The First Annual Haddam-Killingworth High School Senior Project Showcase will be held in the high school auditorium on Wednesday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m. Included will be project presentations, video presentations, and a fashion show of original designs modeled by HK students. Please come and support the efforts of HK's first Senior Project class. There is no admission charge.

Property transfers as reported by the Killingworth Town Clerk's office for the period February 1- February 28, 2006:
• Robert G. Sawyer III to Robert A. Bouley & Eileen S. Boulay, Lot# 33 Cow Pen Hill for $375,000.00.
• Richard A. Feiss & Karen W. Feiss to Philip R. Confer & Phyllis A. Confer, Lot#6 Hunters Ridge for $450,000.00.
• Kathleen S. Shields & Donald Shields to Gloria D. Griffiths, Lot#54 Indian Springs for $467,500.00.
• Bernadette L. Gould to Charles E. & Ruth A. Gertsch, Mobile Home 5 Beechwood Road for $110,000.00.
• Jensens Inc to Ronald J. & Ruth A. Ferrero, Mobile Home 44 Whitewood Rd. for $159,435.00.
• Nicholas P. Christy & Caroline A. Christy to Terry M. Bella, 1 A Reservoir Road for $290,000.00.
• Margaret H. Grillo et als to Williams T. Haynes & Lois M. Haynes, 2.0154 A. Lot A Green Hill Rd. for $100,000.00.
• James M. Chupek & Lynn M. Chupek to Judith Secondino, Lot# 32 Autumn Ridge for $467,000.00.
• Mary Pat Taylor by Atty & Brian P. Taylor to William E. Cuffe, Mobile Home 28 Whitewood for $103,500.00.
• Janet S. Welter by Atty to Diane J & Wendy K Welter, Roast Meat Hill Rd. for $250,000.00.
• George A. & Carolyn M. Schumann to Delores O. Caturano, 1998 Mobile Home 15 Woodland for $150,000.00.
• Mary B. Hotchkiss to Diana C. Schaefer & Diane M. Schaefer, Cow Hill Rd. for $345,000.00.
For previous property reports, click here.

There is an existing town ordinance against roadside parking. The safety of our citizens and the ability of our town crew to clear our roads requires that we adhere to it. Please be mindful of this as you travel about town today.

Thank you.
First Selectman Marty Klein

The Killingworth Library Association is planning a major fundraiser, the John P. Hine Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament. The event will be held on Monday, June 12, at the Clinton Country Club and will begin with a barbeque lunch on the Club deck at 11:00 a.m.

A shotgun start will commence at 12:30 p.m. with foursomes assigned to particular holes. Beverages will be served and contests held along the way. Play will be followed by a cocktail hour and dinner in the Club dining room. Raffle tickets will be sold and drawn during both lunch and dinner. The ticket price for the day will be $175 per person.

Shelly Cumpstone, Lauren Blaha and Michele Albert are co-chairing the event. Their goal is to raise $10,000 for the Killingworth Library. They will be seeking sponsorship and support over the coming months, as well as Killingworth's golfers and almost golfers.

To reserve a spot for yourself or a foursome and to receive further information regarding playing or sponsoring the tournament, please contact Shelly at 663-2747 or by email at xmastreesrus@sbcglobal.net.

Despite the forecast of bad weather, Killingworth Elementary School welcomed in guest readers yesterday for its annual celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday. Read Across America Day is a nationwide initiative to promote reading.

The aim of this NEA celebration is to generate enthusiasm for reading and focus the country's attention on how important it is to motivate children to read. The KES 'reading party' included an opening assembly, where red was clearly in fashion and large hats of any size and shape were a must. Throughout the day the children were treated to guest readers, who offered renditions of their favorite children's books.

The NEA estimated that 45 million people joined the celebration. In the hurricane ravaged south, the NEA's Read Across America joined forces with NEA's Books Across America, a nationwide program launched last month aimed at providing books to public schools and students in need, to deliver a much needed supply of new books and money to more than 40 public schools in more than 26 Gulf Coast Cities. Three "Cat-A-Vans" delivered books this week to Gulf Coast schools in Baton Rouge, La., Beaumont, Texas, and Biloxi, Miss.

Pictured( t-b, l-r): KES Asst. Principal Karen Ockasi and Principal Rita Peretto open the day with a Dr. Suess classic. First Selectman Martin Klein reads to second graders. Schools Superintendent Gary Mala reads to first graders.

The Killingworth Library will be closing at 12:00 noon today due to the weather.

The Library's book discussion of Hungry Ocean scheduled for tonight is postponed until next Thursday, March 9, at 7:30pm.

Region 17 Schools will follow an early dismissal schedule today due to the predicted inclement weather forecast. All afterschool and evening activities have been cancelled.

Region 17 Schools Superintendent Gary Mala presented a $32,865,907 budget last night to the Board of Education for its review. The number represents an 8.38% increase over the 2005-2006 budget with 94.49% in fixed costs and a 2.23% decrease in learning programs.

Mala said he believes his budget proposal is "fair and responsible". He said," significant reductions and a retirement incentive program for certified staff have been incorporated into this budget proposal to offset the costs associated with opening the new intermediate school for seven months and the unprecedented increases in the costs associated with fuels and utilities". Mala said the voluntary retirement incentive program alone will save the district $307,136. He also eliminated 6.2 full-time staff positions.

3.83% of the budget increase or $1,162,157 is due to the opening of the new school. Six custodians and a library media specialist will be hired in new staff positions. The highest costs associated with the first seven months of operation are $364,843 in debt service, 214,888 in utilities costs, and $206.050 for contracted bus service.

Though showing an overall decrease in funding to learning programs, the budget does reflect a commitment to a new math curriculum for the elementary schools and the purchase of elementary science materials. There are also small increases in professional development funding and athletic and co-curricular programs offered at the middle school and high school.

Overall, salaries and benefits make up 73.96% of the budget. Salaries increased 1.73% and benefits increased 17%. The largest increases were predictable; transportations costs (79.95%), fuel oil (73.33%), and electricity (54.88%).

The budget reflects services to 2513 students; an increase of 30 students over last year, with 20 students placed out-of-district. The Board of Education will hold budget workshops on March 6, 9, 13 and April 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the HKHS lower media center. The Board of Education and the Haddam and Killingworth Boards of Selectmen and Finance will meet on March 29 at 7:00 p.m., also in the lower media center. The Annual Budget Hearing is April 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Burr Elementary School. The Annual Meeting will take place May 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium and the budget referendum will be held Tuesday, May 2.

•Thursday, March 2:
8:00 a.m. Adolescent Drugs and Alcohol Use with Andy Baccaro
10:00 a.m. Lip Sync 2004
7:00 p.m. TBA
9:00 p.m. Gary Mala presents his suggested budget to the Board of Education
•Friday, March 3:
8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Lip Sync 2004
7:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. Gary Mala presents his suggested budget to the Board of Education
•Saturday, March 4:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Lip Sync 2004
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Gary Mala presents his suggested budget to the Board of Education
•Sunday, March 5:
8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Lip Sync 2004
10:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. Gary Mala presents his suggested budget to the Board of Education
information provided by HKTV

First Selectman Marty Klein offers his monthly column.

February 15, 2006 turned out to be a great day for Killingworth and its future. About 80% of 705 residents voted at a town referendum to approve the purchase of the 143-acre tract of land owned by the Wettish/Mamula families. Those 500 plus voters expressed a commitment to provide needed recreational facilities, to secure open space, and to have a land bank for future community needs. They acted upon a positive vision that looks ahead while maintaining the essential character of our town. The purchase of the Wettish property will enable us to meet the town's immediate recreational needs with few if any problems at a reasonable cost. Read more of Klein's column.

The Board of Selectmen voted Monday night to put up for sale the 19th century Bosco farmhouse and surrounding 14.22 acres on the town-owned 133-acre property on Route 81.

The conditions of the sale would include a 100-foot right of way for town access to the remaining acres, stipulations about restoring the farmhouse, and a portion of the sold land set aside for a conservation easement. First Selectman Marty Klein said he has a party "very interested in the property". He declined to name the potential buyer, but said they were interested in opening an educational science center there.

The parcel will be offered for sale by a process of sealed bids to be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen and then voted on at a Town Meeting. Klein said the proceeds of the sale will be put into the town's general fund but he will look to earmark them for development of ballfields on the Wettish property, recently okayed for purchase in the February referendum.

Klein also said he would like to set aside 15 buildable acres adjacent to the new intermediate/middle school that the School District will have an open ended option to buy. He said that parcel will likely be put in a conservation easement, enforced by the Land Trust. The land can be purchased by the School District anytime in the future and used for its buildable-acre count, but could not be built on.

The 133-acre property was purchased in 2001 for $740,000. The outstanding dept on the property will be rolled in to the bond being issued for the Wettish property purchase. Klein said he was advised that rolling in the remaining debt, rather than trying to pay it off, will positively effect the bond rate. He said he also will roll-in the remaining debt on the town's new roll-off truck.

The HK High School Girls Basketball team lost to Tolland, 58-20, last night in the opening round of the Class M State Tournament. Freshman Shelby VanHuysen led the Cougars with eight points followed by Megan Murray with six. Read all about the game in today's Middletown Press.

Get ready for change! Join us for a fun, informational night designed to give girls a better understanding of the changes their body will go through during puberty. Topics will also include the importance of maintaining a positive body image and how to deal with difficult situations which may arise during this dynamic time. This program is for girls in the 4th and 5th grades and their mothers. Patty Musgrove, a middle school health teacher facilitates this course

March 16, 2006 at 6:00 @ Killingworth Library
March 30, 2006 at 6:00 @ Haddam Youth Center

Cost is $20 per pair. This includes resource materials, goodie bags, and a pizza dinner! Call Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth to register! 860.345-7498 Space is limited!!! Reserve your spot today!!

First Selectman Marty Klein announced last night that he has been ordered by the State Department of Transportation to close Reservoir Road because its bridge is in need of the urgent repairs. Klein said the bridge may be closed as soon as today.

The DOT has been threatening to close the bridge since March 2004. Last Fall, the Board of Selectmen voted to apply for Federal funding to help pay for the repairs. The actual repair would take several years to plan and execute, so the Town requested one of the State's bailey bridges to span the small river. In December 2006, Klein lowered the weight restriction on the bridge, hoping to ease the traffic load on the bridge and avoid a closure. State inspectors determined Monday, however that the repairs could not wait any longer and the bridge must be closed immediately.

Klein said he will meet with Town highway workers today to determine what barriers to use to close the bridge. He said the bailey bridge will not be available for several months and in the mean time, all traffic, including school buses, emergency vehicles and residents must go around.

A multi-car collision on Route 81 closed the state road for several hours this afternoon. State Police report that 78-year-old Louise Ferguson of N. Parker Hill Road was air-lifted to Yale-New Haven Hospital by LifeStar. The driver of the second vehicle, 18-year-old Joseph Calamari of Chester, was taken to the Shoreline Clinic with minor injuries.

The accident occurred at 12:41 p.m. directly in front of Griswold's Garage, near the Town Transfer Station. According to the police report, Ferguson was traveling south on Route 81 when she was rear-ended by Calamari. Ferguson's Buick was then pushed into an unoccupied car in the parking lot at the garage. The parked car is owned by Anthony Constantino of Wolf Hollow Lane. Police say Ferguson was stopped and looking to enter the parking lot when Calamari hit her.

The LifeStar helicopter set down on the adjacent ballfields at Killingworth Elementary School. Principal Rita Peretto temporarily closed the area to students while the accident was being cleared.

The Killingworth Library will open registration for its Spring 2006 programs on Wednesday, March 1. Space is limited for all of these programs -- priority will be given to Killingworth residents. For more information or questions about children's programs, please call Gayle at 663-2000. The programs include:

TERRIFIC TWOS
A program for children between the ages of 24 and 36 months. Parents & caregivers are invited to enjoy some rhyme time fun with their child.
* Wednesday mornings
* April 5, 12, 19, 26
* 10:00am-10:30am

STORYTIME
A program for children
ages 3 & 4.
* Wednesday mornings
* May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
* 10:00am-10:30am

MUSIC WITH MARGIE
Join our favorite performer in singing, dancing, and springtime fun!
For children ages 2 1/2 and older.
* Tuesdays 10:45am-11:15am
(Dates to be announced)

The Connecticut Young Democrats (CYD) announced the formation of a new Connecticut Shoreline chapter. A free KickOff Event is planned for the new chapter on Monday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Oliver's Taverne, Route 153, in Essex, CT. Free membership in the local organization is open to anyone between the ages of 14 to 36. Special guest Joe Courtney, Democratic Candidate for 2nd District Congressman will speak to the group. For more information on the Connecticut Young Democrats and other CYD programs, visit their web site at http://yd.dems.info or contact CYD Co-President Lon Seidman at 860-577-8051.

The new Shoreline Chapter of the Connecticut Young Democrats seeks membership from young men and women who live in or near towns such as Clinton, Madison, Guilford, Killingworth, Old Saybrook, Essex, Westbrook, Chester, Deep River, Haddam, East Haddam Old Lyme, and Lyme. Membership is free.

The Connecticut Young Democrats are affiliated with the Young Democrats of America (YDA), the official youth arm of the Democratic Party since 1932. YDA is a nationwide grassroots organization with 42 chartered states and 780 local chapters with more than 43,000 active members.

Young Democrats receive hands-on experience in campaigns and elections, grassroots organizing, fundraising, and even running for (and holding) elected office. Many leaders of the Democratic Party got their start in politics with the Young Democrats.

The Congregational Church in Killingworth will host a Mardi Gras Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 28 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, in the church hall at 273 Route 81. Bring the whole family to enjoy pancakes, sausage, drinks and desserts in a festive setting complete with Mardi Gras beads, balloons, music, and crafts for the kids. $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children 12 and under. Tickets will be sold at the door, but may also be purchased in advance at the church office, or by calling 663-1789.

Agenda
Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Monday, February 27, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on February 14, 2006
3. Visitors: Richard Cabral, Attorney Michael Wells
4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
5. Appointments/Vacancies: Office of Emergency Management (D. Hale)
6. Old Business:
    1. Wettish Property - Attorney Michael Wells
    2. Anthem BC/BS Demutualization - Additional Individuals Pamela Ahearn, Delores Howard, Susan Adinolfo, Diane Zukowski
    3. Chestnut Hill Landfill: Environmental Attorney John Bashaw
7. New Business:
    1. Residential Drinking Water Ordinance
    2. Bosco Soil Testing - Open Space
    3. Bosco Property Appraisal Subdivision/Sale of 14.22 Acres Easement 15 acres+
    4. Park & Recreation Comm. Proposed Ordinances
8. MK Announcements:
9. Selectmen's Concerns
10. Adjournment
Agenda as of 10:40 a.m., Friday, 2/24/06
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