The HK High School Girls Lacrosse team lost to Mercy, 8-3, this morning at the HK Stadium. Ashley Smith, Ali Thomson and Kaeli Deane scored for the Cougars.
Pictured: (top) Ali Thomson on her way to a score, early in the second half. (bot) Ashley Smith takes a shot late in the second half.

The HK High School Baseball team defeated Coginchaug, 8-0, yesterday to give Head Coach Mark Brookes his 450th career victory. Peter Rynkowski was on the mound for the Cougars. He allowed only five hits, striking out four and walking one. Rynkowski also went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Read more about the game in today's Hartford Courant.

The HK Girls Softball team fell to Coginchaug, 7-2. Chelsea Griswold took the loss, giving up 12 hits. Offensively, Ally Rand had a double.

The Town of Killingworth will conduct a low cost rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Saturday, May 13, from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M. at the Killingworth Fire Station on Route 81. There are no residency requirements.

Connecticut General Statutes Section 22-339b requires all cats and dogs, three months of age and older to be vaccinated against rabies.

This clinic is sponsored by Killingworth Animal Hospital and Killingworth Animal Control. All proceeds will go to the "Atti Fund" for shelter improvements.

The cost is $15.00 per animal. CASH ONLY. Written proof of prior vaccination for rabies must be presented to qualify for a three year vaccination. (Tags are not acceptable) All others will be issued a one year vaccination. Tags and certificates of vaccinations will be provided as required by law. All dogs MUST be on leashes and cats MUST be in carriers. For additional information, call 663-2439.

First Selectman Marty Klein announced last night that he has purchased $2.6 million worth of short term notes on behalf of the Town and will close on the Wettish property next Wednesday, April 26. Klein said he became nervous that the interest rates would rise in the next few weeks, so he talked to the Town's financial broker, William Blair and Company out of Chicago and bought the notes at 3.75 percent.

Klein said the Town will enter the municipal bond market in August to pay back the notes as well as the outstanding debt on the Bosco property. The farmhouse and 14.22 acres of the Town-owned Bosco property will be put up for sale in the next few months. The proceeds of the sale will be used to pay back the notes originally purchased to pay for the property. The remaining debt will be rolled into the Wettish property bond. The sale of the property must be approved at a Town Meeting.

The Board of Selectmen have reviewed the Bosco property appraisal and will settle on an asking price in the next week. The Town will then ask for bids that fit the criteria of the sale. The Board of Selectmen have agreed that the house must be restored, with only the main house used as a residence. The selectmen disagree on what if anything should be done with the remaining 116 acres. Klein favors putting the land in a conservation easement to preserve the land as open space and Selectman Ed Sipples would rather leave the land as it is in case it is needed by the Town or the School District in the future. Klein said he already has two interested parties in the Bosco house and property.

The Emmanuel Episcopal Church will present The Four Seasons Plus Spring Concert on Sunday, April 30 at 4:00 p.m. The concert will feature organist Jack Grebb and the Mostly Baroque Players. Selections will include, JS Bach: Selections from the Clavier Uebung, III; GF Handel: Concerto Grosso for Strings and Oboes, Op.3; GF Handel and Organ Concerto, Op.4, No.1.

Admission is $15 and children are free. A reception will follow the concert. For information or directions call 860-663-1109 or visit www. churchinthewilderness.org

The Killingworth Scholarship Association is offering scholarships to graduating seniors who are residents of Killingworth. Scholarships are awarded from the Killingworth Scholarship Fund, the Kent T. Healy Scholarship Fund for Political Science majors, and the Kathy Weiss Scholarship Fund for Education majors.

Applications are available online through our website at www.KillingworthToday.com/KSA/ or in the Guidance Departments at the following schools: Haddam-Killingworth High School, Xavier High School, Mercy High School and Vinal Regional Vocational Tech. Income is not a consideration for awarding these scholarships. The application process involves completion of a questionnaire and an essay, followed by an interview for select candidates. All interested students are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Monday, May 1st and interviews will be held during late May and early June.

The Killingworth Scholarship Association has awarded over $85,000 to many outstanding students over the past 20 years! If you are interested in supporting our scholarship program, please mail your tax-deductible contribution to: Killingworth Scholarship Association, Inc., c/o Amy Perry, Treasurer, PO Box 763, Killingworth, CT 06419. Please remember that employer matching gift programs can double your contribution!

The Annual Volunteer Fire Company Giant Auction always brings out residents looking for bargains and collectors looking for treasures. This year, the auction attracted antique store owner William Bannister, who purchased, among other antiques, a reverse-painted portrait of the Hartford Capitol with mother of pearl inlay (pictured) and an 1859 map of Middlesex County. Bannister is teaming up with the owner of Madison's Art Bin to turn it into an antiques and framing business. The new store will restore antiques and sell rustic country and primitive furniture.

The monies raised by the auction are used to supplement the fire company annual budget, as well as purchasing additional training and special fire/rescue equipment.

The St. Lawrence Catholic Church Rummage and Bake Sale will be held on Saturday, April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Church Hall on Hemlock Drive.

Great selections of clothing, household items, books and toys. Our famous bake shop will offer all your favorite pies, cakes and goodies!

Stop by and enjoy a cup of our freshly brewed FREE coffee!

We will be accepting clean clothing and household items on: Tuesday, April 18 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, April 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, April 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Baked goods may be dropped off on Friday, April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or early Saturday, April 22, before 10:00 a.m.

Please note: No electrical items or children's items, such as car seat or strollers can be accepted! Questions, please call Betty at 860-663-0204.

The HK High School Baseball team fell to Morgan, 8-0, yesterday. Pitcher Peter Rynkowski gave up 13 hits. The Cougars are now 3-2. The Morgan Softball team forfeited its game against HK, Monday because of several team suspensions that left the Huskies short-handed.

State Sen. Edward Meyer, co-chair of the Select Committee on Children, is seeking to end the state Department of Children and Families' oversight and self-licensing of several of its own facilities, saying such a potential conflict of interest does not best serve the children whom the state, the DCF and the Children's Committee are supposed to protect.

"I believe that the DCF is caught in the very awkward position of having to operate residential facilities for children and, at the same time, licensing and overseeing these same facilities," Sen. Meyer said in support of S.B. 397, An Act Concerning Licensure of Department of Children and Families Facilities.

"When problems arise at a DCF facility - and there have been plenty of problems in the past - one can reasonably ask whether the entity that is responsible for running the facility is also the best choice for oversight of the problems there and of potentially closing its doors," Sen. Meyer said. "I think common sense tells you that there's an inherent conflict of interest, a desire to keep facilities open no matter how bad, in order to provide mandated services. This bill, which I co-sponsored, will bring the kind of independent, third-party oversight through the state Health Department that I believe will result in better management of residential and treatment facilities for what are often the state's neediest children."

The bill was briefly debated Tuesday, April 11 on the Senate floor before being referred to the Public Health Committee. If enacted, effective January 1, 2007, the bill would eliminate DCF licensing authority for five facilities the DCF operates: Connecticut Juvenile Training School, Riverview Hospital, Connecticut Children's Place, High Meadows, and the Wilderness School. Under the bill, the DPH, rather than the DCF, would investigate abuse and neglect allegations arising at these facilities and determine what action to take.

On April 11 at UConn's Student Union Theater in Storrs, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz presented special volunteer coaches in the 2nd Congressional District with the Secretary of the State's 2005 Youth Sport Leadership Public Service Award.

This award program was created to give dedicated volunteers the recognition they deserve and to encourage others to volunteer as well. Eight Killingworth coaches were honored by receiving this award: Lou Annino, Jr., Eric Auer, Shelley Cumpstone, Diane Flynn, Hilary Kumnick, James McGlynn, Bill Silas, and Ed Sipples.

Before presenting the recipients with their Certificates, Secretary Bysiewicz said, "As a dedicated volunteer, 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. Your dedication to public service, in many cases without pay, without applause, and without personal advancement, is a precious gift. You are an example of what makes our communities work. For this commitment, we owe you a debt of gratitude."

This award ceremony was originally scheduled for December 2005, but postponed due to the weather.

Pictured: l-r: Tom Moore - Associate Head Coach for UCONN Men's Basketball, James McGlynn - Killingworth Recipient, Ed Sipples - Killingworth Recipient and Selectman, and Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State. picture courtesy Jamie Young

The Killingworth Democratic Town Committee is seeking individuals interested in joining the Committee and/or volunteering for positions on town boards and commissions. As we plan for the future, we are actively recruiting a pool of Democrats looking to serve Killingworth in elected or appointed positions. Those who would like more information may call Committee Chairman, Michael Sanders, at 860.663-1231.