In his weekly address, First Selectman David Denvir takes 'inventory' of his family's, and the Nation's blessings, on this Holiday week and writes, " If America is about anything, it's about tolerance. Of accepting your neighbor's decisions (provided they're within the law) as they accept yours". Read David Denvir's complete remarks here.

Recreational Complex Gets a Resounding 'NO'
In a stunning blow to many supporters of youth sports in Killingworth, today's referendum on the $5.25 million Killingworth Recreational Complex was defeated, 1282 to 833 votes. This is the second time a referendum to construct ball fields and recreational areas on the 133-acre, Route 81 site has failed. The previous referendum, in May of 2003, failed by just 71 votes. The margin for today's vote was 449. Of the 4,583 registered voters, 2115 residents cast their vote today (46.1%): 60.6 percent voted against the project. These would have been the first recreational facilities built in Killingworth in 30 years. Now, residents will have to wait and see if Town officials can change direction and find another property more suitable and cost effective. Voters in this referendum were clearly more educated on the project thanks to Town efforts and the efforts of local youth sports groups and parents. However, the process of bringing this referendum to fruition was at times acrimonious and adversarial. Residents at recent Town Meetings said they opposed the project because it was too expensive to construct on the land's rocky topography, the initial design did not have an adequate wetlands review, and it did not meet the Town's long-range needs. In the end, both supporters and opponents had their say and the residents voted with their hearts, heads and wallets.

Cougars Fall in State Final
What started out looking like a one-sided match, turned into a real battle this afternoon as the HK High School Volleyball team took on Coventry for the CIAC State Class S Title at East Haven. The Cougars looked sharp and confident as they won the first two games; 25-21, 25-16. However, in game three, Coventry regrouped and the Cougars lost their edge. HK put up a strong fight, but in the end, miscommunication and less than strong execution, cost them points and confidence. Coventry went on to win the final three games; 25-12, 25-21 and 15-9. Coventry came into the match with a 20-0 record, not having dropped a game in the State playoffs until they met the Cougars today. HK ends the season at 17-4.

Agenda
Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Monday, November 22, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting held November 8, 2004; Revision of Minutes of Meeting held 10/25/04
3. Visitors: Ruth Patrick
4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
5. Appointments/Vacancies:
    1. Library Board
    2. Conservation Commission
6. Old Business:
    1. Lovers Lane
    2. Killingworth Recreation Center
    3. Reservoir Road Bridge
    4. Computer Installation Update
    5. Pension Updates
    6. FOI/Venuti Appraisal
7. New Business:
    1. AG Insurance Investigation
    2. Veteran's Exemption
8. DLD Announcements
9. Selectmen's Concerns
10. Executive Session: Contract Negotiations
11. Adjournment
Agenda as of 12:00 p.m., Friday, 11/19/04
Printable version

Volleyball Heads to State Finals
On Saturday, November 20, the Haddam-Killingworth High School Volleyball team will take on Coventry for the CIAC Class S State Title. The Cougars defeated Terryville, 3-0, on Wednesday night to advance to the finals. Game scores were 25-20, 25-17 and 25-18. Coventry, who defeated St. Paul Catholic in the semi-finals, has a record of 20-0 coming into the finals and has not dropped a game in the play-off rounds. Game time is 12:00 noon at East Haven High School.

Recreation Complex Vote Saturday
The referendum on the Killingworth Recreational Complex is scheduled for tomorrow, November 20 in the KES All-Purpose Room. The polls will be open from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. The following links are provided for reference:
Town Mailing: Explanatory Text
Landscape Architects: Clough Harbour & Associates website. CH & A April 2004 Needs Assessment .pdf Estimated Maintenance Costs: maintenance.pdf
First Selectman's Weekly Address: One For the Money: Two for the Show: Three to Get Ready : And Four to Go.
Project Plan: General (html) Detailed (.pdf), Slideshow from Sitewalk

Childcare Course Graduates
Fifteen students from Killingworth and Haddam recently completed the HK Recreation sponsored American Red Cross babysitting course at Burr Elementary School. The course for 11-15 year-olds included basic child care, first aid for breathing and bleeding emergencies, and injury prevention. Completion of the course allows the students to add their names to the HK Recreation Babysitting Referral List. Anyone interested in finding out about the list or future courses can contact HK rec. at 345-8334 or by visiting www.hkrec.com. Pictured below are: Briana Abbott, Jade Aitken, Marina Annino, Sydney Bates, Anna Brundage, Ryan Buys, Brittany Campbell, Lauren Campbell, Amber Carroll, Stephanie Gionfriddo, Jill Griswold, Clair Helenek, Lauren Marvin, Chris Moriary, Drew Sodergren, and instructor Terri-Lee Benoit. Photo courtesy Deb Sodergren.

Girls Travel Basketball Wins Again
The Haddam-Killingworth Girls Under-10 Travel Basketball Team won it's second game of the season, at KES last Sunday against Old Saybrook/Old Lyme, by a score of 29-16. Coaches Drexel Frye and Bill Mooney said they are pleased with the strong team effort that led to this victory. High scorer was Shawna Skwarek with 8 points. Also scoring were Anna Fetteroll(6), Ashley Cook (4), Carly Mooney(3), and Alexis Bowen, Nicole Burkovsky, Katie Frye and Cloe Savino with 2 points each.

Killingworth Welcomes New Resident Trooper
Connecticut State Trooper Kevin Stratton officially started his assignment as the Town's new Resident Trooper this week. He was assigned to Troop I in Bethany prior to his transfer earlier this month to Troop F, which serves the Killingworth community. Stratton, 33, has been on patrol duty as a State Trooper for 8 years, and is a good friend of former Resident Trooper Sgt. Michael Perry. Stratton grew up in Hamden, Connecticut and served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the State Police. He lives in Madison with his wife, and three children, ages 8,4 and 2.

When asked about the recent robberies at the Holly Loft store and the Dunkin' Donuts, Stratton said those types of robberies are usually committed by someone just passing through town in desperate search of cash. He said he is not aware of any new leads in either case. In a discussion on the underage drinking ordinance, Stratton said he is a supporter of the ordinance and is also in the process of applying for a State Department of Transportation grant for DUI enforcement. He said the money, if approved, would pay for overtime that would be used to increase patrols, primarily on the weekends. One of his main priorities, in addition to getting settled in he said, is speed enforcement. When asked his opinion on the Town's yellow line issue, Stratton commented that he thinks they are beneficial to road safety, but understands the residents' position of wanting to keep the roads beautiful.

Resident Troopers follow a 5-day on, 3-day off work cycle; alternating day and night shifts. You can reach Trooper Stratton at 663-1132 or at tfckstratton@yahoo.com

Chamberlain Hurt in Cougar Loss
The Haddam-Killingworth Football team lost to North Branford, 19-0, yesterday. But more seriously, HK's star player, Adam Chamberlain was knocked out on a play with seven minutes left on the clock and had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Chamberlain was alert and was seen moving his arms and legs, but the training staff and emergency workers stabilized him with extreme care to his head and neck. Play was suspended for over 20 minutes as emergency personnel tended to the senior who had been recognized earlier, with his parents and the other members of the senior class and their parents, on their final home football contest. Chamberlain, playing on both offense and defense during the game, was trying to jump start his team to a comeback against the T-Birds when he was hit from the side and went limp in the middle of the field. The game resumed, but the stunned Cougars were not able to overcome the deficit. In addition to Chamberlain, the seniors recognized at the start of the game were: Brett Zanardi, Keith Otis, James O'Neill, Josh Hardgrove, Keith Petrulis, Peter Venuti and Joe Astarita.

Cougars Fall to Immaculate
The Haddam-Killingworth High School Girls Soccer team ended its season with a 4-0 loss to Immaculate of Danbury, yesterday in the State Class S quarter-finals. Immaculate knocked out HK last year as well, sending home the Cougars in the semi-finals of the 2003 CIAC Tournament.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee Chairman Michael Sanders talks about discussions at a recent KDTC meeting and the Committee's decision to endorse the Killingworth Recreational Complex. He said, the Committee's support "would be contingent on the future actions of those entrusted to carry the project beyond its current 'concept' stage". Read his complete remarks here.

The Seventeenth Annual H-K Holiday Craft Fair
The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School PTO will sponsor the 17th Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, November 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Over 50 professional, juried crafters will offer a wide variety of handmade crafts, ranging from floral arrangements, jewelry, pottery, and furniture to a wide range of holiday ornaments and decorations, bee and alpaca products, woodcarvings, handmade kites and more. Come get a jump-start on your holiday shopping! Admission is free. There will be dozens of day raffle prizes, all donated by the crafters. Breakfast treats, lunch, and snacks will be available at the fair all day, and the bake sale has goodies to take home. The PTO will use proceeds from the fair to enhance student activities at the Middle School throughout the year. The craft fair will be held in the cafeteria of the Haddam-Killingworth Middle/High School complex.

The Thief of Venice
by Jane Langton
ISBN: 014029189X

This "Homer Kelly Mystery" from author Jane Langton is suspenseful, entertaining, and educational. Set in Venice, Langton intertwines several plots at once, involving Lucia Costanza, the new Procurator of Saint Mark's Cathedral; Sam Bell, an ancient relics scholar; and Dr. Richard Henchard, an oncology surgeon.

Lucia's life becomes very complicated when she is framed for the murder of her soon-to-be ex-husband. Also, in a controversial professional move, she has recently allowed religious relics to be removed from Saint Mark's by Sam Bell in order for him to study their authenticity. Sam, a widower, is keeping a dark secret regarding his health from his young daughter, Ursula. Ursula is amassing a secret stash of objects pilfered from her father's locked study.

Into this complicated mix arrive Homer and Mary Kelly, as Homer attends a rare book conference during his sabbatical leave, and Mary anticipates a relaxed vacation snapping photographs throughout Venice. Mary is suddenly in the middle of it all as she discovers a hidden treasure of objects that have been lost since World War II. All of the plots are pulled together in an exciting conclusion, as record high tides begin to flood the streets of Venice. This entertaining book is made even more delightful by Langton's illustrations of scenes and architectural details of Venice.

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