• Monday, November 21:
8:00 a.m. HS Bowl Shoreline Championship (May 2005) & Perspectives w/ Dan Mullane
10:00 a.m. HKMS + HKHS Concert and Jazz Band Concert
7:00 p.m. Harlem Rockets v. Valley Regional All Stars (4/28/05)
9:00 p.m. HKHS World Languages Honor Society Induction (5/17/05) and HKHS National Honor Society Induction (5/26/05)
• Tuesday, November 22:
8:00 a.m. Program 1 Harlem Rockets v. Valley Regional All Stars (4/28/05)
10:00 a.m. Program 2 HKHS World Languages Honor Society Induction (5/17/05) and HKHS National Honor Society Induction (5/26/05)
7:00 p.m. Program 1 Harlem Rockets v. Valley Regional All Stars (4/28/05)
9:00 p.m. HKHS World Languages Honor Society Induction (5/17/05) and HKHS National Honor Society Induction (5/26/05)
•Wednesday, November 23:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKHS Fall Magazine Show
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKHS: Wake Up HK!
•Thursday, November 24:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKHS Fall Magazine Show
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKHS: Wake Up HK!
•Friday, November 25:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKHS Fall Magazine Show
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKHS: Wake Up HK!
•Saturday, November 26:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. HKHS Fall Magazine Show
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKHS: Wake Up HK!
information provided by HKTV

The Middletown Press reported the passing of Harold Robert Webber of Killingworth. Webber passed away Thursday surrounded by his family after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Mary Webber, his three children, John Webber of Higganum, Karen Florin and her husband Robert of Old Lyme, and Melanie Webber of Higganum and her fiancé Joel Pierce. He is also survived by his brother, Lawrence Webber of West Kingston, R.I.; his grandchildren, Candice, Jenna, Cara and Johnny Webber all of Higganum and Samantha Pierce of Higganum.

Webber, born in Somerville, Mass., worked for 40 years as a transportation executive for several companies, most notably St. Johnsbury Trucking Co. He was a three sport athlete in high school and was awarded a scholarship to play football at Curry College in Milton, MA. He was a past president of the Killingworth Youth League and had umpired and coached for the Killingworth Little League.

He took great pleasure in attending his grandchildren's athletic games in the Haddam-Killingworth School District. He enjoyed fishing and playing golf in his later years.

Swan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Friends and family are invited to call the Webber's residence at 453 Route 81 in Killingworth between 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The 2nd Annual 'Hoop Fun for Kids' raised over $600 this year with its evening of basketball fun for area elementary school students. The idea that began with a 3rd grader's desire to help, has developed into a successful and fun learning experience for the kids and a benefit to local, national and international charities. The students decided this year the money raised would go to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp; Habitat for Humanity (specifically for Katrina aid); and Save the Children (specifically for kids in Iraq). Over 50 children participated in the event. Organizers say they are already planning for next year. photo courtesy C. Anderson

The HK High School Volleyball team's season came to an end last night with the, 3-0, loss to Darien in the semifinal match of the Class M State Tournament. Game scores were: 25-16, 25-16, 25-9. This is the first year the Cougars have played in the Class M Tournament. HK finishes with a 21-2 record. Read all about the match in today's Middletown Press.

The Haddam Killingworth High School and Middle School held their Autumn Band Concert last night in the auditorium. A full house listened to a delightful mix of contemporary music and old favorites from the 8th Grade Jazz Band, the High School Concert Band, the 7th and 8th grade Concert Band, the 8th Grade Concert Band and the High School Jazz Band. The Middle School band is directed by Nancy Tozzo and the High School band is under the of direction of Tim D'Amato. Pictured:(top)The High School Concert Band plays the theme from The Incredibles.(bottom) The 7th & 8th Grade Band plays Starship One.

To the Editor:
I would like to thank all of the people who made my election to the Killingworth Board of Selectmen a reality. I will strive to live up to the trust you have bestowed upon me and will do my best to serve and protect our beloved town. Thanks again, I will not let you down.

Ed Sipples

Several Killingworth volunteer coaches and assistant coaches were recently selected by the Secretary of the State to receive a 2005 Public Service Award in recognition of their service as coaches for youth sports.

This year, the Secretary of State is honoring volunteer coaches or assistant coaches involved in "Youth Sport Leadership" from each town in the State. The coaches honored from Killingworth are Bill Silas, Hilary Kumnick, Diane Flynn, Shelly Cumpstone, Eric Auer, Lou Annino, Jr., James McGlynn and Ed Sipples.

The volunteers from Killingworth have participated in a wide variety of volunteer activities. Silas, for example has coached Little League baseball, Tri-Town Football and HK Park and Recreation basketball teams for a number of years. He has also served as president of Killingworth Youth League; league rep of Tri-Town Football; and was a Boy Scout leader. Silas currently serves on the town's Park and Recreation Commission.

The Public Service Award program was created to give dedicated volunteers the recognition they deserve and, by highlighting the vital role, they play in the state.

"I hope that this award will encourage others to volunteer as well," Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz wrote in her letter notifying Silas of his award." By giving freely of your time and ability, you have enhanced the lives of the people around you. For this commitment, we, your fellow citizens, owe you a debt of gratitude.

"As a dedicated volunteer coach, you are an important part of what makes this state such a wonderful place to live. Your commitment to your town, and this state, and your willingness to give up one of the most precious commodities you have - your time, to serve your fellow citizens by mentoring the youth of your community, are characteristics truly deserving recognition," Bysiewicz wrote. "Your dedication to public service - in many cases, without pay, without applause and without personal advancement is a precious gift. You are an example to what makes out communities work."

The Public Service Award ceremony will take place on December 16, at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. The ceremony is for volunteer coaches and assistant coaches within the Congressional District #2.

Discarded fireplace ashes were determined to be the cause of a significant fire at 199 Emanuel Church Road, yesterday morning. The homeowner, Lawrence Kenney called the Fire Company at approximately 4:45 a.m. when he heard 'crackling' noises in the woods. Fire Marshall Ray Clark said, by the time Kenney got outside, the fire was in the tops of the trees. The brush fire quickly spread to the homeowner's barn approximately 150 feet from the house. Luckily the wind was blowing away from the house so it was never in danger.

Kenney told fire officials that he emptied a fireplace stove and put the ashes into a bucket sometime the night before, then thinking they were cold, dumped them in the woods. The embers sparked the fast moving brush fire and destroyed the barn containing wood-working equipment, a small 8x10 storage shed and a large dog house. Fire Officials later found the embers still hot in the spot where they had originally been dumped.

The Fire Company received mutual aid from Durham, Haddam and Clinton Fire companies to help haul water from a nearby pond.

The HK High School Field Hockey team advanced to the Class S State Finals, yesterday with a 1-0 win over Wamogo. Ashley Smith came through again to lead the Cougars with a goal on a penalty corner in the second half. Leslie Zules had the assist and Colleen Kavanagh earned another shutout with two saves. Read all about the game in today's Middletown Press.

The Cougars face Lewis Mills in the final. The game is set for noon at the Joseph F. Cottone Field at Wethersfield High School. Directions

The Killingworth Elementary School Global Values Drama Club performed an original production called 'Didgeri's Song' on Monday evening in front of family and friends. The production was part of a program, started by Renee Rhodes, to teach children the universal nature of basic values.

'Didgeri's Song' was written and directed by Andrea Wilson, produced by Denise Acker, with original music and lyrics by Joel Spineti. Wilson has been the Drama Director at KES for the past three years. Her talent, enthusiasm and patience is immeasurable and enormously appreciated by parents and students. Acker is a PTO parent who generously volunteered her time to oversee the production and Spineti is the multi-talented music and band teacher at KES, who gave his time to help create and produce the successful performance.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee Chairman Michael Sanders reflects on the recent campaign and election.

The campaign season is now over. The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee has come a long way from that cold January day at the Withington's to the mild Election Day of last week. In January we put together goals, committees, and the beginnings of a platform that would carry us into a rigorous campaign season. It has all culminated in a success that we will strive to make Killingworth's as much as our own. full story.

First Selectman David Denvir graciously welcomed the newly-elected Board of Selectmen at his and Louis Annino's final BOS meeting at the Town Offices last night. Denvir congratulated Ed Sipples, Fred Dudek and Marty Klein for their election wins and talked about the discussions he and Klein have already had in an effort to make the transition as smooth and orderly as possible. Annino commented that he was pleased to see this type of collaborative transition. "It never happened in the past."

Annino will continue to serve the town on the Board of Assessment Appeals. Klein is already hard at work, having attended several town and regional meetings and met with town workers.

The town's newly elected Democrats will be sworn in next Sunday, November 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Town Offices by Connecticut's Secretary of State, Susan Bysiewicz. Pictured: (seated l-r) Ed Sipples, Fred Dudek, Marty Klein, David Denvir, and Louis Annino, Sr.

CANDLELIGHT OPEN HOUSE TOURKillingworth residents and others will have a unique opportunity to view some of the historic homes in town on Friday, November 18, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. when local realtors host a "Candlelight Open House Tour".

Featured on this progressive tour is the Pine Orchard School, in use from 1853 to 1948, as well as homes dating from the 1700s, and a wonderful reproduction of a late 17th century Gambrel-style home.

Step out, and step back into time!! Refreshments will be provided along the way. Click for full details

For more information, please contact Marsha Couture, Prudential Connecticut Realty, at 638-4277.

Judge Jonathan E. Silbert of the Middlesex Superior Court recently ruled in favor of the Killingworth Planning and Zoning Commission and by extension the Region 17 School District in the three appeals brought by Town residents of the application for a special exception and site approval to construct the Intermediate/Middle School on Route 81.

The ruling, handed down on November 1, stated that the plaintiffs, Harold and Mary Webber, John and Joanne Hine, and Joseph and Linda Golombosky failed to meet the burden to prove that the PZC's decision was arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of its discretion.

The plaintiffs, all who own land abutting or within a radius of 100 feet of the District's land, appealed the PZC's July 2004 decision to approve the application for a 900-student school. Despite the appeals, the school project remains on schedule and is set to open in January 2007.

The three main issues identified in the appeals were the 'boundary dispute', whether the School District improperly determined the acreage of the parcel, and whether the PZC improperly accepted information after the close of the public hearing.

Zoning regulations require that an application for a special exception be accompanied by a description by "metes and bounds or courses and distances" of the land. According to the ruling, in order to prevail in the appeal, the plaintiffs had to show that the boundary dispute is "likely to have an effect on the correctness of the Commission's actions". The court found that, "There is absolutely nothing to suggest that the dimension of the boundary 'dispute', assuming that it results in a larger, rather than a smaller, lot for the plaintiffs, could possibly amount to the more than one and one half acres that would reduce the site's buildable acreage below the 45 acres required for a school of the size contemplated by the School District."

The court also stated that the commission was mandated to apply the acreage requirements of the regulations to the Schools District's application for a 900-student school and not the maximum building capacity. The ruling specifically referred to PZC Chairman Charles Martens' comments that, "This school is over designed which is a very cost effective way of protecting yourself down the road". Martens said there were alternatives if the school exceeded that number in the future.

In determining whether the PZC received materials after the public hearing, therefore violating the plaintiffs' due process rights, the court stated that it was "not persuaded" that the letters from Ray Gradwell, the District's project manager, and Thomas Harty, a representative of the engineering firm, to Martens were considered by the commission in its approval of the application.

The court concluded that, "it is undisputed that the Killingworth zoning regulations permit the use of the subject property for a public school, that the conditions attached to the commission's approval are found in the regulations and that the conditions imposed, rather than altering the requirements, assure compliance with the regulations". The court said, "the commission clearly understood its role, giving it 'no discretion to deny the special exception if the regulations and statutes are satisfied'."

A reception, honoring retiring Town Clerk Susan Adinolfo, will be held on Sunday, November 20 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Church Hall on Hemlock Drive. Adinolfo has given 30 years of service to the Town, and friends and colleagues would like to honor and celebrate her dedication. The reception is informal and open to all who wish to express their thanks. Pictured: Adinolfo(l) with Asst. Town Clerk Linda Dudek(r) prepare to tally results in the recent election.

Join the Arts Center at Killingworth for a classical music concert with a Latin twist on Saturday, November 19 from 7:30-9:30 pm.

Alturas Duo's Carlos Boltes and Scott Hill create a seamless blend of classical and Latin influences through the beauty of the guitar, viola and charango (South American Lute). Shoreline Flutist, Erica Iverson, will join Alturas Duo for Assad's Blue Solitude and will perform solo.

A reception will immediately follow the concert. The Arts Center will also offer a free same-day workshop (4:30-5:30pm) for children ages 8+. The concert, reception and workshop will be at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 55 Church Street, Clinton Conn. For tickets call (860) 663-5593: $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for students and $8 for children under 12.

The Haddam-Killingworth Middle School PTO will sponsor the 18th Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Over 50 professional, juried crafters will offer a wide variety of handmade crafts, ranging from floral arrangements, jewelry, pottery, and furniture to a wide range of holiday ornaments and decorations, bee and alpaca products, woodcarvings, handmade kites and more. Come get a jump-start on your holiday shopping!

Admission is free. There will be a grand door prize and dozens of day raffle prizes, all donated by the crafters. Breakfast treats, lunch, and snacks will be available at the fair all day, and the bake sale has goodies to take home. The PTO will use proceeds from the fair to enhance student activities at the Middle School throughout the year.

The craft fair will be held in the cafeteria of the Haddam Killingworth Middle/High School complex on Little City Road, Higganum.

The Killingworth Women's Organization is very excited to announce that we will be working with Helping Hands again this year to facilitate the Annual Greg Bousquet Wish Fulfillment Drive. The purpose of this Drive is to collect and distribute gift items for Killingworth children and Senior Citizens who are in need. Toys and clothes will be collected for children and gift certificates will be collected for Seniors. Due to the very generous nature of the residents in our town, past Drives have been successful in fulfilling the holiday wishes of many children and Seniors in our community. We hope our good fortune continues with this year's Drive.

The "wish lists" for children and seniors can be found in the main office at the Killingworth Elementary School beginning November 18th. Everyone in our community is invited to participate in the Drive by signing up to purchase an item from the list. Unwrapped gifts for children can be dropped off at KES in the main office on or before December 14th. Gift certificates for Senior Citizens can be mailed to the address listed below. It would be most helpful if the certificates were from stores such as Stop & Shop, CVS, Walgreens or Wal-Mart. For gift certificates, attach the alias of the person for whom the certificate is for, but please leave the certificate blank.

KES will be open between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for anyone who would like to participate in the Drive. If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Van Alstine at 663-3626.

Please mail gift certificates to: Killingworth Women's Organization, P.O. Box 952, Killingworth, CT 06419