Harlem Rockets stars Alex Howard and John Dadzie gave the Elementary School students a preview of the comedy and basketball they could expect at the fundraising event at the high school last night. The Harlem Rockets took on the HK Dream Team to benefit the Class of 2005. The HK Dream was composed of District teachers and staff.

The HK High School Boys Basketball team had its 6 game winning streak snapped by Hyde Leadership in Hamden last night. Hyde led the whole game with a final 56-45 score over the Cougars. Tyler Riordan led the Cougars with 15 points followed by Perry Pratt with 9, Ryan Murray with 8 and Brett Zanardi with 5. Mike Barber led Hyde with 16 points. HK falls to 6-1 on the year and looks to start a new streak next Wednesday against Morgan.

This week, First Selectman David Denvir compares lessons from a popular 80s movie to the town's quest for fields. One of the lessons is "often the simplest ideas are the best". Denvir praises the "community activists" for coming forward with the field proposal and says he will help any way he can. Read his complete remarks here.

Regional School District No. 17 Board of Education has scheduled a Public Input Session for the purpose of soliciting what residents of Haddam and Killingworth believe should be considered as they develop their 2005-2006 budget proposal. This session will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Media Center of Haddam-Killingworth High School. For additional information please contact Schools Superintendent Gary Mala or Director of Finance Gary Shettle at 345-4534.

The Congregational Church at Killingworth's renovation process has moved inside for the winter. Last Fall structural work was done on the steeple and the exterior of the Church; now the interior dome will get a fresh coat of paint, plaster repair, and restenciling. The interior renovation is expected to take three weeks. Church services will take place in the Old Town Hall until the work is completed. The Church's Capital Campaign is taking place to help revitalize and preserve the 18th century landmark. photo by S. Cumpstone

The Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department is offering Start Smart - a nationally recognized program where parents work one-on-one with their child in an instructional setting performing fundamental motor skills such as throwing, kicking, batting, and catching. Children will develop the proper skills while building confidence in a non-competitive and safe environment. The program is for 3½ to 5-year-olds and will meet on Saturdays from 9:15 - 10:00 am at the Killingworth Elementary School Gym, January 29 - March 12 (No class 2/26). The fee is $35 per child. Non-residents can sign up for an additional $10. For more information, please call the HK Recreation Department at 345-8334 or visit www.hkrec.com.

In a very physical game, the HK Boys Basketball team dominated Old Saybrook, 52-34, last night at the Fieldhouse. The Cougars led from wire to wire but the low scoring game seemed to be interrupted on almost every exchange by a referee's whistle. Old Saybrook's Cassius Chaney and HK's Ryan Murray battled all night with Murray clearly standing the victor with 21 points and the win, compared to Chaney's 11 points. The Cougars, now 7-0 on the year, will face another tough test Friday as they take on Hyde Leadership in Hamden. Murray led all scorers followed by Anthony Andeen with 10 points and Brett Zanardi with 8.

In the Junior Varsity contest, the Cougars also came out on top with a, 60-51, win. Russ Hawkins led all scorers with 17 points including 2 from beyond the arc, followed by Alex Langevin with 16 and Travis Sierpinski with 8. Old Saybrook was led by Dylan Briotti with 13 points.

The HK Girls team tallied another victory last night with a, 40-31, win at Valley Regional. Liz Scovill led the Cougars with 16 points followed by Megan Murray with 14 and Ashley Smith with 7. HK improves its record to 6-4.

Town Offices Closed For Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 17, 2005

Town Minutes Updated
The minutes from the Killingworth Board of Selectmen, Planning & Zoning Commission, and Water Pollution Control Authority have been updated. Minutes are accessible from the left navigation bar and are updated as soon as available.
Board of Selectmen
Planning & Zoning Commission
Water Pollution Control Authority

In an attempt to further strengthen the district's commitment to communications, a new voice mail system will be on line in the Central Office, Haddam-Killingworth High School and Haddam-Killingworth Middle School effective Thursday, January 13, 2005.

As with any automated telephone system, there will be a menu system utilized in each location. Coupled with continuing to have our telephones answered by our talented office personnel, the menu format will facilitate more direct communication between school personnel, parents and individuals in our communities.

Among the notable features of the voice mail system are establishing messages that announce school events, inclement weather schedule alterations, etc., staff directories at each location, and a system that allows for communication to continue during non-traditional school hours.

DISTRICT TELEPHONE INFORMATION
Central Office: 345-4534
Pupil Services: 345-4244
Transportation: 345-8228
H-K High School:345-8541
H-K Middle School: 345-8567
Burr District School: 345-4584
Haddam Elementary: 345-4551
Killingworth Elementary: 663-1121

For additional details, please contact Gary Mala, Superintendent of Schools or Gary Shettle, Director of Finance & Operations Regional School District 17 Building Committee at 345-4534.

The Haddam Killingworth Travel Basketball Boys-10 team held off a strong challenge from the Hamden Boys team winning, 34-31, in a come from behind victory, Sunday. Aggressive defense, rebounding, and timely scoring were the keys to this victory. The guards, led by Trevor Phelan and Thomas Day distributed the ball effectively resulting in a balanced scoring attack with 8 different players on the board. Of special note was the play of Dan Kovach who had 10 rebounds, 6 points, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Erik Carlson led all scorers with 9 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Brendan Salka with 8 points. Day added 4 points, Ryan Jacobucci had 5 steals; Liam Grannucci and Patrick Dougherty each scored 2 points and Phelan had 1 point.

The Boys-13 team was defeated, 23-69, by Hamden. The game was controlled by the phenomenal 6'3" Hamden center. H-K was unable to penetrate against the big Hamden front line but stayed close early with 1st quarter, 3-pointers from Billy Jette, Zach Kumnick and Brian Ludington. Alphonse Simeone and Ben Uihlein battled early foul trouble and worked extremely hard in the paint. Twelve-year-old team players Andrew Callahan and Robby Flynn moved up to fill roster spots and got valuable game experience against the bigger, older 13 players.

The Boys-11 team won a moral victory in a closely-contested game against Hamden, ultimately losing 38-43. Zach Dortche led all scorers in the game with 12-points. Gabriel Kumnick, Chris Moriarty and Jimmy Virgulto each had 6 points. The 11-year-old players had the lead at the end of each of the first three quarters. Hamden added two dominant players late in the game and they combined for 17 points to tip the final balance in their favor. The HKTB coaches praised the team for their tremendous defensive effort, "Best of the season!"

The HKTB Girls team lost in the final minutes to Durham, 17-23, at KES on Sunday. The HK girls maintained the point advantage into the fourth quarter but were unable to hold on until the buzzer. High scorer was Alexis Bowen with 8 points. Also scoring were Carly Mooney with 3 points, and Emily Anderson, Ashley Cook and Bethany Riedy with 2 points each.

The Middletown Press reported that Theodore J. Violissi passed away on Monday, January 10, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Janet Morann-Violissi; sister-in-law, Carol Ann Morann; his parents, Francis and Rita Violissi; a brother, Frank Violissi; a sister, Carol Ann Violissi; two sons from a prior marriage, Theodore J. Violissi Jr. and Chuck Violissi and his wife, Ann; and two grandchildren, Theodore III and Robbie.

The funeral procession will leave the Swan Funeral Home, 211 Main St., Deep River Friday at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Portland. Family and friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Swedish Cemetery in Portland with Military Honors.

Tonight's HK High School boys basketball games, both JV and Varsity, as well as the Middle School games have been cancelled due to the impending storm. The High School games have been rescheduled to tomorrow night.

The HK High School Girls Basketball team defeated Hyde Leadership, 58-30, last night at the HK Fieldhouse. Leading all scorers was senior guard Kristen Hetsko with 22 points including 3 from 3-point range. Liz Scovill and Michelle Fillion scored 9 points each and Jenna Loos scored 8. The Cougars are now 5-4 on the year and are away at Valley Regional on Wednesday Jan. 12.

In a surprising presentation last night at the Board of Selectmen's meeting, long-time town resident and landscape contractor, Eric Auer presented a proposal that would give Killingworth 3 new ball fields by the Spring of 2006, in what Selectman Fred Dudek called" old-time Killingworth" style.

Auer stunned the Selectman with a well-researched proposal to put a full-sized Little League field on property on Bethke Road and two soccer fields on the town-owned Bosco property on Route 81. The Bethke property is owned by the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust, but President Bruce Dodson was on hand to acknowledge that the Land Trust would deed the property to the town for the project. The soccer fields proposed on the Bosco property would be in the area previously designated for tennis courts in the failed Killingworth Recreational Complex. Dodson said both of these parcels are previously impacted land: the Bosco land was a turkey farm and the Bethke land was a land-fill for construction materials, stumps and rocks.

Auer said he received an overwhelming response from residents when he called to ask for their help. Auer, Engineer Roger Nemergut and surveyor Don Gesick have all offered to donate their time and expertise to oversee the project, with many other residents lining up to volunteer their specific skills and equipment. Because 50-60 percent of the cost of the project would be donated time and machinery, the total cost to residents would be approximately $163,000.

The project would utilize: town machinery and employees to perform much of the re-grading, leveling, parking and driveway installation; volunteers who have already committed to management, site design, grading, screening, surveying, seeding, fencing and finish grading, and budgeted items such as a professionally installed backstop and materials. Auer said the Bosco land already has approximately 90 percent of the top soil needed for the soccer fields.

Auer's proposal includes parking for 15-20 cars at the Bethke field and a parking area approximately 40 x 200 feet at the Bosco fields. He said proper environmental testing would be done with appropriate soil and water testing, and Inland Wetlands and Planning and Zoning Commission applications.

Auer asked for a nod from the Board to move forward on further planning, environmental studies and commission applications throughout the winter. His request was enthusiastically granted. First Selectman David Denvir said this was an "overwhelming effort and an amazing job". Selectman Louis Annino, Sr. asked "where do we sign"? Denvir said he would seek an immediate appropriation from the Board of Finance for machine work and testing and would place the funding needed into next year's budget process. Auer said they would need some funding in March with major construction beginning in late spring or early summer. For more information on the project or to volunteer in some way please contact Auer at ericauer2@sbcglobal.net

The newly formed Recreation Fields Committee, that was not formally a part of this proposal, will have its first meeting on January 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Offices. The Committee still has the charge of investigating short-term and long-term recreation options. The Clough Harbour & Associates Needs Assessment, commissioned by the Town last Spring, shows the Town is currently in need of 7 fields and by 2014, the need will be 12.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee members Susan Dean and Michael J. Sanders discuss the No Child Left Behind legislation and its impact on this community. Read their complete remarks here.

The comedy basketball troupe, The Harlem Rockets will take on the HK Dream Team on Friday, January 14 at the HK Fieldhouse to benefit the Class of 2005.

This fundraising event has been huge success in the past and is a wonderful way for the community to come together for a great time. To top it off, the players will be visiting the elementary schools during the day on the 14th to talk to kids about how to be their best, to stay away from drugs, and to respect others.

The Harlem Rockets will be playing the HK Dream Team, composed of HK's very own teachers and staff members. The students have a great time watching their teachers play this awesome team.

The game begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now in the HK main office. Advance tickets are $6; $7 at the door on Friday. This event has sold out in the past so buy your tickets early. Tickets are also available at each of the elementary schools. We are excited about this event and hope that your family can join us for a fun filled evening.

HK's senior point guard Brett Zanardi has been an integral part the Cougars' success this season. Currently an undefeated 6-0, HK puts its streak on the line tomorrow night against Old Saybrook and Friday at Hyde in New Haven. Zanardi and fellow senior Ryan Murray are profiled in today's Middletown Press.

The Cougar Aquatic Team hosted its 9th Annual Swim for Hunger Invitational meet over the weekend at Wesleyan University. Over 600 swimmers from 22 different swim clubs across the region took part in the three-day event. Read more about the meet in the Middletown Press.

Life Studies
by Susan Vreeland
ISBN: 0670031771

This superb collection of short stories is unified thematically with each story relating in some way to art. The tale may incorporate a particular artist, such as Vincent Van Gogh painting a portrait of a postman's son, or Claude Monet and his longstanding friendship with his gardener. The story may also describe the creative process for an artist, or the impact a piece of art may have on the viewer.

The topics of these stories span from the nineteenth century to current times, and in each one, an individual is somehow changed by a specific interaction with art. The life transforming moment may come as a result of posing for a life drawing class, or from viewing the paintings of one's deceased father in an exhibit. The realization may occur while having one's grandfather help in holding a paintbrush for the first time. Each scenario is unique, and helps the reader see the art of painting or pottery or drawing in a new way.

Susan Vreeland is the author of the best-selling Girl in Hyacinth Blue, The Passion of Artemesia, and The Forest Lover. Her love of art may have come from her great-grandfather, to whom the book Life Studies is dedicated. The inscription reads: "To my great-grandfather, Herbert Henry Smithers, who unveiled to me the magic of a paintbrush".

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