Briana Whaley, a student at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, was named the winner in the Second Annual Shoreline Idol Competition at Haddam-Killingworth High School last night. Her soulful and sassy rendition of Put Your Records On won over the judges and the crowd. The runner up was sophomore Ashley Hames from Morgan High School in Clinton and third place was awarded to senior Ashley Mirando also from Daniel Hand in Madison.

Last night's concert was the final step in the competition that started with 60 area students in open auditions last November. Whaley was one of ten finalists to complete for the title, a $1,000 scholarship provided by Lenny and Joe's Fish Tale, and studio recording time. The ten finalists each sang a Christmas song at the HKTV Annual Telethon in late December that raised $18,000 for the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer. The public was invited to cast a vote for their favorite idol singer with each $1 donation to the telethon.

Judges for the contest were Ira Sakolsky, an actor and composer; Lisa Sacamone, a professional singer for more than 25 years and Edward Tyler, Director of Choral Music and Drama at Manchester High School. Last night's show was hosted by John "Cadillac" Saville, a well-known local radio personality.

The Shoreline Idol Competition is produced by HKTV with direction by Chuck Lewis, HK High School's Communications Teacher; HK Art Teacher Betsy Himmelman and HK Choral Director Marcy Webster.

Briana Whaley, winner of the Second Annual Shoreline Idol Competition. For photos of all ten finalists, and more, please visit the Winter Events Photo Gallery

Jean Thomas, 82, of 7 Stonewall Dr., Killingworth, passed away Monday, January 22nd, 2007 at the Hospital of St. Raphael. She leaves her loving husband of 54 years, Earle, Jr. and her daughter Mary Ann Lesnick and husband Frederick of North Branford. Also, she will be greatly missed by her loving grandchildren, Major Christopher Lesnick USAF of VA, Jeffrey Lesnick of New Haven, Timothy Lesnick and wife, Kristen of Orlando, FL and Jennifer Lesnick of North Branford. Jean was born February 27, 1924 to Mary Anderson and August Moldenhauer in New Haven. She spent most of her life in West Haven before moving to Killingworth after Earle's retirement. She was a member of St. Lawrence Church in Killingworth. She worked for A.C. Gilbert Co. and Yale-New Haven Hospital in her younger years, but some of her happiest times were spent in the care of many children out of her home. She especially enjoyed vacations in New Hampshire and spending time with her grandchildren. Special thanks to the HSR staff for their patient loving care, especially Verdi 5 North.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial mass on Sat., Jan. 27th at 9:30a.m. at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, East Haven. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fr. Michael McGivney Center for Cancer Care, Hosp. of St. Raphael, 1450 Chapel St., New Haven 06511. Keenan Funeral Home, North Branford.

Nicholas Presto, of Killingworth, son of Sandy Castlevetro, 2006 graduate of Xavier High School was named to the fall 2006 dean's list at Castleton State College in Vermont. He is majoring in criminal justice/pre-law.

The Board of Education of Regional School District 17, the Region 17 Building Committee, and the faculty and staff of Haddam-Killingworth Middle School will hold a Community Open House for its new Haddam-Killingworth Middle School building on Sunday, January 28, 2007, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony by district students from grades 4 through 8 is scheduled for noon. The open house will include student led tours, a building project slide show, book fair and teacher technology demonstrations. The new school is located at 451 Rte. 81 in Killingworth, just south of the intersection of route 148. The public is invited to attend.

The new school facility officially opened its doors to students in grades 7 and 8 on January 3. The building includes a spacious auditorium and field house, classrooms designed around open pods to facilitate middle school teaming and state of the art technology to support classroom instruction.

For more information about the open house, please contact the Haddam-Killingworth Middle School at 663-1241.

Registration for the Spring 2007 baseball and softball season in Killingworth will be held on Saturday, January 27. Registration will be held at the Killingworth Elementary School on Route 81 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Registration forms and more information about the Killingworth Youth League are available online at www.kylbaseball.org. Please bring 2 copies of the registration form to registration.

Boys and girls ages 6 to 16 are eligible to play (must be playing age by April 30, 2007; first-year T-ball players must be playing age by July 31, 2007). First-time players must provide an original birth certificate at registration. Uniform sizes will also be taken at registration.

The 2007 fee is $70 per player, $120 if there are 2 children from one family in the league, or $150 if there are 3 or more children from one family in the league. All fees include uniforms. Payment is expected at the time of registration. Checks should be made payable to Killingworth Youth League or KYL.

In lieu of a fundraiser, parents will be required to assist at the concession stands at Rocco Reale Field, Sheldon Park and Killingworth Elementary School. Participation is mandatory and parents will be required to sign up to work the concession stand during one game (can be your child's game or any other team's game).

Financial assistance is available for any child in need. Confidential calls may be made to KYL president Alan Kostek at 860-663-2700.

Anyone interested in participating in the league as a coach or in some other volunteer capacity is encouraged to attend the monthly meetings held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Killingworth Firehouse.

Selectman Ed Sipples reported at last night's Board of Selectmen's meeting that the State Department of Transportation has denied the Town's request for a traffic light at the entrance of the newly opened Haddam-Killingworth Middle School on Route 81. Route 81 is a State highway so the DOT has authority over any improvements and repairs.

Sipples recently attended a meeting with DOT officials, Reg. 17 Schools Superintendent Gary Mala and Reg. 17 Director of Building and Grounds Michael Distefano. Sipples said the DOT acknowledged that the typical vehicle travels at 50 mph on Route 81 but would only implement a reduction in the road's posted speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph and the installation of blinking lights on school zone signs.

Region 17 bus driver and member of the Town Traffic Study Committee, Dave Roberts said there is a "dangerous and potentially deadly" problem with the traffic in front of the elementary school and the middle school. Roberts, who lives across from the entrance to the middle school, said if the state is not going to do anything, the Town needs to implement traffic control officers at KES and HKMS in the morning and at KES in the afternoon.

First Selectman Marty Klein said he is also very concerned about the traffic problem. He said he planned to contact Resident State Trooper Matt Ward, request his short term assistance in controlling the traffic, and ask for his recommendations. Selectman Fred Dudek said the major safety problem is speeding. He recommended the Troopers start issuing tickets.

Sipples proposed that Klein approach Don Berry, the newly appointed Town Traffic Control Officer, about directing traffic from 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. at the middle school and 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. at KES and from 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. again at KES. The Selectmen are eager to hear from anyone in the community interested in training to become a Traffic Control Officer. For more information contact the First Selectmen's Office at 663-1765.

The Regional 17 Board of Education and First Selectman Marty Klein announced yesterday that a settlement has been reached between the Town of Killingworth and the School District for outstanding fees associated with the construction of the new Haddam-Killingworth Middle School. After numerous discussions and direct negotiations between legal officials representing both the District and the Town, an amount of $52,448.03 has been agreed upon for the fees accrued through June 30, 2006. Klein said there will be another bill for services from July 1, 2006 to the completion of the project.

According to the Reg. 17 officials, these fees, which unlike construction costs are not reimbursed at all by the State, will be paid from the budget for the new school. The charging of fees to the school district for construction projects has never been done before by either Haddam or Killingworth. While unprecedented in the history of the district, the Board of Selectmen for the town of Killingworth has assessed a charge primarily for the local building official to supervise the construction of the new school located on Route 81 in Killingworth.

The original bill levied against the district exceeded $100,000 and included legal fees incurred by the Town Planning and Zoning Commission for defending its decision to permit the school's construction as well as disputes between the Town and the District. The district contended that inclusion of the legal fees was inappropriate.

Town and District officials have been arguing about this issue for more than two years with discussions at times contentious. The new school opened on January 3, 2007 for 445 seventh and eight graders. The District's fifth and sixth graders will enter the school in the fall.

HK Sports
The HK Boys Basketball team returned home after a long away schedule to face a tough Hyde team last night at the fieldhouse. The Cougars kept it close for most of the first half but fell behind, 42-57, at the half and lost the final 56-67. Dan Wendt led HK with 14 points followed by Steve Landell with 12.

The HK Junior Varsity also fell to Hyde. The Cougars, led by Brendan Hatin with 8 points and Matt Martin with 6 points, lost, 31-33.

Dan Wendt (l) and Nick DiGioia (r) battle under the boards at last night's game.
For more photos, visit the Winter Events Photo Gallery

The HK Cougars Touchdown Club is preparing for the upcoming 2007 Haddam-Killingworth football season. In an effort to bring outdoor nighttime athletic and school events to Haddam-Killingworth High School, the Touchdown Club has embarked on the task to supply the stadium lighting for this project. The current plan is to install stadium lighting on the track and soccer field to accommodate, not only football, but a variety of nighttime athletic and school events. This project has been in the planning stages for the past year, with a projected completion date estimated for the beginning of the 2007/2008 school year. In the meantime, the Touchdown Club will continue to raise funds for this project through fund raisers and donations.

For those unaware of the Club's intent, we are a group of concerned parents and community members, assembled to assist and raise funds solely for H-K's football program in an effort to promote and support Haddam-Killingworth football players and coaches, enhance safety and encourage school and community spirit. To assist and support H-K's football program, the Touchdown Club meets monthly with the coaches, players, and school officials, to discuss the needs and concerns of the football program. Members assist in game day activities and fund raising events throughout year. All funds raised will be used to purchase better and safer player gear, practice and training equipment, along with facility maintenance and improvements.

The upcoming 2007 football season will be here quickly and the Touchdown Club has a lot to do. If you're a parent of a son that's planning to play H-K football this year or just an interested community member, we could use your help. If you would like to help and/or become a member, the Touchdown Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 PM, in the Lower Media Center at Haddam-Killingworth High School. If you can't attend, but would still like to help in some way, please feel free to contact one of the following elected officers or members. Ed and Cindy Baklik, 663-1773. Bill Van Huysen, 663-0309. Chris and Becky Cubeta, 345-3390. Heather and Bob Arrigoni, 345-8327. Diane Bartolotta, 345-4215. Mike and Megan Theriault, 663-0488. Tom Stanger, 345-2360. Larry Pollack, 663-3722.

Sunday January 14:
• 10:36 PM: Medical emergency, Chestnut Hill Rd
• 10:48 PM: Medical emergency, Pleasant Trl
Tuesday January 16:
• 11:17 PM: Medical emergency, Cow Pen Hill Rd
Thursday January 18:
• 8:22 AM: Medical emergency, Green Hill Rd
• 9:54 AM: Chimney Fire, Green Hill Rd
Friday January 19:
• 7:13 PM: Mutual Aid to Clinton, Structure Fire, Evergreen Trailer Park off of Rte 81

Agenda
Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting held January 8, 2007.
3. Visitors: R. Bauer - Fire Co. Chief, D. Roberts - Traffic Study Comm.
4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
5. Appointments/Vacancies:
    1. Michael Young - Conservation Commission
    2. Ed Coppola, Paul McGuinness - Reservoir Rd. Engr. Review Committee
    3. James Lally - TOB Committee
    4. Cathie Jefferson - IWWC Enforcement Officer
    5. Katherine Smith - Housing Partnership
    6. Eric Auer - Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission
6. Old Business:
    1. BOS Approval for Call of Town Meeting - February 28, 2007
    2. Discussion of Public Works Foreman Position
    3. Multi-Year Capital Improvement - Update
7. New Business:
    1. R. Bauer - Funding Request, Town Share of 2006 FEMA Grant for Vehicle Exhaust Systems
    2. BOS Approval for Waiver of Fee for Moving Sign / St. Lawrence Church per Cathie Jefferson (F. Cunningham Request)
    3. D. Roberts - Traffic Committee; Traffic Issues @ KES & Middle School
8. MK Announcements
9. Selectmen's Concerns
10. Adjournment
Agenda as of 11:45 a.m. Monday, 1/22/07
Printable version

Community mentors and residents, along with school and town officials gathered on Saturday morning at the Inn at Chester, to commemorate National Mentoring month, honor our community mentors and kick off a major community mentor & mentee recruitment effort. Youth and Family Services Mentor Coordinator Ernest Nagler said they are looking for adult volunteers, especially men, to mentor students at the elementary, middle school or high school levels.

What started in 1904 as the Big Brothers program, evolved into a school-based mentoring model in 1983. The current model asks volunteers to give just one hour a week to provide a structured trusting relationship for a young person to offer guidance, support and encouragement.

Saturday's program honored the Haddam and Killingworth mentors including individuals who are just starting their volunteer effort to Denise Zanardi and Al Deag who have been mentors for more than eight years. Haddam First Selectman Tony Bondi proclaimed January 20 Mentoring Day and called on all citizens to express their appreciation for the volunteers and to get involved. Killingworth Selectman Ed Sipples used the opportunity to pledge his time as a mentor and challenged Bondi to renew his involvement.

The keynote speaker for the program was Dr. Susan Weinberger, an internationally recognized expert on school based mentoring. Weinberger spent 36 years as a teacher and administrator in the Norwalk school system before broadening her work to establish, maintain, and evaluate school and community-based mentoring programs and school-to-work initiatives in more than 40 states. Her informative, persuasive and funny presentation emphasized the partnership needed between community and school personnel for a program to be successful. She cited studies that say youth who have been mentored have a much lower incidence of drug and alcohol related problems as well as a lower incidence of depression. Our local program is funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Weinberger said mentor funding was at its highest level in 2004 but by 2006 had already been cut by 40 percent. Her message was that children "at risk" can come from all socio-economic backgrounds and that one "everyday hero" can make a huge difference in a youth's life.

Dr. Susan Weinberger at Saturday's mentoring get together.

HK Sports
The HK Girls 11 Travel team improved to 9-1 on Sunday with a, 40-28, victory over North Branford at home. Anna Fetteroll scored a game high 10 points, followed by Maya Savino and Beth Riedy with 6 points each. Kirsten Carlson and Tori Peterson each scored 4 points, while Shannon Sledzik and Samantha Waskowitz chipped in with 2 points apiece.

The Killingworth Cub Scout Pack 18 held its annual Pinewood Derby Friday night at Killingworth Elementary School. Cub Scout built mini-racers, competed in multiple heats to determine the overall winners. Winners were: 1st - Ben Chasse, 2nd - Casey Garrelts, 3rd - Thomas Irwin. Tiger winners: 1st - Shane Williams, 2nd - Oliver Artus, 3rd - Kurt Sodergren. Wolf winners: 1st - Ben Chasse, 2nd - Christopher Raccio, 3rd - Vincent Gambardella. Bear winners:1st - John Insall, 2nd - Parker Rogers, 3rd - Graham Stillman. Weblos winners: 1st - Thomas Irwin, 2nd - Nikolas Franceschi-Hoffman, 3rd - Garrett Murphy. Sibling winners:1st - Casey Garrelts, 2nd - Christopher Garrelts, 3rd - Emily Insall. The winners will continue on to a regional competition.

Some cars sponsored by local businesses and organizations, were painted and decorated to reflect the company colors and logos. The generous sponsors included: Killingworth True Value Hardware, Essex Savings Bank, Vecchitto's Ices, Heiland Electronics, Wings, Wheels & Hobbie Store, Dr. Brain Sawchuk and Dr. David Sliva, DDS, Long Hill Oil, RLD Heating & Cooling, LLC, All Points Technology Corp, P.C., Killingworth Women's Organization, Proactive Sales & Marketing, Andrew O'Neill, Esq, A-Pro Home Inspection, Forte Market in Guilford, and Quality Residential Home Roofing Services, LLC. Cub Scouts range in grade from K-5.

Not only did the Shoreline Conference girls high school soccer teams dominate the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association (CGSCA) awards this year, but HK was well represented. HK's Head Coach, Eric Grant received the Coach of the Year award for Class S & M schools. Senior, Nichelle Gode became the first-ever Haddam-Killingworth Girls Soccer player to be name All-State. The Cougars eagerly await the raising of the All-State soccer banner in the school's field house. Senior, Jessica Mullaney was one of seven state-wide to earn the Scholar Athlete & Scholarship award and junior, Corinne Mazzotta was selected for the Kelme Most Valuable Player award.

Pictured: (l) Nichelle Gode with HK Coach Eric Grant. (r) Jessica Mullaney with her Scholar -Athlete award. Photos courtesy S. Mazzotta.