Notice of Public Hearing
The Killingworth Charter Revision Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 in the Firehouse at 7:00 p.m. This hearing is being held before any substantive work begins on revising the current Charter.

At this hearing, written communication may be received and interested persons will be heard.

***This will be the first review of the 25-year-old Town Charter since a 1997. The seven member commission is chaired by Deborah Griswold. For more information on the Commission please read the recent article in the Hartford Courant.

The Killingworth Republican Town Committee has offered its Vision for Killingworth by John Amport & Fred Dudek. The Republican ticket specifically discusses: Maintaining Killingworth's Rural Character; Open, Timely & Responsible Government; Fiscal Responsibility and Volunteerism. Full Story.

According to The New Haven Register, the Killingworth Land Use Committee has requested the Board of Selectmen authorize the initiation of the permitting process for the new Transfer Station.

The Land Use Committee is acting on a 2000 Town Meeting's endorsement of a plan to build a 'Town Center' on the 45 acres on Route 81 that currently encompasses the Ambulance Association, the Firehouse, the Town Offices and the Transfer Station. The first step in the plan would be to move the Transfer Station to the rear of the property. Committee members have estimated that the permitting process with the state could take up to two years. The Board of Selectmen have not yet addressed the request at their regular meetings.

• Monday, October 3:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKMS Band/Choral Concert (repeat)
HKHS Band/Chorus Disney Concert
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Girls Swimming: HK v. St. Paul Catholic (meet of 9/30)Jazz Night HKHS and other HKTV Productions
• Tuesday, October 4:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Girls Swimming: HK v. St. Paul Catholic (meet of 9/30)
Jazz Night HKHS and other HKTV Productions
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Girls Swimming: HK v. St. Paul Catholic (meet of 9/30)Boys Soccer: HK v. Morgan (game of 10/3)
•Wednesday, October 5:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Girls Swimming: HK v. St. Paul Catholic (meet of 9/30)
Boys Soccer: HK v. Morgan game of 10/3)
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Jazz Night HKHS and other HKTV Productions
Boys Soccer: HK v. Morgan game of 10/3)
•Thursday, October 6:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Jazz Night HKHS and other HKTV Productions
Boys Soccer: HK v. Morgan game of 10/3)
10:00 a.m.& 9:00 p.m. LIVE! HKMS National Junior Honor Society Induction
Girls Soccer: HK v. Old Lyme (game of 10/5)
•Friday, October 7:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. National Junior Honor Society Induction
Girls Soccer: HK v. Old Lyme (game of 10/5)
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKMS National Junior Honor Society Induction
Killingworth Selectmen Debate
•Saturday, October 8:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKMS National Junior Honor Society Induction
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Killingworth Selectmen Debate
•Sunday, October 9:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKMS National Junior Honor Society Induction
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Killingworth Selectmen Debate
information provided by HKTV

The discussion and debate schedule for the 2005 Democratic and Republican candidates has been set. Debates will be broadcast on HKTV Channel 18 on Friday, Oct. 7, Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 in the 7-9:00 p.m. program slot.

October 3: Candidates for First Selectman and Selectman will meet with Killingworth seniors at 1:45 p.m. during the Seniors' regular meeting at the Congregational Church in Killingworth

October 6: First Selectman candidates, John Amport and Marty Klein will hold a debate from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Haddam Killingworth High School Auditorium. The debate will be moderated by Elise Low, President of the East Shore League of Women Voters.

October 20: Selectman candidates, Fred Dudek, Steve Hollander, and Ed Sipples will conduct a roundtable discussion at 8:00 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Killingworth

October 25: First Selectman candidates, John Amport and Marty Klein, will debate each other in the Clubhouse at Jensen's Beechwood Community. The debate will begin at 7:00 and is open to Jensen residents only. This debate will be moderated by the League of Women Voters.

Resident Cindy Erickson-Kelly continues to raise funds to benefit 3-year-old resident Mikayla Nuhn, who underwent spinal fusion surgery this summer. Erickson-Kelly's poster, 'Doors of Killingworth' is offered for a donation of $10.00. The funds raised will help offset the medical/travel expenses of the Nuhn Family.

The poster is 11x17. Checks payable to: "KWOFBO Mikayla Nuhn fund". To order please email Doorsofkillingworth2005@hotmail.com

To donate directly to the Killingworth Women's Organization BankNorth Fund set up in Mikayla's name please contact Nadine Cabrera at BankNorth at (860) 663-3894 or stop by the Killingworth Branch to make a deposit to the account "KWO FBO Mikayla Nuhn Fund."

The co-chairs of the General Assembly's Insurance and Real Estate Committee, Senator Joseph Crisco and Representative Brian O'Connor say a major priority in the 2006 legislative session will be to close a loophole in a law that allows commercial/trucking operators to drop liability insurance coverage without notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The committee is planning to hold a public hearing in October to get input from Insurance Commissioner Susan Cogswell, and representatives from the insurance companies and trucking industry to help resolve the problem.

It's been revealed that American Crushing & Recycling of Bloomfield, the owner of the dump truck involved in the accident at the bottom of Avon Mountain in July that killed four people, did not have liability insurance. The company cancelled the insurance, and under current state law commercial operators do not have to notify DMV when coverage is suspended.

A law that took effect in 1994 added a requirement that insurers issuing private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance policies must notify DMV monthly of all policies cancelled in the prior month. The cancellation notification requirement did not apply to commercial vehicles. The new legislation will amend the law to require that commercial operators maintain proof of liability insurance and notify DMV if coverage is suspended.

"It is imperative that trucking companies operating in Connecticut are properly insured. The committee will hold the public hearing and move as quickly as possible to close this serious loophole," said Senator Crisco. "DMV is notified if the private owners of motor vehicles have their insurance dropped, and we are going to make sure this applies to the trucking companies. Trucks are a major component of our traffic and the horrific accident on Avon Mountain points out that action must be taken to help insure safety on our roadways and to protect the motorists in Connecticut."

"In light of the recent tragedy on Avon Mountain, we think it is important to close the loophole that does not require insurance companies to notify DMV that a commercial trucking company has dropped its insurance," Representative O'Connor. "This is already a law for individuals, and we thinks it should apply to commercial entities as well. With the public hearing, we hope to shed some light and make the appropriate changes in the law to prevent tragedies like this from happening again."

The Killingworth Registrar of Voters will hold a corrections session to complete preliminary voter list at the Killingworth Town Hall on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. At this session registrars will remove electors from the registry list who have died, become disfranchised or confirmed in writing that they have moved out of town.

The HK Boys Soccer team came up with a big, 4-1, win yesterday against conference rival Coginchaug. Tyler Bradley had two goals and Joel Blancaflor and Matt Waldman each scored one. For complete game coverage visit the Middletown Press.
For more photos please visit the NEW online Photo Gallery

The HK High School Volleyball team defeated Morgan of Clinton, 3-2, in a marathon match yesterday evening. Stephanie Wiese had 37 kills for the Cougars. Game scores were: 25-17, 25-21, 26-28, 19-25 and 15-9. For complete game coverage visit the Middletown Press.
For more photos please visit the NEW online Photo Gallery

Dear Editor:
I am writing in support of the candidacy of Fred Dudek, Jr., for the office of Killingworth selectman.

I have known Fred for over twenty years, both as a fellow volunteer for the Killingworth Ambulance Association and as a friend. Complete Letter

With the recent election of officers for the 2006 baseball/softball season, the Killingworth Youth League is looking for volunteers to assist with the many tasks it takes to make a successful season for our players. If you are interested in any of the positions listed here please contact Co-Presidents Cheryl Burns (663-0997) and Mark Simoniello (663-2060). Or, for further information about the various committees please visit the KYL website to access the KYL Constitution.

Concession Committee: Chairperson will organize and oversee the committee in accomplishing the following:
• Responsible for creating, overseeing and implementing a schedule of people to staff concession stand
• Responsible to oversee inventory and subsequent stocking of the concession stand
• Communication with "Team Parent" from each team, and with KYL Board as needed
• Maintain a safe and clean environment as required by Killingworth's health code

Equipment Committee: Chairperson will organize and oversee the committee in accomplishing the following:
• Responsible for inventory, distribution of equipment, collection of
equipment and communicating new equipment needs to KYL Board

Umpire Committee: Chairperson will organize and oversee the committee in accomplishing the following:
• Responsible for selecting, training and scheduling umpire crew
• Collaborate with League Officials and umpires regarding rules as they relate to players, coaches, fans and league play
• Continuing education of umpires

Uniforms Committee: Chairperson will organize and oversee the committee in accomplishing the following:
• Collaborate with division coordinators to organize the ordering of uniforms
• Communicate collective uniform orders to KYL Board
• Responsible to separate uniform shipment by team and coordinate dissemination of uniforms through division coordinators
• Responsible for the collection of uniforms from division coordinators at end of season

Grounds and Field Committee: Chairperson will organize and oversee the committee in accomplishing the following:
• Assess conditions of all KYL used fields; report to KYL Board and collaborate with the Board to formulate strategies to improve safety and general condition of fields (to the extent that the KYL Board has the authority to do so)
• Field preparation and repair as determined by the Chair and the Board
• Responsible to maintain inventory of supplies such as lime and rakes

Training Coordinator: Chairperson will organize and oversee the committee in accomplishing the following:
• Evaluate current system of coaches training and report assessment to the KYL Board
• Coordinate and implement coaches training program to include outside instructors and schedule of training
• Implement a system to monitor efficacy of training programs and collaborate with the Board to address further needs

Division Coordinators:
• Softball
• T-Ball/Instructional
• Boys Minors
• Boys Majors
• Boys Juniors

Volunteer Opportunities: There are many ways for parents to get involved with their player's Little League team or the League itself:
• Volunteer to coach. We will train you.
• Offer to train other coaches if you have expertise in this area
• Help maintain fields
• Work with the Concession Coordinator to line up parents to cook and sell during games at Rocco Reale Field
• recruit high school aged students to run the concession stand in return for community service hours
• Help Uniform Coordinator distribute uniforms to your team

Saturday, October 1 will mark the first day State Senator Edward Meyer’s bill prohibiting the use of pesticides at any child care, day care facility or elementary schools except in extreme circumstances goes into effect. Sen. Meyer is the co-chair of the legislature's Select Committee on Children and the vice chair of the Environment Committee. Governor M. Jodi Rell signed the measure into law on July 13.

"This measure will help keep our young children safe from the harmful chemicals and by-products that are found in some pesticides, which, evidence demonstrates, is a cause of cancer and immune disorders," Sen. Meyer said. "Day care facilities and elementary schools should be a healthy and safe environment in which our children can learn and grow. This law will help make sure that is so."

Sen. Meyer stated that he became aware of the toxic effect of pesticides when a family dog died after being diagnosed with cancer caused by lawn and golf course pesticides over the course of a decade.

The new law will prohibit the use of pesticides, defined as fungicides used on plants, insecticides, herbicides or rodenticides, as well as lawn pesticides, from being applied at day care facilities and elementary schools, except to eliminate an immediate threat to human health, including mosquitoes, ticks, and stinging insects.

The law also bans, even in emergency situations, the application of a restricted use pesticide, on the grounds of such facilities. A restricted use pesticide are the more toxic pesticides the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the commissioner classifies as restricted.

"Especially now that schools are back in session, I believe this bill will protect our children from certain pesticides and other chemicals, while keeping in mind the danger ticks and mosquitoes pose, as well," Sen. Meyer explained.

In Monday sports action, the HK High School Field Hockey team defeated Old Saybrook, 5-0. Lauren Bossie and Leslie Zules scored in the first half with assists from Ally Hall and Amy Pabst. The second half opened with another Zules goal followed by a goal by Chelsea Griswold, assisted by Zules. The final score completed the hat trick for Zules, with an assist from Jess Hall. Colleen Kavanaugh had 6 saves in goal. The Cougars are 3-1 and play Morgan at Clinton on Friday.

The HK Boys Soccer team dropped a close, 2-1, contest to Valley Regional Monday. Valley scored two unanswered goals in the first half. Despite rallying in the second half with a goal by Joel Blancifor on an assist from Liam Islieb, the Cougars came up short. Greg Cumpstone had 10 saves in goal. HK starts the year 1-3 and faces Coginchaug today at 3:45 p.m. at the High School.

On Tuesday, the Girls Soccer team lost to Morgan, 2-0. Katie Anderson had 6 saves in goal. HK is now 3-2 and plays at Coginchaug on Thursday.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee member Gwenne Lally offers her insight on the Nation's preparation and reaction to Hurricane Katrina and how it relates to issues here in our town.

Over the past few weeks we've been seeing coverage of hurricane Katrina 24/7. We keep hearing that we are neither immune from disaster nor prepared for it. We're repeatedly warned how dependent we are on local government and how slowly and clumsily help can be in coming from Washington. Over and over, but maybe still not often enough, we're reminded that those who have the least and need the most are the most likely, in their desperation, to get the least of what they need.
full story.

Haddam and Killingworth Youth & Family Services was recently awarded a continuation grant for its community coalition project to reduce substance abuse of our area youth.

John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), awarded $17.1 million in new Drug-Free Communities matching grants to 176 communities across the country. An additional $54 million will support the continuation of grant awards to 535 existing community coalition projects operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The goal of the 711 local coalitions is to work together to prevent and reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse among youth. Coalitions are comprised of diverse groups of people, including community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement, and the media.

Walters said "Youth drug use has declined by 17 percent over the last three years. The tireless work of community anti-drug coalitions across the nation is an integral part of our prevention efforts and our recent success reducing youth substance abuse."

Charles Curie, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said, "some of the most important work to reduce drug use comes from our Nation's grass-roots community coalitions. These coalitions, teamed up with our Strategic Prevention Framework Grants to the states, create a powerful force that can continue to drive down the numbers of young people using illicit drugs."

Since 1997, eight competitions have awarded $320 million in grants to more than 1,000 community anti-drug coalitions. ONDCP administers the Drug-Free Communities Program in conjunction with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In an effort to clean-up the school grounds, the Killingworth Elementary School Parent Teachers Organization (KES PTO) is sponsoring a Fall Beautification Day on Friday, September 30 starting at 9:00 a.m. (October 3rd is the raindate).

Parents, students, teachers and administrators will work side by side cleaning up and beautifying school grounds. Each class with be given a one-half hour time slot and section of the school grounds in which to plant bulbs, prune, weed and rake. Parents and community friends are being asked to bring their pruners, wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, pitch forks, hedge clippers and green thumbs. Any amount of time given to this project will be greatly appreciated. Donations of bulbs are also gratefully accepted.

To learn more about this event, please contact the KES-PTO Beautification Committee at 663-2075. Check back on Friday morning for any updates on weather related postponements.

The Killingworth Youth League recently announced its list of newly elected officers.

Co-president Cheryl Burns; Co-President Mark Simoniello; Vice President Sue Miller; Treasurer Carol Simoniello; Secretary Patty DeMorro and Safety Officer Bill Velez.

KYL is always looking for volunteers to assist with the many tasks it takes to make a successful season for the players. If you are interested in helping please contact Co-Presidents Burns (663-0997) and Simoniello (663-2060).

State Senator Edward Meyer, co-chair of the legislature's Select Committee on Children, announced that the committee has formed an adoption task force, comprised of legislators, advocates and representatives from the state Department of Children and Families.

"The main goal of the task force is to take a look at what we as legislators and advocates can do to help create opportunities for children who need a stable loving home," Sen. Meyer said. "This is about strengthening families, and creating stable environments where kids know that they are loved. "

Sen. Meyer said the idea for the task force emerged as the members of the Select Committee on Children were brainstorming ideas for legislation for the 2006 session. Many had heard stories of people who were trying to adopt through DCF, as well as families who had children in the foster system.

"The intention of this task force and subsequent legislation is not to tear biological families apart," Sen. Meyer said. "But for those children who have been in foster care for a prolonged period of time with a family who cares for them and loves them and wants to adopt them, I believe that the hoops they sometimes must jump through are unfortunate." Sen. Meyer said he'd like to see legislation to help streamline foster care-to-adoption proceedings in those cases in which parental rights are not being challenged.

The task force will hold hearings across the state beginning in October to allow for residents from all over the state to share their story. Sen. Meyer said he hopes that all of the information the task force gather will be ready in the form of proposed legislation at the beginning of the 2006 session in February.

To celebrate the glorious New England Fall and support our candidates for the November election, the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee is throwing an 'All American Octoberfest' on Saturday, October 1. The fun and feasting will begin at 6:00 pm at the home of Gwenne Lally, 14 Jennifer Lane. Beer tasting will be featured along with a variety of delicious foods. During the evening, you will have the opportunity to meet many of the Democratic candidates on the November 8th ballot and have a one on one conversation with State Representative Brian O'Connor and State Senator Ed Meyer. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased by contacting Reggie Sipples at 663-2785. Come join the fun-raising including music and a sing along. Bring a friend or two, or three!

The HK Football team dominated Housatonic yesterday, 48-7, in the opening game of the 2005 campaign. With last week's game postponed by Coventry, the Cougars were finally able to get the season started. The Cougars led 28-0 at the half and accumulated 444 yards of total offense in the lopsided win. Devin Bell scored two touchdowns on 116 yards, Martin Ramsey scored and had 45 yards rushing; David Bartolotta scored on a 20-yard run in the third quarter and Chris Arrigoni scored the final touchdown on a 45-yard run in the fourth.
For more photos please visit the NEW online Photo Gallery