Aniskovich Denies Ethics Violation
State Sen. William A. Aniskovich has been accused by his Democratic opponent, Edward Meyer, of promising state funds for a Connecticut Public Television seniors guide in exchange for including a letter in the guide praising his work. Lawyers for CPTV, the state Elections Enforcement Commission as well as Aniskovich and his advisors say it was an unsolicited thank-you letter, not a political endorsement. Read all about this story in today's New Haven Register

Church Shed Destroyed in Afternoon Blaze
The 18th Century post-and-beam shed that the Congregational Church in Killingworth uses to store lawn and garden equipment was destroyed yesterday when a lawn mower, stored inside the 15x10 structure, burst into flames. Matt Albrecht, a senior at Haddam-Killingworth High School, had just finished making final preparations for services this weekend in the church's Memorial Garden when, according to Rev. Edward Cornell, the small riding mower, he had just used and stored away, burst into flames. Cornell said, Albrecht, who was not injured, heard a blast and saw that the lawn mower and shed were on fire. Albrecht then ran for the church's fire extinguisher and called the fire company. Cornell said he thought the fire was caused by a mouse nest or hay inside the mower's hot engine. The shed also contained a gasoline container, another small lawn mower, and garden tools. Cornell said the riding mower was only about 6 years old and had been reconditioned last year by the local True Value Store. The fire also damaged materials used at the Church Fair and some shutters being stored behind the shed while the church is undergoing renovations. Cornell said he thought the shed was built around 1825. The Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company and the Clinton Fire Department responded to the emergency call and put out the fire around 3:00 p.m.

Agenda
Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Monday, September 13, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting held August 23, 2004 and Special Meeting of August 27, 2004
3. Visitors
4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
5. Appointments/Vacancies:
    1. Conservation Commission
    2. PAYT Committee
6. Old Business:
    1. Road Stripe Issue
7. New Business:
    1. Contract Negotiations
    2. Conference with Superintendent of District #17
    3. 2005 Selectmen's Meeting Schedule
    4. Communication Between Selectmen?
    5. FOI - Venuti Appraisal
    6. KillingworthToday Website/Meeting Agendas
    7. Bosco Development
    8. Special Meeting of 9/15/04
8. DLD Announcements
9. Selectmen's Concerns
10. Executive Session: Personnel
11. Adjournment
Agenda as of 8:45 a.m. Friday, 9/10/04
Printable version

Congregational Church Sunday School Registration
The Congregational Church in Killingworth will conduct registration for the 2004-2005 Sunday School year on Sunday morning, September 12 from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Classes will begin that same day at 10:00 and will be followed by a family picnic on the church grounds. Sunday School classes for ages 3 (PreK) through Grade 8 are held every Sunday morning, and all are welcome to register. This year the Congregational Church will be using the BibleQuest curriculum, with an emphasis on teaching the Bible through story, songs, crafts and discussion. For more information please call the church at 663-1789.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee member Catherine Iino comments on the federal ban on assault weapons and the likelihood that it will be allowed to expire on Monday. Read her complete remarks here.

Essex Selectman Questions Recycling Facility Fees
Essex First Selectman Phil Miller questioned the operation and costs of the recycling center, hosted in Essex and shared by nine area towns, at Wednesday's selectmen's meeting. According to the Hartford Courant, the eight other Selectmen, including Killingworth's First Selectman David Denvir, agreed to sign a new contract that includes the $28,000 a year salary for regional recycling director Amy Cabaniss and the $30,000 host benefit fee. Miller initially balked at signing the contract but acquiesced when the director's position and fees were fully explained.

Skate Park to Open for Shoreline Skaters
After three years of planning, fundraising, designing and building, the much-anticipated skate park at the Madison Arts Barn will open for shoreline boarders and bladers during a Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, September 18 at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is invited!

The Grand Opening will feature a skateboard team demonstration from The Cutting Edge of Berlin, prizes, raffles, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with town officials and Friends of Madison Youth representatives.

Following the ceremony, the skate park will be open to skateboarders and rollerbladers. Both residents and non-residents of Madison are eligible to use the Skate Park. There will be no fee on opening day.

The skate park is located at the Arts Barn at Town Campus and is owned and operated by the non-profit Friends of Madison Youth. The local organization has raised more than $55,000 to construct the skate park, along with a $20,000 donation from the Town of Madison.

The Arts Barn opened its doors four years ago, providing a place for 13-18 year olds from shoreline communities to hang out with friends, jam to local bands, dance to the latest music and now try out new tricks at the skate park. More than 18,000 shoreline teenagers have attended events at the Arts Barn.
For more information about the Arts Barn and activities visit www.madisonartsbarn.org or call 203-245-2689

'Ridges' Phase III approved by Planning and Zoning
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the zoning application for the Ridges of Deer Lake, Phase III, 17-lot subdivision on Tuesday. The application was approved with conditions that stipulate the site must be surveyed and mapped to document the stone cairns that dot the property.

1. A Phase II archeological survey will be done, including mapping, photographing and documenting, in accordance with the Environmental Review Primer for Connecticut Archeological Resources.
2. No improvements will commence until completion of the survey and its review by the Commission.
3. The Phase II survey, upon completion, will be submitted and reviewed by the Commission.

Over the last two months, developers, archaeologists and Native American historians have submitted evidence at PZC public hearings to try and come to an agreement on how the landowner can develop the land and yet preserve what may be historic Native American ceremonial relics. Last month, the developers agreed to a Phase II archeological survey, that will seek to not only map the stone piles, but try and determine if they are "significant" Native American cairns. The developers original Phase I archeological survey identified 10 significant cairns on the 155-acre property. State archeologist Nicholas Bellantoni has written to the Commission and said he believes the stone piles were made by colonial farmers. The developers agreed to preserve those 10 cairns through deed restrictions or historic preservation easements. Opponents of the subdivision say there are more than 100 stone piles that have not been properly mapped and studied. Opponents, as well as some members of the PZC say the enforcement of deed restrictions and easements is difficult. Though the Commission put conditions on the application's approval, once the survey is completed and reviewed, the Commission may only make recommendations to the developers on how to situate wells and houses on individual lots. Thomas Stevens, speaking on behalf of the developers said they will act in good faith with Bellantoni to complete the survey and document the stone piles. Nine of the 10 previously identified significant cairns are located on the Phase IV subdivision property that is still under review. The commission has asked the developers to submit several alternative preservation schemes at its next meeting.

High School Open House
Haddam-Killingworth High School will hold its Open House for parents on Thursday, September 9 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The program will start in the auditorium. For more information please contact the school at 345-8541.

New Leadership in F Troop Barracks
Lt. David Aflalo is the new commander of the F Troop barracks in Westbrook. The barracks services the Killingworth community and has been providing rotating coverage until a replacement can be named for Resident Trooper Michael Perry, who was promoted last month. Aflalo replaces Lt. Brian McLean, who was transferred to the State Police Major Crime Squad. Read all about Aflalo's community initiatives in today's New Haven Register.

H-K Travel Basketball Informational Meeting
The 2004-2005 Haddam-Killingworth Travel Basketball Season is about to get under way. A parent informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the KES Music Room. Girls & Boys in grades 4-8 Grade are eligible to play. Learn more about what's involved: fees, uniforms, skill assessments, as well as coaching, supervising and scorekeeping. For more information please call 663-3103

2004 CAPT Scores Show Improvement
The Connecticut Academic Performance Tests given annually to high school sophomores to test the students' skills in reading, writing, math and science show another year of growth for Regional School District 17. The scores for Haddam-Killingworth High School sophomores compare higher than to its Economic Reference Group and to the state averages. Superintendent of Schools, Gary Mala said the scores are not where they should be but he is pleased with the improvement. He said a more valid testing is to track the same group of students throughout their school years. The state requires CAPT testing in the 10th grade and Connecticut Mastery Testing for the fourth, sixth and eight grades. CMT testing for the Elementary School will take place from September 15 to October 1.

The state average score for math was 46.1 percent; 47.4 in science; 48 in reading and 53 percent for writing. The Reg. 17 score was 62.7 for math; 69.6 for science; 70.2 in reading, and 70.4 percent in writing. The state also compares test scores within the Economic Reference Group. This is a benchmark designation that assigns schools in communities based on employment, economic levels and population; Reg. 17 is in ERG C.

To better view the scores over the last 4 years compared to the state and ERG C averages, as an overall summary, as well as by gender, click on the links below. For more information go to the CAPT reports site.

HK sophomores compared to State and ERG C averages
Overall summary by content area
Comparison of results by gender

HK Recreation Offering Senior Exercise Classes
The Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department is offering Senior Exercise on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-10:00 a.m. beginning on September 21 at the St. Lawrence Church. The fee is $1.00 per class payable to the instructor. The Haddam-Killingworth High School swimming pool will be open for a mid-morning swim for senior citizens on Fridays from 11:45-12:30 p.m. beginning September 17. (No swim 11/12, 11/26). There is no charge to participate; you must be a resident of Haddam or Killingworth. For more information on these programs, please call the HK Recreation Department at 345-8334 or visit them online at www.hkrec.com.

What Do These Three People Have In Common?
They were all at the Annual Killingworth Town Picnic...were you? Hundreds of residents gathered Sunday at the Deer Lake Scout Reservation for the Annual Town Picnic. Children and adults enjoyed the many exhibits, activities, food and fun. During the day, activities included auctions, raffles, a lip sync show, a fishing derby, and many games and booths to keep everyone busy and talking. With the November elections right around the corner, candidates and officials from both the Republican and Democratic party were on hand to visit with residents and enjoy the day, including U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, State Rep. Brian O'Connor, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress Jim Sullivan, and Democratic candidate for the state senate, Ed Meyer. For a few photos on just some of the daytime activities held yesterday, click here. The evening included a chicken barbeque dinner and entertainment by country music band Heartland.

ENGAGEMENTS
The Middletown Press announced that Paige Larrivee and Kenneth Boudreau of Glastonbury have announced their engagement. Larrivee is a first grade teacher at Killingworth Elementary School. An October wedding is planned.

Town Offices Closed For Labor Day
Town Minutes Updated
The minutes from the Killingworth Board of Selectmen's meetings for August have been added to the site. Minutes are accessible from the left navigation bar and are updated as soon as available.
Selectmen

Lost Classics
Edited by Michael Ondaatje, Michael Redhill, Esta Spalding, and Linda Spalding
ISBN: 0385720866

This fascinating collection of writing by established authors about pivotal books they have read describes itself as "writers on books loved and lost, overlooked, under-read, unavailable, stolen, extinct, or otherwise out of commission". The introduction to the anthology is a beautifully written essay on why a certain book can stay with us forever. It also attempts to define the term "lost classics" as used by these editors of Brick: A Literary Journal as they solicited writings for their publication. The response on the topic was so overwhelming that they decided to publish this anthology.

Anyone who loves reading will enjoy the variety of authors' voices, and the vast territory covered by the books these writers have found to be special. More than seventy authors are featured. The anthology is an interesting way to find new authors, and will also provide insight into already favorite authors who have contributed to this project.

A useful feature of the book is a listing of the status of each book discussed, including the publisher, and whether or not the book is in print. Although many may be out of print, it may be possible to find the volume in your local library.

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