Last night, classic cars and '50s music entertained the crowd at the Chicken BBQ dinner at the Congregational Church in Killingworth. The dinner was part of the 47th Annual Country Fair, which continues today on the church grounds from 9:00 to 3:00. The fair features an all-day old fashioned live auction, a white elephant sale, bake sale, silent auction, plant booth, children's games and activities including face painting and a moon bounce, a hay ride, quilt raffle, jewelry, crafters and antique dealers, lots of fair food, and the antique fire engines pictured. Early birds can cheer on the runners in the Killingworth Road Race at 8:30 AM, then stay for coffee and homemade donuts. In keeping with the nostalgia theme, several grand prize handmade quilts from past church fairs will be on display in the church sanctuary during the day.

On November 9, at 7:30 p.m., the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust will be hosting a different kind of program. Bring in photos and/or stories to share about things that have shown up in your yard - birds, bugs, bears, flowers, Sasquatch, ghosts, anything. If you don't know quite what it is, we'll have the collective knowledge of our rural folk to take a stab at identifying it. And if we don't know, we'll make something up.

So, you have a couple months to take pictures, or dig out some of those photos of creatures past. Photos should be in print form so we can put them on an opaque projector for all to see. We'll have a slide projector available as well. The number of people will determine how many photos per person we'll be able to see.

This should be a fun evening of sharing, and learning, for the whole family. More details to come, but we didn't want to let the summer pass without giving you the opportunity to have another look at what's out there in your yard.

Questions? Contact John Himmelman at jhimmel@comcast.net. More information will appear on our website at www.killingworthlandtrust.com.

The Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company responded to two lightning strikes last night following the brief storm that brought little relief to the sweltering heat and dangerously dry conditions.

The first incident occurred at 11 Jennifer Lane when lightening struck a tree and the homeowners called 911 after smelling smoke. Soon after, the Fire Company responded to another 911 call less than a mile away at 119 Ironworks Road. The lightening strike had sparked a fire in a shed that housed two alpaca. The homeowner was able to save one animal, but tragically lost the other in the fire. The Fire Company was able to quickly douse both fires. The brief storm moved through at approximately 7:15 p.m.

Tens of thousands of people around the state were without power because of the storm, with some areas getting as much as two inches of rain. Weather forecasters are predicting that this storm may bring an end to the heat wave with temperatures only in the mid to high 80s for the next week.

Come join the fun at the Haddam River Days this September 9th. The H-K Cougars Touchdown Club will be providing food, drink, and sportswear in support of the Haddam-Killingworth High School Football Program. The 10th Annual Haddam River Days takes place at Haddam Meadows State Park. Admission is Free!

To the Editor:
Joe Lieberman's gratuitous attack on Ned Lamont's wealth is just another Rovian technique that ignores the real issues. And before Joe makes that attack again, I would like to see a complete list of the contributions he has received from Washington's lobbyists.

From what I have read of the Lamont family, they have earned their wealth through four generations and have been philanthropic contributors to several major causes, usually related to higher education. Ned is a successful entrepreneur himself, hardly a dilettante.

Both accusations against Lamont strike me as rather ludicrous given Lieberman's support of an administration that blatantly serves the super rich and has appointed to various positions an unprecedented number of dilettantes, often very incompetent ones at that. Read more

On August 14, the Haddam-Killingworth Soccer Club will host a youth soccer fun day from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Great Hill Soccer Field on Jail Hill Road in Higganum. The clinic will be open to boys and girls grades 3-6.

Come KICK IT with special guests, the HK High School Girls Soccer Team. There will be games, fun drills, and scrimmages. Registration is $5.00. Call 345-2695 or register at the gate.

First Selectman Marty Klein offers his monthly column.

Lovers Lane requires permanent remediation; however, it is an environmentally sensitive area. Therefore, I have referred the issue to the Inlands Wetlands and Watercourses Commission for technical assistance. The first steps will include the IWWC working in conjunction with the Connecticut Environmental Review Team to research the inherent problems with the Lane and presenting to the Town the best solutions for resolving these matters. This week I visited the site with Cathy Jefferson, the Zoning Enforcement Officer in Killingworth and Susan Syches of the ERT. The study is in progress. When the information is assembled, the public will be invited to a hearing to learn of their findings and recommendations. At that time residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns.

We talk about acquiring Open Space. We fail to realize, however, the Open Space potential on making Lovers Lane a pristine wetlands preserve. Lovers Lane was constructed over "A PRISITINE WETLAND THAT SHOULD BE PRESERVED AS OPEN SPACE" There is a unique fragility to this area. Have you observed the amounts of oil that collects along the edge of the road after a normal rainfall? The "Inconvenient Truth" is that every drop of oil seeps into the bog on Lovers Lane and has an impact on the aquifers providing Killingworth residents with quality drinking water. The first thing Barbara and I do when we return from overseas is seek a glass of tap water. Some of us do not realize how scarce and valuable a commodity water is. It is not for our generation alone, but for generations to come.

I strongly believe that the best use and probably the most cost effective alternative for Lovers Lane would be to provide a beautiful wetland preserve for future generations. I sincerely hope that the majority of the people in Killingworth share these values and will accept some inconvenience.

Oh the weather outside is frightful!
But in here is so delightful. So since we've got a place to go, let us go, let us go, let us go...to the Library!

That is, we've got the newspapers out and your favorite magazine is waiting, The checkers are all set or you can even work on a jigsaw puzzle.
Best of all!!!!!!! WE'VE GOT AIR CONDITIONING!

Come check us out and be COOL! The Library is open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Tuesday, Thursday: 10 A.M. - 8 P.M and Saturday: 10 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

According to the Hartford Courant, The Town's Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission has requested the Connecticut Environmental Review Team, based in Haddam, study potential improvements to Lover's Lane. The Board of Selectmen approved opening the road until icing becomes an issue in the winter, but any repairs to the road must be approved by the IWWC.

The Environmental Review Team is a group of environmental professionals drawn together from a variety of federal, state, regional and local agencies to form a multi-disciplinary environmental study team to assist municipalities in the review of sites proposed for development or to provide natural resource inventories for planning purposes. The review is done at no cost.

Democratic U.S. Senatorial Candidate Ned Lamont stopped by Irene Sheldon Park yesterday evening to answer questions and gather support for his campaign to unseat 18-year incumbent Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Despite Lieberman signs lining the park entrance, the crowd of 75 welcomed him, showed support for his positions and many thanked him for his positive campaign.

Lamont was recently endorsed by the New York Times and has the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton out on the campaign trail for him this week. On Monday night he was interviewed on the Comedy Central program The Colbert Report.The Hartford Courant and the Connecticut Post as well as former President Bill Clinton are backing Lieberman. The primary will take place August 8 with voting to be held at the Killingworth Elementary School all-purpose room from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Frank Cunningham is the town coordinator for the Jodi Rell/Mike Fedele election campaign. There is a lot of hard work ahead of us in the next few months. Even though the current poll numbers are very encouraging, we cannot just assume that Jodi will be victorious on November 7th. We need to make sure that every one of your friends, neighbors and family members are registered to vote and do vote on November 7th.

There are some very easy ways to show your support for Jodi such as allowing us to put up a lawn sign on your property.

If you support Jodi and would like to become involved in her election please contact either: Elaina Parahus, Regional Field Director, parahus@jodirell06.com or Frank N. Cunningham, Killingworth Town Coordinator, cunningham80@comcast.net

Frank and Eileen Cunningham with Jodi Rell and Mike Fedele at a recent state wide town coordinators meeting. Photo courtesy KRTC

Edith Grace Pantani, 83, beloved wife of Emelio (Meme) Pantani of Burr Hill Road, Killingworth, passed away peacefully Saturday at her home. She was born Feb. 10, 1923, in New Haven, daughter of the late Pasquale and Giovanna (Sullo) Nargi. She was a member of St. Sebastian Church, Middletown. Prior to her retirement she was employed by the Clock Shop in New Haven and had been a seamstress.

Besides her husband of 59 years, she is survived by two daughters and their spouses, Barbara and Lawrence Blair of Wallingford and Susan and Louis Fronte of Killingworth; two sisters, Adeline Balzano of Branford and Mary Fallo of Destin, Fla.; her loving grandchildren, Kyle, Tracy and Marissa Fronte; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by five brothers, Baptiste, Bernard, Martin, Armand and Carmen Nargi and a sister Josephine Triumfo.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from the D'Angelo Funeral Home, 22 South Main St., Middletown followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven. Relatives and friends may call at the Funeral Home Wednesday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Shrine of St. Anthony and St. Jude, 58 Weybosset St. Providence, R.I. 02903. Online condolences and guest book available at dangelofuneralhome.com

This month, Killingworth Democratic Town Committee member Gwenne Lally writes in support of U.S. Senatorial Candidate Ned Lamont.

Ideals are hard: hard to live with and hard to live up to. That's especially true in today's political climate.

The KDTC's ideals are simple but compelling. We pursue government that is open, honest, capable, and accountable to all our citizens - here in town, in Hartford and in Washington. Difficult as it may be to achieve, it is a goal that we can never lose sight of. If we forget what good leadership should produce, we risk accepting leaders who produce bad results, or no results at all.

That is why we endorsed Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate at the nominating convention and why many of us are actively working to support his campaign. full story.

The Tuesday Book Discussion Group will meet on August 8th to discuss The Water Dancers, a novel by Terry Gamble. The author has been described as "gifted, elegant, evocative and humane." The story centers around a native American orphan and a returned WWII vet, during the summer of 1945. The meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Killingworth Library meeting room and newcomers are always welcome. September's selection is The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd.

Saturday, August 5th marks a new addition to the Killingworth Library Summer Book Sale. Tag sale vendors and crafters will also be on hand selling their wares. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

Anyone wishing to reserve a 10' by 10' space for their tag sale or craft table will find more information at the Library desk or by contacting Lauren Blaha, chairperson of the Library Board's Fundraising Committee, at her e-mail address, PYGSTY@aol.com. After July 15, the cost will be $35. Crafters and tag salers can gather at one central location and benefit from the patronage of our book sale crowd.

Notice from the Town Clerk
Anyone who has not re-licensed their dogs should do so before delinquent notifications are issued from the Animal Control Officer. The current fees for dogs are: spayed/neutered $9.00 by 7/31 and $10.00 in August. An intact dog is $20.00 by 7/31 and $21.00 in August.

The 47th Annual Country Fair at the Congregational Church will be held Aug. 4 and 5 on the church grounds at 273 Route 81.

The fair begins with the traditional chicken barbecue dinner under the tent on Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. In addition to the barbecued chicken, the menu includes several side dishes, pie, soft drinks and coffee. There's also a classic car show featuring the vintage vehicles of the Shoreline Recycled Teenage Cruisers auto club, with music of the era provided by DJ Rockin' Richard.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Tickets will be sold at the door, but can also be purchased in advance at the church office. Call the church at 860-663-1789 for more information or reservations.

On Aug. 5, the Killingworth Road Race, a scenic 4-mile loop, begins at 8:30 a.m. at the church. For more information or to register, call the church or visit www.killingworthchurch.org.

The fair will continue on the church grounds from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The fair features a daylong live auction of household items, antiques, art and other donated goods. The silent auction will be held in the parish hall.

This year's quilt raffle features a hand-appliquéd and hand-quilted Amish quilt, sized to fit on either a queen or king size bed, in the "Country Rose" pattern. Tickets for the raffle will be sold at the fair and at the chicken BBQ or call the church to purchase tickets in advance.

The Haddam-Killingworth 14-15-year-old Babe Ruth team concluded its season yesterday with a, 12-6, loss to Old Saybrook in the finals of the Shoreline Babe Ruth League tournament. Old Saybrook defeated HK, 15-5, in the first game of the 2 out of 3 series, Thursday night.

In Saturday's game, HK got behind early but rallied in the fifth with a four-run rally started by Chris Bova's RBI single. HK added another run in the sixth and one in the seventh. The team received credit from league president Mike Lucibello for "Staying in the game and never giving up" against the strong Old Saybrook team. HK utilized fourteen players while Old Saybrook brought ten to play in the championship game.

Mike Ossa (1-1/3) started on the mound for HK but struggled early so Manager Hilary Kumnick brought in Willie Tobelman (2-2/3) in relief in the second with Bova (3) coming in to finish in the sixth. Bova held Old Saybrook to just one run in the final innings as well as starting the rally in the fifth. Locals Brian Ludington, Dan Pucillo and Billy Jette scored for HK.

The team received Shoreline League runner-up plaques from league officials and players and coaches were eager to begin their summer activities after the twenty- five game season.