HK Sports: The HK Middle School Swim Team continued its winning ways on Wednesday by defeating Hopkins School of New Haven, 90-34, in a coed meet format. The medley relay teams of Celine Coleman, Anna Fetteroll, R.J. Moore, and Stuart Stritzel and Jake Gibbons, Neal Tyson, Emmery Bates, and Emily Meredith captured 1st and 2nd respectively to propel the Cougars to a 12-2 lead from which they never looked back.

Coleman went on to capture 2nd in the 100 IM and 1st in the 50 backstroke; Fetteroll also captured 2nd in the 50 breastroke and 1st in the 50 free. Coleman and Fetteroll also teamed with Tyson and Gibbons to win the 200 free relay. 5th Grade flash Gibbons also grabbed 1st in the 50 butterfly with a personal best time of 34.80 and also placed 2nd in the 50 backstroke. Stuart Stritzel won the 100 freestyle and also got 3rd in the 100 IM. The 400 free relay team of Gaby Orlando, Emily Weis, Sam Delldonna, Ashley DeCrosta, Kathleen Darling, Sam Clegg, Lauren Ciborowski, and Brenna Casey took first in that event. Other notable personable bests included Bates in the 50 butterfly and Meredith in the 100 free. The Cougars are now 4-0. 30 members of the team have qualified for the middle school state open this Saturday in Cheshire, where the HK girls attempt to defend their state open title. The Open qualifiers are listed below in alphabetical order.

HKMS STATE OPEN QUALIFIERS: Girls: Sarah Auer, Emmery Bates,Lindsey Clegg, Celine Coleman, Juliann Conway, Kathleen Darling,Ashley DeCrosta, Anna Fetteroll,Tess Grimaldi, Robyn Hurrell, Brennan Marczewski, Sarah Massicott, Emily Meredith, Gaby Orlando, Brenna Plumley, Ana Tarbetsky, Michelle Wendt, Lauren Wright and Boys: Xavier Coleman, Jake Gibbons, Tim LaFleur, Garrett Mazziotti, R.J. Moore, Zack O'Bymachow, Mason Revis, Stuart Stritzel, Tristan Stritzel, Ian Thorpe, Neal Tyson, Mike Wasilchuk.

Left: Xavier Coleman, Ashley DeCrosta, Jack Clark, Robyn Hurrell, Clara Chasse, Brenna Plumley, Celine Coleman, Emily Meredith, and Meg Torello. Right: Autumn Spinner, Emmery Bates, Ana Tarbetsky, Sarah Auer, Ian Thorpe, Oksana Nichols, Michelle Wendt, Emily Weis, Lindsay Clegg, Kaitlin Gillespie, Neal Tyson, Brenna Casey, Sam Delldonna, Logan Craffey, and Sarah Massicott.


The HK High School Girls Basketball team defeated Cromwell, 57-48, last night at the fieldhouse. Jordan Schultz led the Cougars with 18 points followed by Allie Rand with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Michelle Fillion scored 11 including 4 three pointers and Shelby VanHuysen scored 8. HK improves its record to 9-5.

The HK High School Swim team fell to Middletown, 87-99. H-K got double wins from Doug Fetteroll and Jeff Ludington and its 200 medley and 400 free relay teams. Fetteroll won the 200 and 500 freestyle races, while Ludington was first in the 200 IM and 10 backstroke. Both swam on the 400 free relay with Zach Morello and Ryan Buys, while Ludington was also on the 200 medley unit with Ryan Blewett, Morello and Chris Eigner. Read all about the meet in the Middletown Press.

Terrific Tots program for 2-years-olds and a caregiver will have open registration for the 2008 - 2009 school year on Saturday, February 2, 2008 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, in the nursery school classroom. Child turning 2 by December 31, 2008 may join this class. Class for the 2008 - 2009 school year will be offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 9:30AM to 11:00 AM or Tuesday or Wednesday from 12:30 PM to 2:00PM. For any questions please call the school at 860-663-2950.

You have seen them sliding down your street, or coming down a driveway in your neighborhood. Sometime they sneak in a quick one down a ramp of a public building when no one is around. Young people on skateboards are a common sight these days and an individual sport in its own right, requiring stamina and a good sense of balance. It sure looks like a lot of fun for those practicing it.

About 25 families in Haddam and Killingworth are interested in the idea of a skateboard park for the youths of Haddam & Killingworth. They would like to know if there is enough interest in the community at large before they pursue this project and gather information, facts and figures from other existing facilities around the state.

If you are interested please email Mary Keithan at mokeithan@comcast.net

An important vote is taking place in the children's room at the Killingworth Library. Did you ever wonder what it's like inside a voting booth? Pulling that big handle and having the curtain close? flicking those little levers and hearing "click...click...click"?

Did you ever wonder what it's like making a BIG decision, a decision important enough to be done in secret? Well, if you live in the town of Killingworth and you're in the 4th, 5th, or 6th grade you'll be able to find out exactly how it feels! Come to the Killingworth Library until January 31 and vote for the 2008 Nutmeg Children's Book Award. Let your voice be heard Come vote + make a difference!

The nominated books for grades 4-6 are: A Bear Named Trouble by Marion Dane Bauer; Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret; Hatching Magic by Ann Downer; Jackie's Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs; The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan; Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park; The Ravenmaster's Secret by Elvira Woodruff; Shredderman Secret Identity by Wendelin van Draanen; The Seven Professors of the Far North by John Fardell and White Star: A Dog on the Titanic by Marty Crisp

The Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department is offering a Magic Workshops for boys and girls ages 5 - 12 this winter. All workshops are on Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4:15 PM. The fee is $20 each workshop ($15 if your child is enrolled in the HK After School Program). Non-Residents please add $5. Children will have fun learning basic introductory magic while building self-confidence and dexterity. Five different tricks will be taught in each session. Each child will receive a magic kit which includes 5 tricks, an instruction sheet describing each trick, and a magic wand. Kids will also be entertained by Tom O'Brien's own act.

Session I is on January 31st at Killingworth Elementary School library.
Session II is on February 28th at Haddam Elementary School Library
Session III is on March 27th at Burr Elementary School Library.

For more information and how to register, please call the HK Recreation Department at 345-8334 or visit www.hkrec.com.

Gene Bernard Garuti, age 71, of Killingworth, passed away on Monday, January 21, 2008 at Yale New Haven Hospital after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Gene was the beloved husband of Sally (Morgan) Garuti. He was born in New Britain on May 30, 1936 to the late Avanti Garuti and to Alice (Guagliumi) Garuti of Killingworth. Gene was in the Army Reserves. He retired after 38 years of working as a computer analyst for the Hartford Insurance Group. Gene was a member of St. Lawrence Church in Killingworth. He enjoyed computer work, and was a sports enthusiasts his favorite team being UCONN. He also enjoyed photography and classic movies. Most of all he cherished his family and grandchildren. He will be remembered always for his huge smile. He will be sadly missed. Besides his wife and mother he is survived by a daughter Lisa and her husband Kevin Trammell, a son Michael and his wife Melissa Garuti, and a daughter Kristin and her husband Matthew McCabe. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may attend calling hours at St. Lawrence church, Hemlock Drive, Killingworth, Friday January 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 26th at St. Lawrence at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at Rose Hill Cemetery in Rocky Hill. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Yale Cancer Center, 333 Cedar Street, PO Box 208028, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, the American Cancer Society, Meriden Executive Park, 538 Preston Ave., PO Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450, or to the Friends of the Mission Clinic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Inc., (www.guadalupe-ec.org) c/o Dr. Serle Epstein, 6 Woodland Road., Madison, CT 06443. Swan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Over the last several months, some Killingworth and Haddam families involved in the Cougar Aquatic Team (CAT) have found themselves at odds with the HK Recreation Authority. At last night's HKRec meeting, parents of swimmers who recently split off from the CAT program packed the small conference room to express their disappointment and embarrassment at the authority's behavior. HKRec Treasurer William Bowles responded with prepared comments from Chairman Craig Anderson but declined to answer questions from the audience.

Former CAT families are looking for the return of membership fees paid to the authority for the 2007-2008 year. They claim HKRec officials have refused to refund their fees as they have for families choosing to leave the CAT program all together or swim for another club. Anderson's statement said after intense communications between the authority and the newly formed Central Connecticut Aquatics Team (CCAT), an agreement was ready to be signed on December 19, 2007, but CCAT representatives canceled the meeting. CCAT Treasurer Robert Hannon said the CCAT Board of Directors voted to pull out of the meeting when at the last minute HKRec officials required them to sign a hold harmless and confidentiality agreement in order to receive the funds. Hannon also said the refund was not the full amount they expected.

Representatives from both groups are scheduled to meet on Friday. Anderson wrote, "we are optimistic that an agreement will be signed, funds will be transferred and the swimmers of both teams will benefit". Bowles said the meeting will involve negotiations between the two parties, is not open to the public, but is not an executive session of the authority. Hannon said he hopes everything can be resolved on Friday, but if not, CCAT will pursue the complaint it has filed with the USS Connecticut Swimming Association.

Last October after communication issues arose over coaching, facilities and the size of the CAT program, HKRec Director Frank Sparks wrote to parents that the authority had interpreted a letter from CAT coaches Sara Massa, George Bradner and Mike Krajewski to the Board of Directors of CAT as insubordinate behavior and a letter of resignation. HKRec also immediately terminated the contract with the program's second pool facility at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford.

According to parent John Wargo, who spoke at last night's meeting, those actions, taken without the authorization of the CAT Board of Directors or its membership, resulted in eleven Killingworth and Haddam families leaving the CAT program to form the Central Connecticut Aquatics Team. The Board of Directors of CCAT claim the coaches were not employees of HKRec and the regional board had no authority to fire them. They also claim that they were not notified of the coaches' termination or that the Choate facility contract would be terminated. Hannon said Choate officials contacted them directly and they were able to re initiate the contract under CCAT.

Hannon said HKRec originally returned $14,000 in fees to the eleven families looking to establish the CCAT program based out of the Choate facility with Massa as the coach. He said there was also a verbal agreement to distribute the remaining membership fees in the near future. Wargo said that HKRec officials "somehow" gained signatory authority over the assets of the private association's bank account and seized its funds. Hannon said CCAT is looking to have the remaining $19-20,000 returned so they can pay their coaches and continue supporting the new program.

The CAT program was established 20 years ago by a group of HK parents. Its goal is to promote the recreational activity of competitive swimming in the Towns of Haddam and Killingworth. Last fall it had 90 team members ranging in age from 7 to 21 and included swimmers from both towns as well as from Wallingford and the surrounding areas. According to Wargo, 65 swimmers have chosen to remain under Massa's leadership with the new CCAT program.

Killingworth Nursery School will accept registration for the 2008 - 2009 school year. Alumni can register on Thursday, January 31 or February 1, 2008 from 9:00AM to 10:30 AM., in the Nursery School. Children turning 3 or 4 years old by December 31, 2008, open registration will be on Saturday, February 2, 2008 with an Open House from 1:00PM to 3:00 PM in the Killingworth Nursery School classrooms (273 Route 81, Killingworth, CT. 06419). For more information please call the school at 860-663-2950.

Killingworth Elementary students enjoyed Little Red Riding Hood on Friday, performed by the Connecticut Opera Express. Seymour Barab's clever adaptation of the traditional Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale was made possible by the KES-PTO with the support of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Shoreline League of Democratic Women (SLDW) and the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society will co-host a program entitled "Women and the Peace Movement" with guest speaker Mercy O'Bourke. O'Bourke is the former President of The Women's International League of Peace and Freedom (WILPF) in New Haven. The event will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 7:30 PM at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society, 297 Boston Post Road in Madison, CT. There is no admission fee. The SLDW seeks membership from women who live in Clinton, Madison, Guilford, Killingworth, Old Saybrook, Essex, Westbrook, Chester, Deep River, Haddam, East Haddam, Old Lyme, and Lyme.

Guest Speaker Mercy O'Bourke will present a unique perspective on women leading the peace movement by challenging their governments' beliefs that war and military solutions are necessary to resolve conflict. Born in Cuba, O'Bourke has worked as a multilingual interpreter for the CT Justice Department, and is a talented pianist. O'Bourke resides in New Haven, CT, but has also lived in Canada and Iran.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was founded in 1915 during World War I. WILPF works to achieve through peaceful means world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, an end to all forms of violence, and to establish those political, social, and psychological conditions, which can assure peace, freedom, and justice for all.

The Shoreline League of Democratic Women is a chapter of the Connecticut Federation of Democratic Women (CFDW), which is a chapter of the National Federation of Democratic Women.

Monday January 14:
• 12:10 AM: Medical emergency, Tower Hill Rd
• 1:38 AM: Fire alarm, Route 81
• 8:29 AM: Motor vehicle accident, Route 148
• 8:50 AM: Motor vehicle accident, Route 81
• 1:53 PM: Electrical fire pole / wire, Roast Meat Hill Rd
• 5:31 PM: Medical emergency, Woodland Trl
• 9:49 PM: Medical emergency, Iron Works Rd
Wednesday January 16:
• 6:54 AM: Medical emergency, Chittenden Rd
Thursday January 17:
• 8:23 PM: Motor vehicle accident, intersection of Route 148 and Beckwith Rd
Friday January 18:
• 10:12 AM: Medical emergency, Pleasant Trl

The Killingworth Land Conservation Trust is looking for a surveyor to donate his or her time to find the boundaries on one of our small parcels. This was one of our first acquisitions (1976) and the few pins that were there can no longer be found (by us, at least). This 3.1 acre parcel off of Route 148 is home to a White Cedar Swamp*, listed by the CT DEP as an imperiled habitat. The problem is that the cedars are being crowded out by other trees, threatening the propagation of new plants. We would like to restore a section of it to allow the Atlantic White Cedars to continue to thrive. However, before we do any work in there, we would like to be sure of our boundaries.

This is a simple, rectangular-shaped piece that borders a main road. A map has been uploaded to http://klct.homestead.com/klctmap.html

If you'd like to help us out, please call John Himmelman at 663-3225, or email jhimmel@comcast.net. Our website is at www.killingworthlandtrust.com

*Incidentally, there are two Atlantic White Cedar Swamps located in Killingworth - the Land Trust owns both of them.

HK Sports: The HK Girls Travel Basketball team notched a tough,24-22, win on Sunday at home against Clinton in a defensive contest. Both teams played aggressively with the quarter scores 7-9, 15-13 at the half and tied at 17 at the end of the 3rd quarter. HK came out in a full court player to player press to start the fourth quarter, to edge out the opponent. Clinton tied the game with less than 12 seconds on the clock hitting one of two free throws. Clinton then pressed HK on the made basket, and tied up the ball. HK called a quick time out, and decided to execute a play they had worked on all season in practice. Anna Fetteroll took the ball out of bounds. Sam Waskowitz popped over the end line and took the side pass from Fetteroll. Fetteroll sprinted down court and took a baseball pass from Waskowitz, to Beth Riedy who bounce passed to Marissa Moncata for the go ahead layup. Clinton could not recover.

Riedy scored a team high and tied a game high 9 points, followed by Fetteroll with 5 points. Waskowitz and Moncata each scored 4 points. Moncata's 4 points came at crucial times in the 4th quarter as HK outscored Clinton 7-5. Kirsten Carlson chipped in with a pair. Sammi Mackowicz, Rachel Minnetti and Autumn Spinner aided in the defensive effort for HK. With 3 games to go in the season, HK is now 5-3.

Photo courtesy C. Reidy

Have you noticed the unusual lawn ornaments popping up around town recently? They show up, then they are gone....on to another unsuspecting victim's yard. A flock of pink flamingos with a note saying "You've been flocked". For a modest ransom you can have the flock removed and sent to a neighbor's yard.

The Senior High Youth Group seems to be the culprit. The SHYG is a gathering of high school students from the Killingworth Congregational Church, the Higganum Congregational Church and First Congregational Church of Haddam. The goal is to combine fellowship and fun through social activities and outings, with opportunities for outreach, community service and spiritual growth. The flocking of residents' yards is a fundraiser for a trip to Washington DC during February school vacation for missionary work. For more information you'll have to follow the birds...

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Haddam and Killingworth committee is holding a Relay For Life kickoff party on Tuesday, January 29 at 6:30PM at the HK Middle School to share with residents the importance of Relay For Life in saving lives from cancer. There will be speakers, food, information, and opportunities to get involved in planning the event.

Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society. It is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remember loved ones, and raise money for the fight against cancer.

"Relay For Life is as much an awareness raiser about the progress against cancer as it is a fundraiser," said Alexis Begin, Community Executive for Income Development for the American Cancer Society. "Individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to this exciting event as a volunteer or participant have made a commitment to fight back against this disease and let the community know that you can beat cancer." Teams of eight to 15 members will gather with tents and sleeping bags to join with more than 4,000 communities nationwide that sponsor Relays. Relay For Life brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, and churches throughout the community. Teams seek sponsorship prior to the Relay, all with the goal of eliminating cancer.

Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, seek community support, coordinate logistics, find refreshments and prizes, plan entertainment, and lend their support in any way.

For more information on the kickoff, or if you would like to volunteer on the Relay For Life committee, please contact Cindy Pitts and Lee Kozlowski at hkrelay08@gmail.com. For more information on cancer, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit www.cancer.org.

HK Sports: The H-K Boys and Girls Track Team competed at their own H-K Invitational at the New Haven Athletic Center on Saturday. Competing in the meet were more than 35 small and medium sized schools from throughout the the state.

The girls team placed 3rd out of 36 teams and scored 41 points. The boys placed 6th out of 36 teams by scoring 26 points.

Some of the highlights for the boys were the 4x800 relay team of Kevin Allison, Brandon Page, Paul Massicott and Wyatt Haynosch that placed 3rd in a time of 8:53 and qualified for States. In the 1000 meter run senior Mike Waterbury placed first the with a time of 2:40.77 and Kevin Allison placed 11th with a time of 2:50.99 both performances qualified for States. Brad Boulay placed 12th in the 600 with a time of 1:32.50 also qualifying him for States. The boys Sprint Medley Relay team of Boulay, Dave Bartollata, Matt O'Brien and Waterbury placed first in a time of 3:51.78 qualifying them for the State Championships. In the 300, sophomore Ray Cerino placed 17th in a time of 40.29 which qualified him for States and Jason Funaro placed 7th in the 3200 meter run in a time of 10:21 which qualified him for States.

The girls team was led by the 4x800 relay team of Hannah Donadio, Gaby Haynosch, Sarah Tischbein and Amy Chamberlain that won their race in a time of 10:34 that qualified the relay for States. In the Shot Put, senior Courtney Hannen won the event with a throw of 34'9.5" that also qualified her for the State Championships. Caroline McManus placed 6th in the 55 hurdles with a time of 9.75 that qualified her for States. Jess Moore placed 3rd in the 1000 running 3:15.68 and qualifying for States while Gabby Haynosch placed 4th in the 600 running 1:49.45 and also qualifying for States. The girls sprint medley relay team of Siobhan Blancaflor, Mary Dornfeld, Caroline McManus and Moore placed 3rd and qualified for States running a time of 4:39. In the 300 meter dash Hannah Donadio placed 4th and qualified for States running 44.38. Senior Amy Chamberlain placed 7th in the 3200 with a time of 12:51.

HK Sports: The HK Middle School Swim Team cruised to a, 160-112, overall win against East Lyme Middle School Friday. It was the first meeting ever between the two schools. The Cougar girls won their meet, 85-39, while the undermanned boys' team managed to hold off East Lyme, 65-51. The remainder of the HK points came from the 2 coed events in the meet: diving and the 400 free relay. Once again 7th grader Anna Fetteroll was a dual winner, taking first in both the 50 free and the 50 breastroke by wide margins. Fetteroll also teamed up with Brennan Marczweski, Emmery Bates, and Celine Coleman to win the 200 medley relay and with Michelle Wendt, Gaby Orlando, and Brennan Marczweski to win the 200 free relay. Eighth grade standout Coleman also won two events by capturing both the 100 IM and the 50 backstroke. Ashley DeCrosta, Emily Meredith, Emily Weis, and Ana Tarbetsky teamed up to capture 2nd in the 200 free relay, while Bates, Tess Grimaldi, and Brenna Plumley captured 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places respectively to win the 50 butterfly. 8th graders Meredith and DeCrosta had personal best times in the 100 free; in addition, 7th graders Sarah Massicott, Bates, and Lauren Blewitt also recorded personal bests in their events.

The boys' medley relay of Jake Gibbons, Stuart and Tristan Stritzel, and R.J. Moore won that event as well as the 200 free relay to power the Cougars on to victory. Jake also got 2nd in the 50 free and won the 50 backstroke; Stuart Stritzel got 2nd in both the 100 IM and the 100 freestyle; Tristan Stritzel won the 50 breastroke and got 4th in the 50 butterfly while 8th grader Moore won the 100 free and got 2nd in the 50 fly. Mason Revis got 3rd in the 100 IM and 4th in the backstroke for the Cougars. Divers Tim Lafleur and Mike Wasilchuk got 3rd and 4th respectively in that event. HK improve its record to 3-0. Their next meet is next Wednesday vs. Hopkins in New Haven followed by the Middle School State Open Championships next Saturday in Cheshire. Over 500 middle schoolers from the entire state are expected to compete in that meet.

(L)Ashley DeCrosta, Emily Meredith, and R.J. Moore--8th graders who recorded personal bests
(R) 7th grader Anna Fetteroll winning the 50 breastroke
(L) 200 free relay winners Brennan Marczewski, Gaby Orlando, Michelle Wendt, and Anna Fetteroll
(R) Winning boys' medley relay and free relay team: R.J. Moore, Stuart Stritzel, Tristan Stritzel, and Jake Gibbons. Photos by S. Grimaldi

The HK High School Boys Swim team remains undefeated with its win over Northwest Catholic Friday evening. It was a very close meet with the final relay determining the outcome. HK defeated NWC, 95-91.

Photo by S. Mazzotta

The HK Girls Basketball team defeated Coginchaug, 66-38, Friday night. Jordan Schultz scored 18 to lead the Cougars. Allie rand scored 15, Deanna Loso scored 10 and Shelby VanHuysen scored 9. Loso also had 10 steals. HK improves its record to 7-5.