The stone labyrinth created by Congregational Church member Bill Jette will be dedicated Sunday, May 29 at 5:00 p.m. The labyrinth is located adjacent to the Church's Memorial Garden. The labyrinth consists of 1,353 hand-placed stones curling into 8 circles. Read more about it in the Clinton Recorder.

According to the Clinton Recorder, former First Selectman W. David LeVasseur and Guilford resident David F. Egan were voted in as new members of the Republican State Central Committee at the 12th Senate District convention held at the Maritime Grill in Guilford on May 10. LeVasseur and Egan will serve in the volunteer positions for a two-year term, 2005-07.

Frank Cunningham, Nominations Committee Chair of the Killingworth Republican Town Committee, would like to introduce the KRTC candidate, Nancy Gorski, for the Board of Education seat opened with the resignation of Catherine McGrady.

A Town Meeting will be held on Monday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m. in the All-Purpose room at Killingworth Elementary School to fill the vacancy. The Democratic Town Committee has endorsed Richard Berzon for the seat.

Please read Gorski's letter of introduction here.

HK High School's first-year coach Lindsey Matteo has set the girls lacrosse team on a new path of winning, fun and success. The team closed out its 2005 campaign with a home game against Old Lyme, Thursday and recognized its five seniors, Jessica Bellonio, Shannon Kenney, Traci Kahre, Alicia Bobbie, and Lauren Ann Isleib, for their hard work and leadership.

The Cougars came up short in the final game, losing to Old Lyme,5-12, but finished the season with a respectable 6-8 record. Over the previous two seasons, the team had only amassed one win. Read more about Coach Matteo and the Cougars successful season in the Middletown Press.

Scorers in the Old Lyme game were: Ashley Smith, 2 goals; Ali Thomson, 1 goal; Kaeli Deane, 1 goal and Meredith Burke, 1 goal.

Matteo said, "HK's defense put up a good fight against the talented wildcats with the help of Liz Scovill, Amanda Murray, and Sarah Ferjak. Scovill and Murray combined for 4 caused turnovers and 4 ground balls on the day. HK played well, but came up short today. The team wishes our five graduating seniors the best of luck in the future!"

Want to play in a league with other local participants? A tennis ladder for men and women will be compiled (singles only). To register, please contact the HK Recreation Department at 345-8334 and a registration packet will be sent to you. Deadline to register: June 3rd.

The league is for men and women, high school grads and up. The league will meet Thursdays and Fridays (weekends as needed) starting in mid-June. Matches will be played at 6:00 pm until dark. The fee is $10 (non-residents add $10) and matches will be played at the HK High School courts.

UPDATE: Game postponed until Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Old Lyme
The HK High School Softball team advanced to the finals of the Shoreline Conference Championships, Thursday and will face Hale Ray in the finals, today at 7:00 p.m. at the North Branford Field.

In Thursday's semi-final game against Coginchaug, Chelsea Griswold picked up her 17th win of the season in the 1-0 decision. Kyle Emshwiller collected the lone RBI in the sixth inning to bring in the winning run. Read all about the game in the Middletown Press.

The Haddam-Killingworth High School Chapter of the National Honor Society held its Annual Induction Ceremony last night in the HK Auditorium.

Senior class inductees were: Maximilian Drzewinski, Kira Savino and Lauren Sharp. Junior inductees were: Chelsea Anderson, Kevin Bailey, Benjamin Baxley, Ryan Bowles, Megan Carey, Jennifer Chandler, Jake Corbett, Katelyn Deimel, Jill Derwin, Sasha Gauley, Andrew Granucci, Chelsea Griswold, Laura Hawksley, Sara Hungerford, Colleen Kavanagh, Sawyer Kimball, Jennifer LaChance, Logan MacLennan, Curtis Meyer, Devon Moore, Darcy Muller, Megan Piscopiello, Marie Poole, Perry Pratt, Cameron Regan. Candice Rountree, Meghan Scanlon, Ashley Smith, Kimber Stannard, Alyssa Ticino, Danielle Vitali, Alyssa Vumbaco, Cory Weiss, Stephanie Wiese, Meghan Wilson and Alexandra Zila.
Pictured below is Andrew Granucci's induction (top) and NHS President Kristen Hetsko and Vice-President Lauren McKinnon leading the NHS pledge.

The Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department still has openings in children's swim lessons. Each session has a limited number of spots available for all levels of swimmers. Classes are conducted at the HK High School Pool. Daytime lessons meet Monday through Friday and Evening Lessons meet on Mondays and Wednesdays. Dates and times are as follows:
Sessions I - 3: 6/27-7/8 (no 7/4); 9:00-9:40 AM, 9:50 - 10:30 AM, 10:40-11:20 AM
Sessions 4 - 6: 7/11 - 7/22; 9:00- 9:40 AM, 9:50- 10:30 AM, 10:40 - 11:20 AM
Sessions 7 - 9: 7/25 - 8/5; 9:00- 9:40 AM, 9:50 - 10:30 AM, 10:40 - 11:20 AM
Sessions 10-12: 8/8 - 8/12; 9:00 - 9:40 AM, 9:50 - 10:30 AM, 10:40 - 11:20 AM
Evening 6/25-7/25; (M/W) 6:00 - 6:40 PM, 6:50 - 7:30 PM

Sessions 1-3 are $55 ($45 with new pool membership) and $65 for non-residents. Sessions 4 - 6 are $60 ($50 with new pool membership) and $70 for non-residents. Sessions 10 - 12 are $30 ($25 with new pool membership) and $40 for non-residents. Evening Sessions are $50 ($40 with new pool membership) and $60 for non-residents. Please call 345-8334 for more information, availability, and to register.

The Killingworth Library Association wishes to thank all those who participated in this year's Silent Auction Fundraiser, "Tastes and Treasures of Killingworth". Over a hundred and twenty people donated their talents and services. Volunteers and Board Members put many hours into organizing the event. The Killingworth Women's Organization prepared a free feast for the hungry as Jim Kelvey, father of Board member Michele Albert, bartended for the thirsty.

Jewelry Appraiser, Cindy Konney, created the spirit of an Antiques Road Show in a private corner of the Children's Room. Throughout the Library, vases of lilac and azalea blooms brought spring indoors as the serious business of outbidding one's competition took place.

We also want to thank our news outlets, The Clinton Recorder, The Krier, The Source and Peg Scofield's website, Killingworthtoday.com, for publishing our press releases. And last, but certainly not least, a warm thank you to the patrons who supported these efforts.

The Board of Selectmen's meeting cancelled on Monday has been rescheduled for Friday, May 27 at 9:00 a.m. at the Town Offices. The agenda from Monday's meeting is posted here.

Haddam and Killingworth fourth graders are taking a brief step back in time with a history program co-sponsored by the Haddam and Killingworth Historical Societies. Program coordinator Marjorie DeBold, dressed in period costume, instructs the children on the '3 Rs', school etiquette, discipline and common practices of the day during the 1830s.

The program takes place at Killingworth's Union District Schoolhouse on Roast Meat Hill Road. During the lessons, the children experience first-hand, a one-room schoolhouse with activities such as writing on slates, old-style multiplication, spelling, map work and recess. Guest instructors include Killingworth Historical Society members Marty Macold and B. J. Folger and Haddam Historical Society members DeBold and Melanie Giamei.

Concerned parents, citizens, school and community representatives from The Prevention Council of Haddam-Killingworth are launching a new initiative called SAFE HOMES.

Parents of middle school and high school students in Haddam and Killingworth will be asked to sign a pact in which they promise to make their home a place where youth have no access to alcohol and other drugs.

Parents are asked to make only two promises for the network to succeed:
1. Parents will not allow parties or social gatherings in their home when they are not present.
2. Parents will not serve nor will they knowingly allow minor guests to consume alcohol or illegal drugs in their home or on their property.

This grass-roots initiative seeks to create an opportunity for parents and teens to discuss and set ground rules on underage drinking and for parents to work together to establish community wide guidelines that will help safeguard all children. Statistics from the Connecticut Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking found that 61% of teen drinking occur at parties in their own homes. Much of the alcohol consumed comes from parents liquor cabinets and refrigerators.

"We are reminded over and over again through educators, police officers and other adults working with children that unsupervised parties pose a real danger to our children because they often include alcohol and other drugs." "This is one way we can help kids stay safe." says Cheryl Chandler, Coordinator of the Prevention Council of Haddam Killingworth.

"Parents need to be able to communicate with their children about underage drinking and talk with other parents prior to social gatherings. We need to make sure parents will be home and alcohol and other drugs will not be permitted in the house or on the premise", says Cathy Gargiulo, parent and president of the PTO at Haddam-Killingworth Middle School.

Therefore, concerned parents and community members hope that the Safe Home Pact will help establish consistent community wide guidelines for teens and help in establishing a network for parents to communicate and feel supported by one another.

Families can receive the SAFE HOMES PACT, by contacting Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth, Inc. at 345-7498. The pledge may be signed and returned to Youth and Family Services. Households that sign the pact will be considered SAFE HOMES. A list will be compiled of all SAFE HOMES members and available on the Youth and family Website at www.hkyfs.org or by calling the Youth and Family office.

The Hartford Courant reports that over the weekend, two horses owned by Raymond Schoonmaker of Tower Hill Road, jumped their enclosure and bolted onto Route 80 into the path of a van driven by Steve Wyzykowski. Wyzykowski swerved to avoid the horses but one horse shattered the passenger window with its head. State Police reported that no one was seriously injured and the horse was recovering from a 'a bloody nose'.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee member Gwenne Lally discusses the KDTC's new program to promote civil community dialogue.

As Killingworth grows we all feel the pressure of development. Our larger population is making new and often costly demands on our community. The way we choose to respond to those demands will directly affect every one of us.

This has sometimes transformed what began as considered, rational disagreement into heated controversy. It is particularly unfortunate that emotionally charged rhetoric clouded a number of recent discussions about how we as a town can best accommodate the needs of our children - an issue everyone agrees is important.
full story.

I don't know about you, but I want to be a kid in Killingworth! Thanks to the incredible fundraising and vision of the KES Parent-Teacher Organization and especially Festival of the Arts and Sciences Committee members, Lisa Sullivan, Carol Wasilchuk, Eileen Blewett and Cindy Fetteroll, the students at KES were treated to a full day of fun and excitement all surrounding the arts and sciences, Friday.

The annual event exposes students to fascinating ideas, professions, hobbies and passions. The artisans that appear clearly love what they do and pass that passion on to students and staff. The amount of work involved to get the day organized and launched is immeasurable but clearly evident from the ease displayed when moving hundreds of extremely excited children through a maze of activities, and clearly worthwhile from the smiles and energy flowing from the students.

The activities ranged from computers, goats and jugglers to Irish stepping, falcons and mime, and the laser light show finale rocked the school walls with music, cheering and screams of delight. Please flip through a sampling of the activities available to students at KES-Festival-2005 This is a large file and may take a moment to load.

The Board of Selectmen's meeting for tonight has been cancelled.
Agenda
Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Approve Minutes of Special Meetings held May 6 and 19 and Regular Meeting held on May 9, 2005
3. Visitors: Eric Auer, Rich Cabral
4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
5. Appointments/Vacancies:
6. Old Business:
    1. Town Meeting/Region #17 BOE - June 6,2005
    2. Beaver Dam Rd. and Buell Hill Rd. BOS Acceptance
    3. Library Maintenance Bills
    4. Web Page Update; BOF Vote
7. New Business:
    1. BOS Approval - Bethke Rec. Request
    2. Resident Trooper Contract
    3. Sale of Brush Truck(s)
8. DLD Announcements: Memorial Day Parade
9. Selectmen's Concerns
10. Executive Session: Land Acquisition,
   Contract(KMEA) Negotiations,
   Retirement Health Benefits
11. Adjournment
Agenda as of 12:20 p.m., Thursday, 5/19/05
Printable version

Pre-readers and children entering first through sixth grades in the fall are invited to participate in this summer's reading program. Dream of times long ago, read terrific tales of daring adventures, and enjoy summer library activities filled with medieval magic and merriment, dragons, castles, knights,
and FUN!!!

The Kick-off event is Saturday, June 18 from 2:00-2:45 p.m. with Minstrel storyteller, Mary Jo Maichack. Laugh to the Tale of the Three Sillies; Belch & sing along to the Ballad of Knock-Kneed Knight, Sir Eglamore and Help act out the Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch.


Following Mary Jo's performance, children will be able to sign up for the Summer Reading Program, receive their materials and take home books to read. Those who go away for part of the summer can still participate. For more information please contact Gayle at 663-2000.

The Killingworth Library Association held it largest fundraiser of the year yesterday afternoon. The Annual Silent Auction attracted people from all over the area looking to bid on items from restaurant certificates, to fine art, to loads of top soil. Over 100 items were donated to help raise funds for the Library's operating budget. This year's special feature was jewelry appraisal by Cindy Konney, the owner of New England Gem Lab in Old Lyme, CT.

The New Britain Rock Cats came to Rocco Reale Field in Killingworth, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, to sponsor a 9 and 10-year-old skills competition with members of the Killingworth Youth League baseball and softball teams.

The skills tested included batting for distance and accuracy, throwing from 2nd base to a home plate target and a timed race from 1st base to 3rd base. All of the boys and girls had a great time and a wonderful crowd cheered for each of the young athletes.

The first, second and third place winners will be announced soon on the Rock Cats home page and the overall winner will be invited to compete at a regional second round competition. Many KYL athletes and families will be at a special youth league game in New Britain on June 21.

The competition is sponsored by State Farm Insurance and the New Britain Rock Cats AA Minor League Baseball team. The program invites Little League/Youth Baseball players ages 9 & 10 to participate for the chance to represent their league at the state finals at New Britain Stadium and ultimately win the grand prize, a $1,000 donation to their league. photos by H. Kumnick

The Associated Press reports that Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Saturday that the remaining 203 greyhound dogs boarding at the track as of Friday have been placed. Half are being retired and are on their way to homes and half are headed to other racetracks. The dogs are expected to leave Plainfield at the end of the month.

The track announced last month it was closing to make way for a domed auto race track. Since then, officials say they have been deluged with requests to adopt the dogs. At the time there were about 1,200 dogs at the track, which officially shut down May 14 after three decades of operation.

Rell says the state Agriculture Department of division of Special Revenue will continue to monitor the situation to make sure the dogs are treated properly. The governor praised the cooperation of the track officials during the transition and thanked pet owners who came forward to adopt a greyhound.