The Killingworth Lions Club will sponsor the NINTH ANNUAL SENIOR DINNER, Saturday, February 18, at the Saint Lawrence Church Hall at 6:00 p.m. All seniors 65 and older are invited to attend. Please call Elie Becker at 663-1363 for information.

Killingworth Elementary School fifth-grader, Nathan Pastor won the annual KES Spelling Bee late last month. Runners up were Holly Nord and Madelyn Lynch. Music Director Joel Spineti moderated the competition that took place in the All Purpose room.

The HK Boys Basketball lost to Old Saybrook last night, 57-44. Tyler Riordan led all scorers with 22. Brian Foley added 6 and Alex Langevin had 5 points. The Cougars fall to 5-12 on the season.

The HK High School Girls Basketball team survived a rough outing against Hale Ray last night to claim a, 33-26, victory over its conference rival. The low scoring game was all tied up at 24 heading into the fourth quarter but the Cougars held Hay Ray to just one bucket in the closing period. Shelby VanHuysen (pictured on left) led the Cougars with 9 points followed by Liz Scovill with 6 and Megan Murray with 5 (pictured on right). Read more about the game in today's Middletown Press. HK's final home game will be Monday at 7:00 p.m.

In JV action, the Cougars demolished the Hale Ray JV, 47-14. High scorers were Deanna Loso with 18 points and Ally Pratt with 12.


The HK Middle School Girls team closed out the season with a 13-2 record yesterday, with a , 45-25, road victory over Eliot in Clinton. Maura Calamari led all scorers with 14 points followed by Cara Webber with 12. The Cougars are coming off an amazing stretch of wins, claiming four of their last five games, including winning the Westbrook Tournament last weekend. They followed up that win with a, 47-38, victory over Winthrop on Tuesday.

Some of HKMS's rising stars. See more photos in the Winter Sports Photo Gallery.

The Tuesday Book Discussion Group at the Killingworth Library will meet Tuesday, February 14, to discuss the novel, Spartina, by John Casey. The meeting begins at 1:00 in the library meeting room. Newcomers are always welcome. The selection for March 14 is City of Light by Lauren Belfer.

More than 150 residents turned out Tuesday evening to discuss the Town's opportunity to purchase the 143-acre Wettish property on Parker Hill Road Extension before adjourning to a referendum on the question, set for next Wednesday. First Selectman Martin Klein's opening remarks reflected his roots as a farmer and his appreciation for quality land. He also said, "We have an extraordinary opportunity to do something for future generations."
Praise for the purchase came from open space advocates as well as active recreation groups. David Gumbart, Chairman of the Conservation Commission joined others in supporting the purchase for its proximity to the state forest and the need to preserve the Town's rural nature. Killingworth Land Trust Board Member Bruce Dodson said the Wettish property is one of only five parcels of undeveloped land in Killingworth of more than 100 acres. Dodson had been working closely with the seller, Bob Wettish during his negotiations to sell it to the State. He and others emphasized that the property was either going to be sold to the Town or to a developer. Dodson, Town Attorney Michael Wells, and Board of Finance Chairman John McMahon all referred to the Wettish Family's motivation for a quick sale. This point brought criticism from some in the crowd because, although the sale is contingent on a satisfactory environmental survey, they said the timeline was too rushed. Others who spoke in opposition to the purchase live in the vicinity of the parcel and fear traffic problems and expressed other safety concerns.

Though the purchase plan for the property does not include specifics about future uses, a good deal of discussion surrounded the need for playing fields and the ability of this property to address the Town's short-term and long-term active recreation needs. Representatives from the Field Study Committee, Killingworth Youth League, Park & Recreation, HK Soccer and HK Recreation all expressed support for the purchase and the development of active recreation fields on a certain portion of the land. Selectman Ed Sipples said his vision for the land includes more than 50 percent open space, approximately 20 percent for ball fields and active recreation, and the remaining acres saved in a 'land bank' for future uses. Any plan to develop fields, roads or parking areas in the future would come before the Town for approval.

The Land Trust is offering walking tours of the property again this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Residents interested can meet at 14 Parker Hill Road Ext. The flagged wetlands map, property appraisal, and the resolution documents are available for inspection at the Town Offices. Referendum voting will take place at Killingworth Elementary School from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2006.

To the Editor:
At a Town meeting on Tuesday, February 7, to discuss the acquisition of the Wettish property in Killingworth, town residents formally moved to bring this opportunity to a town vote on Wednesday, February 15. There was strong support for this acquisition from town groups and individuals, along with thoughtful questions regarding funding, neighborhood impacts and long-term tax consequences.

As Chairman of the Conservation Commission, I was pleased to voice my commission's support of the acquisition of these 143 acres. Even accounting for use of a portion of the property for playing fields, which will fill a pressing town need, most of the land will be set aide as permanent open space. Immediately adjacent to thousands of acres of Cockaponset State Forest, not only will protecting the Wettish property provide passive recreation for residents, it further expands critical habitat for all types of wildlife and protects water quality.

The rural nature of Killingworth is one of our town's strongest attributes. With the opportunity to ensure this will always remain the case, please be sure to vote on February 15.

Sincerely,
David Gumbart
Chairman, Conservation Commission

The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee announced that at Tuesday night's Town Meeting, Marty Klein and the Board of Selectmen received strong support for the purchase of the Wettish property.

Proponents of the purchase included speakers representing the Land Conservation Trust, the Conservation Commission, the Field Study Committee, the Killingworth Youth League, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the H-K Soccer Club and H-K Recreation. Inland-Wetlands Commission Chair Wayne Addy said an informal site walk showed the property to be far more viable for recreation fields than anything on the Bosco property - a reference to the previous administration's twice-failed attempt to locate fields there. Read more.

•Thursday, February 9:
8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. - Thanksgiving Day Football Game
•Friday, February 10:
8:00 a.m. High School Bowl
10:00 a.m. HKHS Lip Sync 2005
7:00 p.m. High School Bowl
9:00 p.m. HKHS Lip Sync 2005
•Saturday, February 11:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. High School Bowl
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKHS Lip Sync 2005
•Sunday, February 12:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. High School Bowl
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. HKHS Lip Sync 2005
information provided by HKTV

The central administration of Regional School District 17 has announced that they will host a Career Fair on Saturday, March 4, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Haddam-Killingworth High School. Interested individuals seeking employment as teachers, substitute teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, pupil services specialists, cafeteria workers or custodians are encouraged to attend.

Applicants will have an opportunity to meet informally with teams from each of the district's schools and are asked to bring a current resume, copies of state certifications (if applicable), letters of reference and copies of college and university transcripts if available. For more information visit the District website at www.rsd17.org

Haddam-Killingworth Middle School Principal, Miriam Furey-Wagner, has released the honor roll listing for the second marking period of the 2005-2006 school year. Middle School Honor Roll

The HK High School Indoor Track teams competed in the Shoreline Championships at Hillhouse last Friday and the Girls came away with the crown. Coach Dupuis said it was a team effort as only two girls won their events; Katelyn Deimel in the long jump and Gabby Haynosch in the 600 meters. "We were able to place girls in 13 of the 15 events."

Overall, 15 girls scored point for the Cougars. Gabby Haynosch led the scoring with 16 points followed by Meghan Scanlon who had 15. The long jump was one of our key events: Kate Demiel won, Meg Scanlon was second and Kimber Stannard was fourth. Another key event was the shot put where, based on previous competition, it was expected to be one of the most closely contested events with the top 8 all in contention for the win. HK's Courtney Hannen stepped up to earn a second place. The Cougars' closest competitor in the meet was East Hampton, who Dubius said has some very good athletes. In the end, Cougars defeated East Hampton by just 8 points, 84 to 76.

The Boys finished in a tie for sixth. Jake Corbett added to his success from cross country last fall, with a great victory in the 1000 meter run over Dave Bent from Cromwell, an All-State athlete. On Saturday evening, February 9, both teams will be competing in the S Class State Championship at Hillhouse. photo courtesy C. Dupuis

Firehouse Concerts presents Selfmade Soul and Bradley on Friday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Higganum Firehouse.

Comprised of members Alex Anderson and Randy Roswell, SELFMADESOUL's music is energetic, melodic post-rock fused with a fresh electronic sound. From vigorous rhythms to stir your excitement, ambient textures to calm your disquiet, and lyrics to motivate, their dynamic new sound will have you engaged in an experience that's on the cutting edge of the independent music scene.

Bradley emerged from a series of projects initiated by songwriters Josh Cutts and Dean Purificato. By tempering pop sensibility with creative experimentation, Bradley's music contains undeniable hooks, seasoned rock guitar licks, dual vocal interplay, inspired lyrical depth, lively bass lines and commanding beat structures that hit you in the chest. They will surely steal your heart with their passion to share their joy in living life with hope and purpose.

The concert is FREE. Details can be found at www.firehouseconcerts.com

Speakers from Middlesex Hospital will discuss women and heart disease, the #1 disease killing women today, at the Killingworth Women's Organization's General Meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at the Killingworth Library. The general meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m., with discussions on the KWO's spring fundraiser and other upcoming events. The speakers will begin their presentation at 8:00 p.m. All are welcome.

The Killingworth Women's Organization is a local group of philanthropic women volunteers dedicated to helping others in our town and to maintaining a network of women to build a stronger sense of community for ourselves and others. For more information on joining the KWO, please contact Sue Anziano at 663-2176 or sueanz@hotmail.com.

Edward C. Goetz, Reg. 17 Director of Information Services, recently posted this letter to address the rash of statutory sexual assaults in Middletown that, according to detectives, stemmed from the website, MySpace.com

Over the past week there has been a great deal of news reporting concerning internet safety and in particular a website called "MySpace.com". This is to let you know that this particular website and other similar websites which provide exchanges of personal information have been blocked since our administration implemented internet use in the school district in 1998.

We have taken a proactive approach to internet safety through the use of web and e-mail filtering along with other security measures and require all our students to adhere to the district internet Acceptable Use Agreement. Students are not permitted personal e-mail, web mail or instant messaging on our district computers and all computer systems in our district are filtered for web content. I would encourage each of you to take some time to see where your children are "surfing" on the Internet, see who they are instant messaging, find out what personal information they have shared on the web and overall, become more aware of the potential dangers which a student could fall prey to while online.

We are doing our part for internet safety here in the district and would encourage you to become more involved with your internet use at home.

The Region #17 School District will hold its public input session on the budget on Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the HK High School lower media center. Superintendent Gary Mala said he is attempting to keep his proposed budget "around what it was last year" and will provide a responsible request for the Board of Education to consider. Director of Finance and Operations, Gary Shettle, said he projects that heating and fuel oil will constitute 1 percent of the hike in the overall school budget and the district's debt service for the first bond will increase the budget about 1.2 percent for the new Intermediate/Middle School. Read more about this in the Hartford Courant,

First Selectman Marty Klein offers his monthly column.

The town of Killingworth has been presented with the unique opportunity to purchase the 144 acre parcel of land on Parker Hill Road Extension, currently owned by the Wettish/Mamula families. This property has 2527 feet of road frontage on the eastern side of Parker Hill Road Extension with open fields extending over 1000 feet beyond the road frontage.

The land slopes to the rear, where it becomes woodland. Soil maps indicate tillable earth with limited wetlands to the north. This parcel has a shared boundary with Chester and the Cockaponset State Forest. It would be the first town owned property having direct access to 5500 acres of state forest. Read more of Klein's column.

Agenda
Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. To consider and vote on a resolution to appropriate and authorize Bonds in the amount of $100,000 for the purchase of a Roll-off Truck.
3. Wettish Property Purchase
4. Adjournment to Town Meeting

Special Town Meeting

All electors and persons qualified to vote in town meetings of the Town of Killingworth, Connecticut are hereby notified that the Board of Selectmen are convening a Special Town Meeting to be held at Killingworth Elementary School at 8:00 p.m on February 7, 2006 for the following purposes.

I: To consider and discuss, but not vote upon, an appropriation of the Town in the sum of $2,650,000 for the cost of the purchase of all that certain piece or parcel of land, located on Parker Hill Road Extension in Killingworth, Connecticut, and being identified on the Killingworth Assessor Map 17 as Lot 14, and being more particularly described in Volume 102, page 229 of the Killingworth Land Records (the "Wettish Property"), as well as temporary and permanent financing cost and all other costs associated therewith (the "Project"), and to meet said appropriation and in lieu of a tax therefor, bonds of the Town be issued pursuant to Chapter 109 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the Town Charter or any other provision of law thereto enabling, in an amount not to exceed $2,650,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary after deducting grants or other sources of funds available therefor and the First Selectman and the Treasurer be authorized to issue and sell bonds or temporary notes of the Town in an amount not to exceed $2,650,000 in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds from the sale of such bonds and to determine the amount, date, date of maturity, interest rate, form and other details of such bonds or notes, to do all things necessary or appropriate to issue such bonds or notes and the First Selectman be authorized to purchase the Wettish Property.

The full text of the authorizing resolution is on file and open to inspection at the Town Clerk's Office. For a complete list of the Town Meeting items please read the Printable version

Killingworth was settled in 1667 when, according to Tom Lentz's A Photographic History of Killingworth, the General Assembly named the Town and gave permission to establish a church. After the original thirty families established the community, the town began to grow. With that growth, came a Town Hall, churches, schools and cemeteries. Those who look to trace their roots look to official records kept by the Town and the State, but also often look to cemeteries to help link the present with the past.

The oldest of Killingworth's cemeteries are amazing places to visit for a glimpse into the life of the Town's ancestry. The headstones and grave makers as well as the ground surrounding the stones are fragile and visitors should take special care not to disturb or deface the monuments or plantings.

Prior to the nineteenth century, the Town had eight main cemeteries, established in conjunction with the school districts, which was the tradition of the day. Many of the markers date back to the Revolutionary War. A map of the cemeteries and a comprehensive list of the markers can be found at the Town Offices as well as the Library.

Former Madison resident Gary Nilson, a descendant of Mayflower passengers with a great interest in genealogy, offers an online transcript of seven of our cemeteries from the Charles Hale Collection in the State Library in Hartford. Nilson hopes the lists help people research their ancestry and also generate interest in restoring the cemeteries.

Frederick Raudat, as part of the Tombstone Transcription project, has documented the headstones in the Emmanuel Church Cemetery and the Stonehouse Yard Cemetery, as recently as 2003. The purpose of the project is to organize volunteers to create a lasting tribute to our ancestors.

The Killingworth Historical Society has embarked on several projects over the years to help preserve and restore the Town cemeteries. In conjunction with the Boys Scouts, the group of volunteers painstakingly righted stones and gently brushed their surfaces clear of moss and dirt. They found many fallen stones on the verge of being reclaimed by the land.

Over the years, Town Historian W. David LeVasseur, has often guided elementary school children through the Union Cemetery on Roast Meat Hill Road for a history lesson with the enticing hint of the paranormal.

So, next time you are driving the roads of Killingworth, slow down and look for the pockets of history around every turn.

The headstone of Daniel Buel in the Union Cemetery is dated May 9, 1782.