First Selectman David Denvir has offered a column on the Board of Selectmen's decision on the DEP conservation easement grant for the Bosco property and other 'opportunities lost'. Please read Denvir's complete remarks here.

The Haddam Killingworth Soccer Club Under-12 8v8 and Under-14 boys teams won their respective divisions recently and have been crowned the South Central Region Divisional Champions.

The U12 team, coached by Paul Casanova and Dan Colonia, put forth a great effort and came away undefeated with a record was three wins and one tie. The team scored 10 goals and only gave up 2. "Every player deserves this win," said Coach Colonia.

The U14 team turned in a repeat performance of the fall season with another first place finish. The U14 team's record consists of three wins, one tie, one loss, and a second place finish at the Clinton Tournament. Coach Mike Boccia said," the boys worked well together as a team; which was instrumental in their win". The U14 team was coached by Boccia and Rick McFee and consisted of Cameron Bailey, Brad Boulay, Steven Cavanaugh, Luke Chase, Kyle Fitzgerald, Sean Martin, Billy McFee, Mike Mead, Tim Mertz, Chris Nixon, Jamie Nixon, Jeff Roberge, Nick Stanford, Brandon Ticino, and Sal Zichichi.

Pictured below: The winning U12 8v8 Team. Front Row (L-R): Bryce Colonia-Hughes, Richard Coletti, Nick Venuti, Mason Rice. Back Row: Coach Casanova, Jonathan Casanova, Ludovic Richardson, Tyler Shinn, Colin O'Donnell, Jake Seiwert-Kirn, and Coach Colonia. Missing: Brendan Walsh. photo courtesy D. Colonia

On Friday the Killingworth Youth League held its Boys Majors Division (11-12) Tournament Championship game at Rocco Reale Field on Recycle Way. The Rockies, sponsored by Granite Realty, beat the Braves, 7-4, with a strong, 10-strikeout pitching performance from the righty-lefty-righty combination of Nick Uihlein, Gabriel Kumnick and Ben Belliveau. Matt Wojick's huge two-RBI single in the 5th inning clinched the championship for the Rockies, finishing 5-0 in the playoffs and 15-3 overall.

Coach Hilary Kumnick said, "Matt 'Chewey' Sturman and Stephen Saunders were flawless behind the plate while Clayton Rountree, Steven Frank, Matt McCann, Evan Siegel and D.J. Fisher all played well defensively throughout the 5-game playoff. 10-Year-old phenom Matt Walsh had his best defensive performance of the season at shortstop in the big game." The Rockies were led offensively in the game by veterans Kumnick, Saunders and Uihlein with a combined 7 for 8, including 5-doubles and 1-triple!

The Braves were undefeated in the playoff round at 3-0 before facing the Rockies. In the final game Patrick Dougherty had a 2-RBI triple for the Braves and Wes Nuhn, Richie Afragola, Nick Cerini and David Pucillo each had base hits. Players from both teams provided an exciting, see-saw battle for the supportive Killingworth crowd.

Pictured below: Front, L-R: Matt Walsh, Matt Wojick, Stephen Saunders & D.J. Fisher. Back Row, L-R: Matt McCann, Chewey Sturman, Evan Siegal, Steven Frank, Ben Belliveau, Nick Uihlein & Gabe Kumnick, Coaches, L-R: Frank Wojick, Hilary Kumnick & Kurt Uihlein, Missing from team photo: Clayton Rountree. photo courtesy D. Wojick.

Killingworth resident Barbara Klein writes to comment on the recent Board of Selectmen's decision on the DEP conservation easement.

Few people get a second chance in life! Initially the selectmen refused the state's DEP grant of $180,000 for a conservation easement on approximately 80 of the 133 acres of the Bosco property due to restrictions stipulating maintenance of the property for open space, a few ball fields, and passive recreation. Subsequently the Town, by means of referendum, rejected using this parcel for a multi-sport complex not once, but twice. There were a number of reasons. The proposed complex did not qualify as open space. There were questions regarding safety. Many, myself included, did not think that the cost was justified, especially when other priorities exist. How many towns in Connecticut with a population of 6,500 have a recreation complex costing $6,000,000! Read Klein's Letter.

The Congregational Church in Killingworth is accepting applications from crafters and antique dealers who would like to participate in its 46th Annual Country Fair, which will be held on the church grounds on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The fair attracts a large number of vendors and features a silent auction, children's rides and games, lots of food, a white elephant sale, used books, quilt raffle, and much more. For more information or an application, please call the church office at 860-663-1789.

The Church is also accepting donations for the white elephant and used book sales, which will run during the Country Fair as well as during the Chicken BBQ and Classic Car Show on Friday night, August 5, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Clean out your attic and your closets, and bring your gently used books, housewares and other treasures (no electrical appliances or juvenile furniture, please) to the church hall during summer office hours (Tues, Wed., Thurs. - 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.) or call the office at 663-1789 to make other arrangements.

At Monday's Board of Selectmen's Meeting, Killingworth's State Senator, Edward Meyer stopped by to update the selectmen on recent decisions in Hartford and how those decisions will effect the Town and its residents.

Meyer said he particularly enjoyed campaigning and attending events in Killingworth last Fall and he continues to have an especially strong interest in the community because of the high value it places on land use.

Meyer said the 2005 legislative session was provocative with its discussion of issues such as civil unions, the death penalty, stem cell research and medical-use marijuana.

There were three legislative decisions of the session that will positively effect Killingworth, he said. Meyer was successful in securing a 4% increase in state aid to help alleviate the Town's tax burden. This aid, estimated at approximately $80,000, will go towards school and town needs. The second action, which First Selectman David Denvir has been promoting on the regional level, was the passing of a conveyance tax on the transfer of real estate. The third was the initiation of recording fees on Town Clerk documents that can be used by the Town for the purchase of open space or to build affordable housing.

Meyer said there were also some negatives in the session, however. As Chairman of the Select Committee on Children, he was especially disappointed that the School Nutrition Bill was defeated.

He said the state government "continues to be inefficient" and it is difficult to bring about change. He said the "culture of corruption" continues in areas like pensions for disgraced public officials, and the closeness of the lobbyists and special interest groups. Meyer said, "Our government still lacks integrity", but went on to praise Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her independence and her thoughtfulness and the work she has done to restore confidence.

The priority ahead, said Meyers, is to continue the fight for tax reform. He said Connecticut relies on property tax income more than any other state and he said he would push for a progressive income tax. He is not a proponent of the corporate surcharge or the decoupling of the estate tax.

Meyer answered several questions, as time allowed, from the selectmen and visitors Monday, and will be in Killingworth on Tuesday, July 12 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Killingworth Library for residents to voice their concerns and receive an update on the legislative session.

Starting Friday, July 1, there will be several changes at the Town's Solid Waste Transfer Station. The PAYT Committee (PAYT), continues to study and make recommendations on ways to improve operations at the Transfer Station while also saving tax dollars. These changes and improvements will save an estimated $30,000 a year.

Among the immediate changes effective Friday, are the hours of Transfer Station operations. Thursday hours have been extended to 8:00 p.m. from 7:00 p.m. previously, while the Saturday closing time has been trimmed back to 2:00 p.m. from the previous 3:00 p.m. By transferring solid waste and recycling volume from heavy-demand Saturdays to less-demand Thursdays, it is hoped that additional recycling capacity can be provided to residents.

A collection bin for white office paper has been placed on the left just before the Transfer Station exit. Plans are also in the works for mixed paper recycling to further reduce solid waste expenditures. Mixed paper recycling awaits a Board of Selectmen vote early in July. Watch for further updates at the Killingworth Transfer Station and in local media on the exact start dates for mixed paper recycling.

By removing items that can be recycled from the town's solid waste volume, Killingworth reduces what it pays for waste removal. Mixed solid waste is the most expensive form of refuse to the town. The town pays less to dispose of recycled items. In some cases the town can be paid for recycled items such as pure white paper and mixed paper that includes magazines, junk mail, cereal boxes, etc. Therefore, every ton of recycled waste such as paper, plastic and metal can lead to dramatic savings of tax dollars for Killingworth.

PAYT members say their number one priority is the improvement of Transfer Station operations, hopefully resulting in even more tax dollar savings in waste removal costs. According to PAYT, the effort has been paying off; Killingworth leads area towns, for the past year, in overall recycling volume increases. For more detailed information read the updated PAYT Recommendations.

The baseball field planned on the 2-acre parcel on Bethke Road by resident Eric Auer and his well-organized group of volunteers won approval at a Town Meeting last night at the elementary school.

Over 100 residents turned out to hear the arguments for and against a neighborhood ball field, on Land Trust property, sited on the two-lane Town road. Initially residents, predominantly from the Jacob Lane/Pond Meadow Road and Bethke Road area, voiced concerns about their children's safety with ball-field traffic activity on the narrow road; hazardous waste concerns from the old stump dump and concerns about the Land Trust deeding property to the Town for recreational activity.

Proponents of the field pointed out that the Town twice-rejected a costly centralized recreation complex on the town-owned Bosco property and Auer's inexpensive alternative would provide the Town with its first field in 20 years. Killingworth Land Trust President John Himmelman said that the Land Trust was initially reluctant to take the small parcel because of its poor condition. He said it accepted the property as part of the Jacob's Lane subdivision because the surrounding acres contained valuable wetlands. Auer said the State Department of Environmental Protection testing has not shown any contamination and water testing done regularly over the past decade as not shown any problems.

The Land Trust has placed significant stipulations on the land transfer including no buildings, pesticides, bleachers and a parking area with only a wood chip cover. The deed allows fencing and a backstop as well as team benches and a portable toilet. Auer conceded that the field would be best suited as a practice field because of the parking limitations. He said the decision on what the field was used for was up to the Town.

The final vote was 69-44 in favor of the field and 68-36 on the vote for a special appropriation of $45,000 for the cost of the field. Auer said the final step will be the application to the Town Planning and Zoning Commission to accept the land. Once that is done they will break ground on the field and install the fencing. The field is expected to be ready for use next Spring.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee member Kathleen Amoia discusses Monday's July 4th Birthday Celebration and asks residents to "take stock of this past year with an eye toward preserving our unique heritage and a commitment to passing it on to our children's children".

Unlike most nations, ours, in common with each of its citizens, celebrates birthdays. And well it should. With the July 4th, 1776 Declaration of Independence, America stepped out of the box and ahead of its time. Inspired, it declared that all men were created equal and endowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. full story.

The Liberty Bank Family Entertainment Series, co-sponsored by the The Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department and Liberty Bank will hold the first of their Friday night concerts on July 1 on the Higganum Green from 7:00-8:30 p.m. All concerts are free. Participants should bring a blanket or a chair. In the event of rain, the concerts will be cancelled.

The concert will feature The Kerry Boys, an Irish Duo originally from County Kerry Ireland. Pierce Campbell and Mark James have dazzled fans of all ages from Maine to New York with their humorous high-energy performances and engaging style of Irish ballads and sea songs.

The band sings pristine harmonies rarely heard anymore. They are accompanied by powerful and expressive instrumentation such as mandolin, guitar and banjo. Bring the family out for a fun night of clapping and singing with songs from Ireland and the sea!

Notice from the Town Tax Collector Ruth Patrick

The Killingworth Tax Office will be closed on June 30, 2005 so the office can close the month of June and close and balance the fiscal year of 2004-2005.

Collection for the new fiscal year of 2005-2006 will begin on Friday, July 1, 2005

Tax bills will be mailed the last week of June. Payments will be accepted beginning July 1. The first half of Real Estate and Personal property bills over $100.00 is due July 1, 2005, and will be delinquent on August 2. The second half will be due January 1, 2006 and delinquent on February 2. Motor Vehicle bills are due without interest, between July 1 and August 1, 2005 in one installment. The rate of interest is 1½% per month, 18% per annum, or $2.00 whichever is greater.

The office hours are 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.

If you receive a Real Estate bill and have an escrow account, forward the bill to your lending institution, so they will make a timely payment. If you receive a bill for a vehicle you no longer own, you may be entitled to a credit. The credit is not automatic. You must provide 2 forms of proof to the Assessor's Office, one form being the plate receipt from DMV. All corrections are made through the Assessor's Office.

If you pay in person and want a receipt, bring all copies of your bills. If you pay by mail, send all copies of your bills, a self addressed, stamped envelope and your check. Please make payable to Tax Collector. You can send one check for all your bills. Payments will be applied to the oldest obligation before paying current bills.

Payments received each day will be deposited. Please, do not postdate your check.

The Dance Corner recently held two master classes led by professional dancer, Karl Warden. Warden taught a routine to "Bye, Bye Blackbird" from the Broadway show "Fosse - The Musical" to Dance Corner students and teachers.

Warden is performing through today as Frank in the Goodspeed Musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brother"s in East Haddam.

For more information on the Dance Corner and its classes please visit the website www.thedancecorner.com or call 663-3738. photo courtesy C. Smith