garden, to reviving his front walk, Liz Gevry, Steph Lindquist, Jessica Lindquist, Jen Chandler, Jessica Maine, and advisors Cheryl Chandler and Cathie Zampano made Jones' yard the showplace of Pond Meadow Road. For many years, Jones has volunteered his time to work with an endless number of community groups, including working with veterans and elementary school students. Recently, he signed up to be a mentor in the HKYFS Mentoring Program. This was a chance for the community to say thank-you. For more information on Youth In Action or any of the programs at HKYFS, contact Cheryl Chandler at 345-7498 or CChandleratYFS@aol.com

Survey and Map to be Done of 'The Ridges'
At the continuation of the Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on the 'Ridges at Deer Lake' subdivision, the developers and the preservationists agreed to have the property surveyed and mapped to determine the number and placement of significant stone walls and cairns. Read all about the hearing and the agreement in today's New Haven Register.

Superintendent Presents School Priorities
At Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, Region 17 Schools Superintendent Gary Mala outlined the priorities for the 2004-2005 school year. The four main priorities were improving the district's climate and culture; positively affecting teaching and learning; implementing a comprehensive technology plan and implementing meaningful communication strategies. Read more about the meeting in today's Middletown Press.

Chatfield Hollow Swimming Area Closed Today
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has temporarily closed the swimming area at Chatfield Hollow State Park because of high bacteria counts. The DEP conducts a weekly sample of 21 state-owned swimming areas to test for water contamination. According to the DEP, "samples are analyzed for indicator bacteria, which are not disease causing pathogens, but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection officials to evaluate the potential contamination of waterbodies". The DEP and the Department of Public Health will resample the water today and receive the results back on Thursday to determine the status of the swimming area. For updates from the DEP, call the Water Quality Report Information Line at 1-866-287-2757 or visit the website at www.dep.state.ct.us.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee member Kathleen Amoia comments on the recent Democratic primary election, the voter turnout, and the role lobbyists take in Washington. Read her complete remarks here.

Town Receives Updated Recreation Plan
Clough, Harbour & Associates, the recreation, architectural design, and engineering firm hired to redesign the Killingworth Recreation Complex on the town-owned Bosco property, delivered a "restored plan" to town officials late last month. Priced at $4.65 million plus the additional $500,000 for fees and permits, the plan eliminates the southernmost field that raised concerns from the Jensen's Beechwood Community, but restores the plan to more than roads and infrastructure.

After the original $5.6 million plan failed at referendum in May 2003, First Selectman David Denvir commissioned Clough, Harbour & Associates to design a scaled back version. According to Denvir, that plan, delivered earlier this year, cut out the tennis and basketball courts, the T-ball field, two complete soccer fields, the ice skating pond, all concession and picnic areas, all of the work to be done to secure the farmhouse and try to save the old stone barn and, changed the type of roadways from macadam to stone. The cost was $3.8 million plus the $500,000 in additional costs. Unhappy with the extreme cuts in facilities, Denvir requested another option.

The most recent plan restores all of the "bells and whistles" from the original plan, except for the one field, at a total cost of $5.15 million. Denvir presented the plan to the Land Use Committee last Thursday night, and it was unanimously approved. Youth baseball coach and Land Use Committee member, Hilary Kumnick spoke in support of moving a plan forward at last Monday's Selectmen's meeting and reiterated the "near ideal" location of the recreation complex. Denvir said today that he has placed the issue on the agenda for the August 23, Board of Selectmen's meeting and would move to have the plan approved. If supported, the plan would be forwarded to the Board of Finance for its September meeting. Denvir said he would call for the plan to be voted on at referendum following an informational Town Meeting. The earliest a Town Meeting and referendum would be called is October.

The Summer Guest
by Justin Cronin
ISBN: 0385335814

This beautifully written novel is set in the woods of Maine at a remote and rugged fishing camp, which serves as an anchor in this story of characters whose lives are ever changing. The other constant in the story is Harry Wainwright, who has been coming to the camp for a week each summer since he was a man with a young child, and who chooses, at the end of his life, to make one last trip for just one day.

The story is told through alternating narratives of the main characters. Through each of their distinct voices, the events of Harry's last visit are conveyed and past histories of the camp and the characters are intertwined. The reader discovers what the camp holds for Harry that could make a trip such as this so important. Harry Wainwright, and the family that has owned the camp for two generations, become more and more real to the reader as this tale of family, love, and loyalties unfolds. In the course of their compelling stories, long-kept secrets of the past are delicately revealed.

Justin Cronin's excellent first novel, Mary and O'Neil, is a novel in stories, which won the Stephen Crane Prize and the PEN/Hemingway Award.

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