The Annual Killingworth Town Picnic will feature activities for all ages throughout the day with food and refreshments available for purchase. The kids' activities will include the annual fishing derby, and young and old are welcome to participate in the lip sync contest.

The Arts Center at Killingworth is sponsoring a Meet Your Local Artist exhibit, art sale and silent auction from 12:00- 5:00 p.m. This event will include 'plein aire' painting on the grounds of Deer Lake by Diane Aeschliman, art professor and board member of the Lyme Art Association and award winning quilter Sandy Smith. Other demonstrators will include illustrator and painter Gloria Nilsson and sculptor Leon Laime. Exhibiting artists include prominent painter Cora Ogden, painter and President of the Madison Arts Society Jay Folger, sculptor Renee Rhodes, nationally-known decoy artist Keith Meuller, muralist Randy K. Davis and origami artist Elizabeth Drzewinski.

Building Inspector Still On Duty in Killingworth
The town's part-time building inspector and sanitarian, Richard Leighton, is still on the job in Killingworth, despite being suspended from a similar position in Essex. The Essex Board of Selectmen suspended Leighton from his duties in July after it was learned that he was being investigated by the chief state's attorney on unspecified fraud allegations. According to the Hartford Courant, the suspension in Essex remains in effect following a hearing Wednesday. Leighton, continues as the part-time building inspector and sanitarian for the towns of Deep River and Killingworth. First Selectman David Denvir said Leighton is a consummate professional and he is confident that Leighton will be exonerated through the investigation.

In his weekly address, First Selectman David Denvir updates the progress on the Bosco Recreation Complex and alerts residents to the possibility of a September Town Meeting on the issue and an October referendum. Read David Denvir's complete remarks here.

Republicans Endorse Dudek and Praise Officials
In a press release today, John Amport, the Chairman of the Killingworth Republican Town Committee, states that the KRTC "unanimously endorsed the action of the Republican elected office holders" in appointing Mr. Fred Dudek to the post of Selectman. Amport said, "Mr. Dudek has a long history of outstanding service to our community. We are certain that he will once again serve Killingworth with distinction. We want to specifically thank Sue Adinolfo, Mike Butler and Lauren Blaha for their prompt action in making this appointment. In considering two Republicans, two Democrats and Mr. Dudek (an unaffiliated voter) they demonstrated their commitment to putting the community's needs above partisanship. We sincerely hope that the selectman will now be able to focus all of their efforts on the important tasks ahead and put the differences of the past few months behind them." The next regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be held on Sept. 13 at 7:00 p.m, at the Town Offices.

School Year Opens With Convocation
The Reg. 17 School District opened the 2004-2005 school year with a convocation ceremony at the High School yesterday. The keynote address was made by Joyce Saltman, Ph.D., a professor of special education at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Read more about Saltman's remarks in the Middletown Press. Superintendent Gary Mala, who celebrated his first opening day with the District, welcomed the staff with his opening remarks. Mala spoke about the changes in education and the components of education that remain the same such as the "strong sense of purpose for doing the right things; Engendering an appreciation of the arts; recognition of the value and meaning of academic excellence; developing virtuous young people and finding the balance between leader, teacher, role model and friend permeates all that we do each day." Mala concluded his remarks by wishing the staff the best wishes for a healthy, productive and meaningful new school year. He said," may we continue to meet our challenges with passion and persistence. Most of all, thank you for contributing to our new beginning". Read Mala's complete opening remarks here. At District schools, banners fly that read "Welcome To A New Beginning". Principal Rita Peretto welcomed 6 new staff members to Killingworth Elementary School: Alexis Kelsey, Art Teacher; Janet Nelson, Gr. 5 teacher; Lynn Pace, Special Education Teacher; Rachel Pietrantonio, Special Education Teacher Assistant; Christiana Roelofsen, Special Education Teacher; Lisa Swanson, Special Education Teacher Assistant.
Please be aware of the new parking and traffic rules at KES. Information was sent home with each child on opening day. All residents should be aware that with the opening of school, there will be delays during the morning rush because of stopped buses and school speed limits. Please leave extra time in your travels so that our town children may travel safely.

OBITUARY
William V. Gates of Haddam passed away as a result of a motor vehicle accident on Route 154, Monday. According to the Hartford Courant, he was employed by the University of Hartford Magnet School as the property manager. He is survived by his wife, Linda (Albrecht) Gates, a native of Killingworth, his daughters, Linda Mik of Higganum, and Jennifer Esteves and her husband Jason of Higganum; his brother, Robert Gates and his wife Beverly of Deep River; his sister, Claire Chiarelli and her husband Joe of Hamden; and three grandchildren, Jeanna, Julia and Amie Esteves. A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 9 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hilltop Covenant Church, 82 Hicksville Rd., Cromwell. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Biega Funeral Home has care of the arrangements.

Republican Officials Tap Dudek For Seat
A panel of Killingworth's Republican elected officials have appointed Fire Chief Fred Dudek to fill the open seat on the Board of Selectmen. After considering six candidates, the panel voted unanimously to appoint unaffiliated voter and former Board of Finance member Dudek on Tuesday. The vacancy caused when Selectman Charles Morgan stepped down last month, could have been filled within the first 30 days by the two remaining Selectmen. However, the First Selectman's candidates of John Amport and Dudek were rejected by selectman Louis Annino, Sr., and Annino's candidate, Kathy Amoia was rejected by Denvir. The panel that appointed Dudek included Town Clerk Susan Adinolfo, Fire Commissioner Michael Butler and Registrar of voters Lauren Blaha. Read more about this in today's New Haven Register.

Local Teens Involved in Fatal Crash
The Hartford Courant reported that Haddam resident William Gates was killed in a head-on crash on Route 154 yesterday when his vehicle collided with Killingworth resident Jason Fillion. Fillion, a 2004 graduate of Haddam-Killingworth High School, and his two teenage passengers are being treated at Hartford Hospital. Editor's note: Since the article was printed a correction was made. The crash took place on Monday, Aug. 30

Region 17 Posts Important School Documents
Regional School District No. 17 and Superintendent Gary Mala have posted several important documents related to the new school year on the Region's website. This is Mala's first opening day since being hired by the District last March. The District recently posted the Employee Handbook, the English Language Arts Curriculum, and other back to school letters and information, as well as the 2004-2005 Bus Schedule.

Library Fall Program Registration
The Killingworth Library will offer several programs for Children and Young Adults this fall. Registration begins on September 1 and space is limited. For more information contact Gayle at the Library at 663-2000.
Music With Margie: Fall into Fall with our favorite lady of song! Tuesday Mornings 10:45-11:15 , Sept. 21-Nov. 30. Sign-up for this program must be done in person at the library.
Terrific Twos: for children ages 24-36 months, every Wednesday morning in October from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Storytime: for children ages 3 and 4 years, every Wednesday morning in November from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Book Discussion For Grades 5-8
Fantastic Fantasies will discuss popular young adult novels from 6:30- 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays in October. Co-sponsored with the KES-PTO, this is a wonderful program worth making time for in busy fall schedules. Extra copies of the books will be on hand at the library.
October 7: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett
October 14: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
October 21: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
October 28: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Elementary School Fundraiser Starts Friday
The Killingworth Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization will begin its largest fundraiser of the year on September 3. Students will sell Innisbrook gift wrap, gifts and a selection of fine chocolates, through September 20, to raise money for PTO sponsored programs. In the past, this sales drive has netted nearly $16,000 which the KES PTO has used to fund cultural arts programs, beautification of school grounds, scholarships and the day-long celebration of the Festival of the Arts & Sciences. If residents would like to place an order and are not contacted by a KES student, catalogs may be picked up at the KES office or by contacting Eileen Blewett at 663-2118. In addition, orders may be placed on line at www.innisbrook.com. Remember to include the KES code 104-909.

Soccer Season Starts Up
You can tell that school is just around the corner and soccer season is ready to get underway when the annual HK Recreation soccer clinic comes to Sheldon Park. Run by Major League Soccer Players, the player's clinic kicks off the HK Recreation Youth Soccer League in Killingworth. The season runs from now until November for boys and girls in grades 2-8. Images from Saturday's clinic:

Had a Good Time: Stories from American Postcards
by Robert Olen Butler
ISBN: 0802117775

This work of fiction by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler uniquely captures the essence of the earliest days of the twentieth century in America. Butler draws from messages written on what was at the time a new social medium - the picture postcard. He creates short stories based on the characters and events described in the messages. These fifteen stories are both imaginative and real, and give an insightful glimpse into a fascinating time period.

Although many of the stories contain death as a theme, the collection is neither morbid nor dark. The story lines range from a young woman in South Dakota whose closest friend is her horse, to a young ironworker who surprises himself by falling in love on an arranged date. The characters in Butler's stories are down-to-earth, and the stories he creates around them are believable and creative. Based on actual postcards that Butler collected, Had a Good Time will leave the reader intrigued and in search of other writings by this excellent author.

Robert Olen Butler is the author of several novels, including A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993.

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