In his weekly address, First Selectman David Denvir writes about the failed Bosco referendum and how the "message got lost" on its way to the town officials. Denvir writes, the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance and the Land Use Committee all voted in favor of the KRC based on what they thought the people wanted. He writes, "Each, obviously, was wrong; and none, as it should be, was more wrong than me." Read David Denvir's complete remarks here.

Assessor Recommends 2006 Revaluation
At Monday's Board of Selectmen's meeting, Town Assessor Donna Shanoff urged the selectmen to delay the town's scheduled 2005 revaluation until 2006 when there would be fewer towns conducting revaluations. Recent changes in state legislation have allowed towns to make such adjustments. There are currently 47 towns scheduled for revaluation in 2005, creating a strain on the number of companies available. There are only 20 towns scheduled for 2006. Shanoff said the smaller demand in 2006 may make the bidding process easier and the cost more economical. She also said the extra time would allow installation and sufficient training on the Town's new computer system and software. Killingworth completed the 10-year full revaluation in 2001 and is now required to complete a statistical revaluation. Read more about this in the New Haven Register.

Farmhouse Restoration in Question
According to the Hartford Courant, the Killingworth Historical Society has withdrawn its offer to pay for the installation of a heating system in the 19th century Bosco Farmhouse. The Historical Society had offered to pay the $4,470 towards a new heating system after the Board of Finance rejected the funding last January. The process was delayed when it was determined that the farmhouse would also need a new chimney flue. The Historical Society was looking to use the farmhouse to store and display its artifacts.

The recent recreational complex referendum also included funds to restore the farmhouse and at least one barn. Now that the complex has been defeated at referendum, the Town is investigating whether the Department of Environmental Protection's $180,000 open space acquisition grant is still available to help offset the purchase price of the parcel. A decision on the farmhouse heat is likely to be made at the Dec. 13, Board of Selectmen's meeting. There was discussion at Monday's Board meeting regarding whether it was necessary to heat the farmhouse at all. First Selectman David Denvir read a letter from Historic New England, formerly the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, that stated that careful monitoring is imperative, but that depending on the condition of the building, heat may not be essential to its preservation.

Winter Program Registration at the Library
Registration for the Killingworth Library's Winter programs will begin on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The Library is offering three popular programs for young children.
TERRIFIC TWOS is designed especially for children between the ages of 24 and 36 months. Parents and caregivers are invited to enjoy some rhyme-time fun with their child every Thursday morning from 10:00-10:30 during the month of January (Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27)
STORYTIME is designed especially for children ages 3 & 4. It takes place every Thursday morning from 10:00-10:30 during the month of February. (Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24)
MUSIC WITH MARGIE is designed for 2 1/2 year olds & older. The program takes place on Tuesdays from 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. Dec. 7- Feb 15.
Space is limited in all three programs and priority will be given to residents. Signup is required and can be made in person or by calling 663-2000 beginning Dec. 1. For more information please contact Gayle at the Library.

National Junior Honor Society Inducts New Members
Forty-seven Haddam-Killingworth Middle School students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, last Thursday in a ceremony at the HK Auditorium.
The Honor Society Officers for 2004-2005 are:
President: Richelle Jessey
Vice President: Molly Hammell
Secretary: Deanna Loso
Treasurer: Joshua Reynolds
View a complete list of inductees here. photos courtesy Fiona Phelan.

Travel Basketball Nets Three Wins
The Haddam-Killingworth Travel Basketball Club swept the teams from Clinton last Sunday at the Killingworth Elementary School Gym.

The 12-year-old Boys team, coached by Mike Callahan and Tim Gilhuly, won a hard fought, 49-48, victory over its Clinton rival. This was the team's second one-point victory in a row. In the first quarter, the H-K team used a solid pressing defense along with accurate outside shooting to gain a 19-14 first quarter lead. Conor Brownell scored the game's first 5 points, including a three-point basket. The team's top scorer was Andrew Callahan with 22 points, followed by Brownell with 10, Andrew Brough with 7, Greg Marino and Jon Lehane with 4, and Rob Flynn with 2 points. The coaches said, "The entire team contributed to this win behind the leadership of Brough at point guard". They specifically mentioned the significant contributions of Andrew Dougherty, Patrick Gilhuly and Lehane on both defense and offense.

The 10-year-old Boys team, coached by Glenn Carlson, Dan Kovach and Ed Phelan, defeated Clinton, 28-12. Led by point guards, Trevor Phelan and Thomas Day, the team played a solid pressure defense resulting in many steals by both the guards and the forwards, and numerous blocked shots by Erik Carlson and Daniel Kovach in the paint. Distribution of the ball by the guards was equally effective with 8 different players breaking into the scoring column. HK was led by Carlson with 11 points, Day and Austin Boulay with 4, Phelan, Kovach, Liam Granucci and Ryan Jacobucci with 2 points each, and Brendan Salka with one.

The 10-year-old Girls team, coached by Drexel Frye and Bill Mooney, enjoyed its 3rd win of the season with a, 30-26, victory over Clinton. Top scorer was Alexis Bowen with 15 points. Also scoring were, Emily Anderson with 6, Carley Mooney and Shawna Skwarek with 4, and Anna Fetterol with one.

The club's next home games will be on Saturday Dec. 5 at the KES gym. Games begin at 12 noon.

Denvir Says Venuti Negotiations Remain Open
At last night's Board of Selectmen's meeting, First Selectman David Denvir reiterated his opinion, stated publicly over the last several months, that negotiations for the 258-acre Venuti property on Rt. 148 remain viable. Denvir said he stated in writing and at public meetings that he would meet with family trustee Michael Venuti "any place; any time". Last night, Denvir revealed that he twice met with the listing agent for the property in an attempt to schedule a meeting with Venuti. Denvir said several weeks ago in a conversation with the real estate agent, he set two conditions for a meeting: that it would be "in secret", so as not to influence the voting on the recreational complex, and that if an agreement was reached, the price was "set in stone", regardless of the outcome of the referendum. Denvir said Venuti's condition was that the referendum be delayed. Unable to agree on the conditions, the meeting did not take place.

In early September, the BOS voted not to "take any action or cast any votes" on the Town's "big ticket" projects until after the referendum on the KRC. The Board agreed to listen to any new developments but wanted the KRC to be decided on its own merits. Now that the KRC has been voted down, Denvir revealed the attempt to schedule the meeting.

Denvir said last night that he believes, until the land is developed or sold, the possibility of purchasing the property is still a consideration. He has previously stated that the land is "one of the most spectacular large tracts of land in Town" and it is land the Town needs, and wants.

In April 2003, the parcel was offered to the town for $8 million. The Town rejected the offer and commissioned a professional appraisal of the property. In March 2004, the Town offered to buy the land at the full-appraised price of $3.88 million. Negotiations for the property then stalled when the Venuti's attorney requested the appraisal documents, and on the advice of the Town's attorney, the BOS declined. The Town has offered to exchange independent appraisals.

Resident Michael Board has filed a complaint with the State's Freedom of Information Commission to have the Town's appraisal made public. Denvir contends that State law makes such appraisals "immune from public disclosure" and that the appraisal was acquired for confidential use in conducting negotiations. In 1997 the Town agreed to purchase the then 339-acre parcel for $4.4 million. The agreement fell through because of title problems that have since been resolved. The parcel is currently 258 acres and listed with Century 21 for $12 million.

Alpaca Farm Hosts Open House Weekends
New England Alpacas, Killingworth's own alpaca farm, located on Blethke Road, will be hosting open farm weekends on Nov. 27 & 28 and Dec. 4 & 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. See more than 20 alpacas; watch spinning and knitting demonstrations; enjoy warm refreshments, and visit the farm store filled with alpaca products. For more information and directions visit their website at www.nealpacas.com.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee and Town Office Building Study Committee Member, Gwenne Lally elaborates on how the TOBSC reached its conclusion about the Pharmedica property purchase, and how the bipartisan committee, amidst divisiveness on how decisions have been made on other town projects, resolved "to do better". Read her complete remarks here.

Fire Company Holds Annual Fund Drive
The Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company is currently conducting its Annual Fund Drive. In the past, contributions have allowed them to purchase firefighting equipment, dress uniforms, and an emergency lighting package for the water supply truck. This year the money raised will go to support the general Fire Company expense fund. This money is used to purchase needed equipment, supplement the training budget and for special projects. Five percent of all contributions will also be placed in the KVFC Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information visit www.Killingworth-Fire.org, or send your contribution to: Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company, 333 Route 81.

Middle School Honor Roll Announced
Haddam-Killingworth Middle School Principal, Miriam Furey-Wagner, recently announced the honor roll listing for the first marking period of the 2004-2005 school year. See a complete list here.

Middle School Craft Fair Draws a Crowd
The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School PTO sponsored Holiday Craft Fair took place on Saturday in the cafeteria of the High School. Over 50 crafters offered their wares for holiday decorating and gift giving. In addition to the crafters, the PTO offered baked goods, door prizes and a silent auction. This is the 17th year for this successful event. The proceeds will be used to enhance student activities at the Middle School throughout the year.

Down to a Soundless Sea
by Thomas Steinbeck
ISBN: 0345455762

This powerful collection of short stories and a novella by Thomas Steinbeck is an exceptional literary debut. In his Author's Note, Steinbeck writes, "When I was young I discovered, as all children must, that certain venerable traditions connected to family life required total participation." The family tradition he refers to is storytelling, and his father, John Steinbeck, must certainly have passed along to his children his love of language and story.

Steinbeck's tales have in common the dramatic backdrop of the California coast in the Big Sur area. The stories are set in the 1900's though 1930's, and describe beautifully the wild, untamed country of that time. Both the rugged shoreline and the sea itself are important elements of the stories. Steinbeck's characters are real and imaginable, and are firmly established in their time and in their region of the country.

Thomas Steinbeck has been a photojournalist in Viet Nam, has taught American literature and creative writing, and serves on the board of directors of the National Steinbeck Center. He is currently working on his first novel.

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