The HK Travel Basketball League will be holding tryouts for their 2007-08 season on the following dates:
Girls: Monday, September 10, 2007 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at HKHS
Monday, September 17, 2007 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at HKMS
Boys: Monday, September 10, 2007 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at HKMS
Monday September 17, 2007 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at HKHS

Attendance at both practices is mandatory

Boys and girls entering grades 4-8 in the 2007-08 school year are eligible to play (4th graders must be 9 years old by 09/01/07 and 8th graders must be 13 years old by 09/01/07).

If your child is interested in playing and/or you are interested in coaching, or if you have any questions or concerns, please send an e-mail to HKTravelbball06@comcast.net.

To the Editor:
As a Killingworth resident since 1968, I've seen a lot of changes on our roads. The roads are pretty much the same, but the growth in population has made for really crowded conditions on our local roads. I'd like to heartily endorse Selectman Klein's plea to one and all to observe posted limits. The stories of inconsiderate drivers are legion, and the situation especially on Route 81 deserves very serious consideration. I saw that Mr. Klein continues to push for traffic lights at the dangerous curve by the new school complex on Route 81 despite the State's unbelievable statement that such a safety measure isn't necessary! And the traffic circle hosts a series of "almost accidents" literally every few minutes during busy traffic times. I've noticed that cars entering the circle from Route 81 either north or southbound, usually speed right into the circle regardless of what's there. And several times I've seen cars actually going the wrong way around the circle!! Read more

The Congregational Church in Killingworth BBQ Dinner is this evening from 5:00 - 8:00pm. There also will be a Classic Car Show and DJ Rockin' Richard. Tickets are $12.00 adults, $10.00 Seniors and $6.00 for children (12 & under).

Tuesday, June 20, 2007 was a special night for the Senior Class at Haddam Killingworth High School. The weather was perfect for a glorious outdoor Graduation celebration. After spending some time with their families, the graduates returned to the Field House for an all night alcohol and drug free party.

This year's theme was "Life's a Beach". Decorations with surfboards, bikinis, sea gulls, sunglasses, a board walk and even a 20 foot Life Guard chair transformed the Field House into summer fun in the sun.

The class was treated to entertainment all night including D.J., dodgeball, a gladiator contest, basketball, volleyball, a palm reader, magician, caricaturist, car racing, horseracing, trampoline, video games, and the pool was opened for a midnight swim. Money prizes were awarded throughout the night, and each and every graduate left in the wee hours of the morning with a substantial prize. Some of the prizes were dorm refrigerators, computers, Ipods, printers, TVs, gift certificates, and other essentials for dorm life in the fall. Food was plentiful including pizza, subs, popcorn and cotton candy, of course, ice cream, fruit and veggie platters, stuffed breads, and so much more.

All of this would have been impossible without a tremendous amount of help. Volunteers worked on the project since September planning an unforgettable night for the seniors. Many monetary and product donations were made by local businesses and private citizens. A complete list of all those who contributed to the worthwhile event, as well as pictures of the event, may be viewed on the Project Graduation link on the District website.

Keep in mind the businesses listed, and when their services are needed, please support them. The Project Graduation Committee and the Class of 2007 extends their thanks to all those who donated so generously, and made their night so memorable, and more importantly, SAFE.

St. James Episcopal Church in Higganum is hosting its Annual Chicken Barbeque this Saturday, August 4, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The church is located at 498 Route 81 (On the corner of Little City Road). The BBQ will feature Barbequed Chicken, Salad, Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob and Homemade Desserts! Adults are $8.00, Seniors $7.00 and Children under 12 are $5.00. Takeout orders are available (860-345-2445 to order ahead).

The times recently listed in the Killingworth Krier for the opening and closing of the school day in the Region 17 School District were slightly inaccurate. Below are the corrected times. Questions or concerns may be directed to the Central Office at 345-4534.

HKHS 7:25 a.m. start; 2:10 p.m. finish
HKMS 7:55 a.m. start; 2:40 p.m. finish
KES 8:30 a.m. start; 3:15 p.m. finish

Green Hill Road Section to Close Today
The section of Green Hill Road from Stevens Road to Route 81 will be closed starting this morning, Thursday, Aug. 2. Local traffic to homes on the upper portion of Green Hill Road will be allowed. Construction will commence to reconfigure the Green Hill Road/Route 81 intersection. First Selectman Marty Klein said the construction should take a few weeks. Traffic traveling north on Green Hill Road will be diverted to Route 81 via Stevens Road. Traffic looking to head south can access Green Hill Road from Stevens Road or Chittenden Road. Residents are asked to obey posted speed limits through the construction zone as well as on alternative streets.

To the Editor:
As a 20-year veteran of Killingworth town government, I am honored to accept both the endorsements of the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee and the many registered Democrats who attended the caucus meeting on Sunday evening, July 22nd.

If reelected, I will proudly serve as your Selectman for another two years and will continue to make decisions that are in the best interests of our fine town and all its people. Rest assured that I will continue to do my homework and paint a truthful, prudent picture going forward. In the upcoming campaign season, I will be looking for your hand shake, your thoughts, smiles, concerns, recommendations and of course your VOTE. Together, let's kick up Killingworth a few notches on November 6th with a team of in-touch leaders who can operate within Connecticut and local statutory guidelines and get things done for the people!

Ed Sipples
Incumbent Board of Selectmen Member

The Tuesday Book Discussion Group will meet on August 14th to discuss "The Most Famous Man in America: Henry Ward Beecher" by Debby Applegate. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for this definitive biography, Applegate captures the mercurial, inspiring and sometimes infuriating personality of this passionate 19th century preacher. His beliefs found him in the middle of the anti slavery and women's suffrage movements along with controversies that ranged from Darwinian evolution to presidential politics.

Discussion begins at 1:00 in the Killingworth Library meeting room and newcomers are always welcome.

Haddam-Killingworth and Valley Regional High Schools have not only given their students real life work experience, but have helped a local community event. The Killingworth Road Race Committee approached the Graphic Arts teachers at the local high schools to see if they would be interested in having students participate in a t-shirt design contest. The teachers, Chris LeQuire from Valley Regional High and Ryan Kish from HK, jumped at the chance to give their students the opportunity to design for a real 'client'. Approximately 50 students created designs. The race committee met and found 2 winning designs. Kyle Madden, from Valley Regional High, created the design that was used for the Killingworth Road Race t-shirt. In addition to designing of the shirt, Mr. LeQuire assisted Kyle and 3 other students in the screen printing of over 100 t-shirts at school. This enabled the students to see the project through from start to finish.

Chris LeQuire (teacher), Kyle Manning, and Abby Derohanian proudly displaying the Killingworth Road Race t-shirts that they designed and printed at Valley Regional High School. photo courtesy S. Anziano

Another creative design that really fit the feel of the Killingworth Road Race was done by HK's Josh Reynolds. He turned this design into a publicity poster, which included the sponsor's logos. Josh worked during the school year and into the summer on this project. Teacher Ryan Kish was very supportive of this project, as it gave students a taste of how it could work in the real world outside of the classroom! Each contest winner not only took away a terrific work experience, but also a $50.00 US Savings Bond for their efforts.

The Killingworth Youth League is now accepting registrations for the 2007 "fall ball" season. The registration deadline for both girls softball and boys baseball is August 10, 2007. The cost is $40 per player.

The fall ball season runs from September through October. This program is designed to help develop and prepare players for the next level of play. Players typically get a lot of playing time in a short season.

Registration forms and more information about fall ball are available online at www.kylbaseball.org. If you have any questions, please contact KYL by email at info@kylbaseball.org. Or you can call Alan Kostek at 663-2700 or Bob Campagnuolo at 663-3196.

Last night at HK High School, Haddam Killingworth #1 team won, 2-1, over Old Saybrook with a dramatic come from behind victory to capture the Pat Mirto League Shoreline Senior Babe Ruth Championship. With Old Saybrook ahead, 1-0, and threatening to put the game away with bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Michael Callahan made a game saving catch in left field on a line drive to hold Old Saybrook to a one run lead. In the bottom of the seventh with one out, Dan Brough singled and Kevin Peterson executed a perfect bunt single. After a wild pitch put runners at second and third, AJ Margnelli singled to left to score Brough and tie the score, 1-1. The next batter, Kyle Allison singled to right center to drive in Kevin Peterson with the winning run. This is HK's first Babe Ruth title since the program started 4 years ago.

In the first round playoff game, HK defeated Clinton, 1-0, behind 7 shutout innings of pitching by AJ Margnelli. Michael Callahan singled and scored the only run of the game all way from first on an errant throw after a Dan Brough bunt. HK preserved the lead with an excellent defensive play by Joe Van Huysen. Van Huysen caught a fly ball in right field and threw the runner out at home plate to keep Clinton scoreless.

Left to right: Back row, Coach Larry Pollack, Kevin Peterson, Michael Theriault, Matt Cartoceti, Dan Brough, Coach Mel Cartoceti. Middle Row, Louis Annino, Alex Pollack, Joe Van Huysen, AJ Margnelli, Kyle Allison, Andrew Callahan. Front Row, Michael Waterbury, Jason Cannata, Mike Stanger, Chris Drexler, Michael Callahan. Photo courtesy L.Pollack

The Congregational Church in Killingworth Road Race takes place this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Runners will enjoy a 4-mile race along the historic and beautiful roads in town. At the end of the race enjoy the post race breakfast, which will include bagels, fruit, water and Monster Drinks, and stay to enjoy the church fair. Go to Active.com to pre-register for the event, call 663-1789 for an application or download the application from the Road Race page.

The Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company responded to a house fire at 116 Route 148 this morning at approximately 2:30 a.m. The family of four was alerted by a smoke alarm and escaped unhurt. The house phone was knocked out by the fire so the family ran to a neighbor to call 911.

Fire Chief Dick Bauer said the cause was probably a lightning strike. The fire inspector was on the scene this morning to confirm. Bauer said there was heavy fire damage in the basement and severe smoke damage throughout the house. He said the house was uninhabitable. Bauer said it took the fire company about 30 minutes to knock down the main body of the fire and they spent several hours making sure the scene was secure.

The KVFC was assisted by the Chester, Deep River and North Madison fire companies. The water to fight the fire came from the closest pond which was at the Inn at Chester.

Photos courtesy KVFC

The Haddam-Killingworth #1 team will be hosting the Babe Ruth, Senior Division (16-18) Championship Game tonight at 5:30 at HKHS. HK will square off against Old Saybrook, who beat previously-undefeated (and #1 seed) North Haven to earn a spot in the championship game. HK defeated #3 seed Clinton.

The senior division, known as the Pat Mirto 16-18 League, consists of 13-teams from West Haven, North Haven, Old Saybrook, Branford, North Branford, Guilford, Hamden, Clinton, Durham and Haddam-Killingworth. Teams mostly consist of varsity and JV high school players, play a rigorous 24-game, regular-season schedule between mid-June and July 31, and, games in the Shoreline League are always staffed by at least two experienced, certified umpires. The 16-18 HK #2 team, led by 16's, Sam Barbuto, Chris Bova, Colby Fitzpatrick, Zach Kumnick, Brian Ludington, Mike Ossa, and Willy Tobelman had a nucleus of HKHS JV players and rode solid pitching and defense to a final 9-14 record in the Pat Mirto division. The HK 14-15 Babe Ruth Division team, led by veteran 15's Andrew Brough, Chris Centi, Robby Flynn, Alphonse Simeone and Jeff Waterbury, finished the regular season 14-6.

The championship HK #1 team, managed by Larry Pollack, has a solid core of Haddam and Killingworth players from various varsity programs, many of whom have been playing top-notch summer ball together for a decade. HK #1 and North Haven are both hard-hitting teams with great pitching and dominated the league during the regular season. Most in the league expected North Haven and HK #1 in the finals. Old Saybrook had a phenomenal late-season surge to gain a playoff spot over excellent teams from Guilford and Durham. Tonight's game should be a great match-up between a very hot young Old Saybrook team and the seasoned, unflappable veterans of HK #1!

Rain date for tonight's game is Tuesday.

First Selectman Marty Klein announced that he has acquired the prerequisite signatures and will file papers this morning to form an independent political party to seek re election in November. He said the party will be called "The Killingworth Progressives". Klein's running mate will be the man he defeated for the job two years ago, former Republican Town Committee Chairman John Amport. Amport announced yesterday that he is resigning from the KRTC and joining Klein on the ticket.

Klein said he wants to continue the projects that he started while in office including the Reservoir Road bridge repair, the closing of the sludge lagoons and the repair of Burr Hill Road. He said Amport "is very intelligent" and though "we agree to disagree" on some philosophical topics we both agree that it is important that leadership be pragmatic; that decisions cross party lines. He said that in a small town there should not be such divided lines between Democrats and Republicans.

In his letter of resignation from the KRTC, Amport said, "it should not be up to a dozen disgruntled Democrats who packed their caucus... to take the choice away from the voters". "I feel it is my duty to my community to present the voters with real choice."

Klein was nominated earlier this month by the Democratic Town Committee but lost out in a ballot vote to former First Selectman Richard Albrecht during the caucus. Klein said Albrecht "had his turn [as first selectman] many years ago". "Nothing happened while he was in office and nothing will happen this time".

Come to the Oak Lodge Nature Center at Chatfield Hollow State Park on August 4th and 5th at 1:00 P.M. for a hands-on exploration of Schreeder pond. Visitors will have the opportunity to collect aquatic organisms - such as fish, insects, frogs and tadpoles - out of the pond and learn about their importance to the Chatfield Hollow ecosystem. The program will last one hour. Visitors of all ages are welcome to attend this free program, and registration is not required.

The Park will also sponsor guided hikes and walks throughout the park this summer. Guided by the Park interpreter, participants will learn about the birds, mammals, and plants found in the park as well as the history of the location. Hikers will also have the opportunity to view old rock formations and caves, indications of the region's original Native American population. Hikes will take place every Sunday at 8:00 A.M. Those interested should meet beforehand at the Oak Lodge Nature Center. The hikes are beginner-level, open to everyone, and no fee or registration is required.

For more information, call Samantha Wentworth at (203) 734-2513. For cancellations due to inclement weather, contact the Chatfield Hollow State Park Office at (860) 663-2030. For more information on Connecticut's State Parks and Forests, visit the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep/ or call the Division of State Parks at (860) 424-3200.

A Better Haddam independent party announced the addition of Higganum resident Doug Sumner to its ticket as a full Board of Finance candidate in the November municipal election. A resident since 1990, Sumner says he is running as a Board of Finance candidate for two reasons.

"First, as I've watched the town grow I want to ensure that the residents who have lived here for years and helped to make our town so special can afford the taxes to stay here. I also want to see Haddam get the state and federal money that is available to ease the burdens of all families in town."

"I've noticed stagnation in the progress of several key town areas of interest. The transfer station and recreational use of the reservoir and their development are key assets Haddam has to develop to move forward. The town has funds awarded and not used for some of these areas and we need to begin to put that money to work."

Sumner joins A Better Haddam party, recently formed by residents Diane Stock, of Haddam, and Tanja Moriarty, of Higganum. Haddam-Killingworth Board of Education member Diane Stock is running for First Selectman and Tanja Moriarty, two term Selectman incumbent is seeking to be re-elected as an independent.

A Better Haddam states it plans to focus on resident's concerns including guiding development and conservation, lobbying for property tax reform, increasing communication, and enhancing Haddam's resources for families. View A Better Haddam's campaign details at www.stockandmoriarty.com.

Haddam incumbant First Selectman Tony Bondi will seek his fifth term in office for the Democrats. Bondi's running mate will be Sean Donlan, a lawyer practicing in Old Saybrook. The Republican town committee nominated Jody Bogdan, a real estate agent, for the First Selectman's position. The GOP committee also nominated Bob Duval and Bob Frazier for the Board of Selectmen.