The HK High School Boys Basketball team lost to Morgan, 63-55, yesterday in Clinton, despite a game-high 28 points by senior Tyler Riordan. The Cougars scoring also included Perry Pratt with 10 points, Travis Seirpinski with 8 and Brian Foley with 6. The Huskies were led by Joe Manning with 21.

To the Editor:
I appreciate that Mr. Dodson has taken the time to write a well thought out and reasoned reply. I had asked for someone else to get out a calculator and do the math. Mr. Dodson has done that. I don't agree with his math or his reasoning but I'm glad someone else is thinking critically about the issues. I think it is the same unsubstantiated collection of bad math and statistical pretzeling that has passed for information for too long in Killingworth. I'll agree to this much; my math is bad, Mr. Dodson's isn't much better. I'm sure Mr. Dodson and I could argue these points without agreement ad infinitum. I think the citizens of Killingworth deserve better answers than two amateurs can provide. I'll sit on that commission. I await my appointment. Complete letter

An important vote will take place in the children's room at the Killingworth Library in early January. Killingworth children are invited to vote for the 2006 Nutmeg Award Nominees to determine Connecticut's favorite piece of children's literature. The Nutmeg Book Award encourages children in grades 4-6 and 7-8 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of ten nominated titles.

Did you ever wonder what it's like inside a voting booth? Pulling that big handle and having the curtain close? Flicking those little levers and hearing "click... click... click..."?

Did you ever wonder what it's like making a BIG decision, a decision important enough to be done in secret?

Children who live in Killingworth and are in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade are invited to visit: Tuesday, January 3rd, 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. or Thursday, January 5th, 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. or Saturday, January 7th, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. To vote for the 2006 Nutmeg Children's Book Award... using a real voting machine!

Let your voice be heard! Come vote and make a difference!

The HK High School Girls Basketball team defeated Coginchaug, 64-49, Wednesday night to earn a spot in the Benchwarmers Holiday Tournament final tonight. HK was led by Megan Murray with 24 points followed by Shelby VanHuysen with 14 and Ally Rand with 8. The Cougars will face Cromwell tonight in the championship game in Durham. Read all about Wednesday's game in the Middletown Press.

To the Editor:
Tom Smith's letter attempts to discredit our town's commitment to preserve Open Space by referring to the strategy as "our town's least pressing need". In fact, the preservation of the rural nature of our community is the single most important goal of Killingworth residents as determined by the Town Plan Questionnaire incorporated in our Plan of Conservation and Development.

It is true that Killingworth has not been heavily developed. That is why most of us choose to live here. Complete letter

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive today, Thursday, December 29 from 1:00-5:45 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Killingworth, The guidelines require that volunteer blood donors provide identification before donating at a blood donation center or blood drive. If a prospective donor is unable to provide appropriate identification, he or she will not be allowed to donate. For more information please call the Church at 663-1789.

The following letter was referenced in Tuesday's Democratic Eye by KDTC members Ray Celmer and Gwenne Lally.

To the Editor:
Our new first selectman is off to a roaring start. He has clearly identified our town's least pressing need and is focusing in on it like a laser.

The most recent issue of Connecticut Economy; a quarterly review put out by the University of Connecticut, Connecticut's towns were ranked by their current levels of development. Not surprising to anyone familiar with development trends, Killingworth once again ranked among the least developed towns in the state. In the quarterly's three tiered ranking system Killingworth ranked in the lowest tier - "Less developed than expected". With a total developed area of 8.8% - Killingworth is the only town in its market area with single digit developed land area. How about our neighbors? Such paragons of pavement like Madison and Guilford have over 100% more developed area than Killingworth. Where did those two towns rank in the survey? The lowest tier as well. Thank goodness our leadership is emptying the town coffers to prevent Killingworth from becoming the concrete jungle that North Madison has become. Complete letter

According to the Hartford Courant, Alden Spalty, 35, formerly of Madison and currently in jail on prior charges, was arraigned Thursday in Superior Court on charges of burglary, larceny and criminal mischief. He is charged with the August 24 break-in at the Country Market on Route 81.

According to the police warrant, Spalty, who is in jail at the New Haven Correctional Center on seven pending larceny charges, denied breaking into the Country Market but also said he had been on a crack cocaine binge at the time and had no memory of the incident.

This week, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee members Ray Celmer and Gwenne Lally write about keeping an open mind about open space.

At this time of year, as we reflect on what we value most, it is especially surprising to hear a discordant voice promoting private development over a proposed land purchase intended for the public good. In a recent guest column in a local paper, that voice accused Killingworth of being "frightened of children". full story.

Nikki Taylor, a junior at HK High School decided early in 2005 that she wanted to give a very special gift this Christmas. Nikki stopped cutting her hair and made the decision that when she did get her hair cut again, it would be long enough to give the locks to the organization Locks of Love. Not much later her little sister Sarah Dansereau, a third grader at K.E.S., decided she would donate her hair as well. The two kept their promise and Friday afternoon had their hair cut at XS A Salon in Branford by Chris Morrill. Morrill said he has done this many times over the years and offers free hair cuts to anyone who will to donate their hair.

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata. The cut hair must be 10 inches in length in order to donate.

Nikki's mom and Sarah's step-mom Nancy Dansereau was very proud of her girls. She said in their blended family of six girls, several sisters thought about it, but Nikki and Sarah followed through. Nancy said they have always had a special bond.

Though such a drastic change in look could understandably be emotional, Nikki said she didn't feel nervous or sad because she knew her hair was going to be of benefit to someone else. It was Sarah though who went first. With wide eyes and beautiful smiles, it was easy to see that both girls' new looks will be a hit at school next week.