The Killingworth Foundation, Inc.
Moving to this small New England town from a borough of New York, as a young adult, was quite an adjustment. The hardest thing to get used to was the lack of street lights on dark winding roads. Longtime residents will remember the brown posts in the ground with barely visible engraved street names. Charming, yes... but unnerving to the novice. "How the heck does anyone know where they ARE around here at night?" The most pleasant surprise?... neighbors acknowledging neighbors, greeting each other at the Cookery, inquiring about each other's welfare, working together on various projects.

The first time I walked into the old hardware store where my aunt purchased horse grain from Larry Stankus, he looked at me and said..."You must be the Peoples' niece from New York. Welcome to town." That just about knocked me flat, and I knew I was home to stay.

It is this small town friendliness, a genuine sense of good citizenship and good will, that brought together a concerned group of townspeople to form The Killingworth Foundation. With encouragement from then First Selectman, Marty Klein, and legal advice from Mike Wells, meetings began in the early fall. Agendas were set, officers elected, and a mission statement hammered out. Scholarship applications were designed, grant applications written and revised, progress made in record time. Al Rusilowicz graciously did the IRS and insurance stuff, matters of major importance.

And the new Killingworth organization was born, its mission to increase the amount and the impact of local philanthropy for the citizens and community of Killingworth. It is a charitable, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the residents of our town. The model for the Foundation is based on the success of similar programs in neighboring towns. Funds for the Killingworth Foundation will come from individual donations, pledged endowments, and bequests.

The charter Board of Directors consists of Kathleen Amoia, Eric Auer, Suzanne Davenport (Secretary), Nancy Dodson (President), Susan Fronte, Catherine Iino, Barbara Klein (Vice President), Judith Lentz, Florence Marrone, John McMahon (Treasurer), and Albert Rusilowicz. For more information or if you would like to make a contribution, donation or inquiry mail The Killingworth Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 621, Killingworth, Ct 06419. E-mail TheKillingworthFoundation@live.com . A website is under construction and will be available soon and a brochure for a town wide mailing is in the works. For more information on the Killingworth Foundation read its Mission Statement.

TOGETHER - WE PROTECT

The Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company proceed through each day with the safety of the good people of Killingworth constantly on their minds.

With this said, the KVFC has always made every sincere effort to maintain its equipment and replace that which has become outdated. As a result of this well founded policy, the Department felt it necessary to replace a 22-year-old pumper truck.

The BOS effectively agreed and sent the request on to the BOF.

Working closely with the BOS, the BOF, acting in a fiscally responsible manner, approved the purchase and recommended that the funds necessary for this pumper truck be a one-time capital improvement with funds being saved over a number of budget years.

All of this having been accomplished, the truck has been ordered, partially paid for, and the balance is in capital reserve. By employing this fiscally responsible procedure of purchasing, both Boards have saved the taxpayers the unnecessary and additional cost of leasing.

In January, the BOS will bring to the townspeople a request for final payment for their newly acquired pumper truck, thus, allowing those who are entrusted with protecting their safety, the necessary equipment to do so.

It is hoped that the residents of Killingworth will appreciate the sincere efforts of their elected officials to expend their tax dollars in a wise and frugal way.

Richard J. Cabral First Selectman, BOS

John McMahon Chairman, BOF

Dick Bauer Chief, KVFD

* The article appearing earlier today regarding the pumper truck was posted in error by the Middletown Press. KillingworthToday regrets passing along the misinformation.

The Shoreline Singers, based out of the First Congregational Church in Haddam, will preform their winter concert on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free to the public and a reception will follow. The First Congregational Church is located at 905 Saybrook Road, Haddam.

The Shoreline Singers Youth Choir was formed by Rebecca Degnan to further the musical education of students, age 8-13, who love to sing and would like to learn about music. The choir practices once a week at the church. Students interested in registering for the next semester can visit the website at www.rdsmusicstudio.com. The deadline is January 30th.

HK Sports: The HK Girls Basketball team trounced Hyde Leadership last night, 67-47. Jess Hall led the Cougars with 15 points followed by Allie Rand with 14, Deanna Loso with 12 and Jordan Schultz with 12. The Cougars held a, 37-16, lead at the half and increased the spread to 59-29 by the beginning of the final quarter.

Jess Hall on a layup and Allie Rand moves past a Hyde player to the basket.

To the Editor:
On December 20th the towns people of Killingworth voted against discontinuing a large portion of Jay Dowd Rd. A private club in town has been gating that road illegally for the past several years and kicking people off. The Jay Dowd Rd. has been a thru road for both Killingworth and Madison for over 200 years. The towns people made it clear that they want to retain this road as a green-way for all to use. The club wants to have exclusive use of this road and keep all but their members off of it. The townspeople have voted ,but, their wishes have been ignored. The gates are still up.
Jean Horner

HK Sports: The HK Boys Basketball team defeated Hale Ray, 61-54, last night at the fieldhouse. The game was tight from the start with the Cougars holding a narrow lead going into the half at 33-31 and only pulling away in the last two minutes when Matt Martin started a small run with a three point play. Dan Wendt and Steve Landell led HK with 19 points each. Read all about the game in the Middletown Press

Dan Wendt on a break away and Matt Martin is fouled on a layup. Martin made the shot and the foul shot.

The State of Connecticut will hold its Presidential Primary for the Democratic and Republican candidates on Tuesday, February 5. Voting will be held at the KES all-purpose room from 6:00 am - 8:00 pm. You must be a registered voter in the party in which you want to vote in.

If you are unsure of the party you are enrolled in please call the Registrar of Voters at 860-663-4048. The hours are Wednesday, January 2, 1 pm-4 pm and 5 pm - 7 pm. Tuesday, January 8,15,22,29, 1 pm - 4 pm and 5 pm - 7 pm; Monday, February 4, 9 am - 12 noon. You also may go into the Town Clerks office the registrar to vote,

Important dates in run-up to the primaries:
• Wednesday, January 2, 2008 Secretary Bysiewicz will determine the order of all candidates on the ballot by randomly drawing their names in a public ceremony.
• Thursday, January 31, 2008 is the mail-in deadline for new voters, and for unaffiliated voters, to enroll in a party for voting in its primary. For new voters, mail-in applications must be postmarked, or received by Registrar of Voters or voter registration agency, by this date. For unaffiliated voters, the mail-in application must be received (not merely postmarked) by the Registrar of Voters by this deadline.
• Monday, February 4, at noon is the in-person deadline for new and unaffiliated voters to register in a party for voting in the primary.

Congratulations to Carolann Frank and Louis C. Annino, Sr. who are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary today. Their children and grandchildren would like to say Happy Anniversary and wish them all the best in health and happiness in their future years together. The family celebrated the occasion over the weekend with a special gathering.

The photo shows the Anninos on the night they eloped; New Year's Eve 1957.
Picture courtesy A. Annino.

Sunday December 23:
• 9:15 AM: Mutual aid to Durham, station coverage
• 8:33 PM: Wires down / electrical fire, Route 81
Monday December 24:
• 9:54 PM: Medical emergency, Roast Meat Hill Rd
Tuesday December 25:
• 2:54 PM: Fire alarm, Fawn Hill Rd
• 10:44 PM: Medical emergency, Boulder Trl
Wednesday December 26:
• 12:38 PM: Medical emergency, Beechwood Rd
• 9:51 PM: Medical emergency, Laurel Ridge Trl
Thursday, December 27:
• 12:24 PM: Structure fire, Bethke Rd
Friday December 28:
• 4:16 AM: Medical emergency, Laurel Ridge Trl
Saturday December 29:
• 4:41 PM: Medical emergency, Route 81

The Tuesday Book Discussion Group will meet on Tuesday, January 8th to discuss John Steinbeck's "Sweet Thursday". This novel, written in 1954, is a sequel to "Cannery Row" and was derived from his "book" for the Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway musical "Pipe Dreams". Steinbeck won both a Pulitzer and a Nobel Prize during his distinguished writing career. The discussion will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Killingworth Library meeting room. Newcomers are always welcome.

The Killingworth Library will host its Readers & Eaters Book Club on Tuesday, January 29th from 6-7:30 p.m. 5th, 6th, + 7th graders are welcome to come discuss Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach. Multiple copies available at the Library. Pizza provided by DaVinci Pizza. Bring your appetite and come join us! Call 663-2000 to sign-up.