Connecticut Water, in cooperation with CVS/pharmacy and the State Department of Consumer Protection, is hosting an Unwanted Medication Collections event at its Clinton office at 93 West Main Street (Route 1), Clinton, on Saturday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, aptly titled "Rx for Safe Disposal", is free and open to customers and residents of the company's 54 service towns, as well as residents in those towns where the company's watersheds and water supplies are located. Connecticut Water has partnered on this event with a number of state and local non-profit organizations who share its commitment to protecting the environment.

"As part of Connecticut Water's commitment to the environment and sustainable practices that benefit the communities we serve, we wanted to provide an environmentally sound way to dispose of these products," said Cindy Gaudino, Connecticut Water's manager of Source Protection and Real Estate. "Although there is a very low risk of the presence of pharmaceuticals in our drinking water due to unique laws in Connecticut that prohibit waste discharges into public drinking water supply sources, we recognize our customers are concerned about their proper disposal."

Although it was not a requirement, Connecticut Water performed tests at two of its water treatment plants in April 2008, to determine if any pharmaceutically active compounds were present in the drinking water delivered to customers. The company tested for 67 parameters and none of the compounds were detected at either treatment plant. These results, coupled with the 120 parameters routinely tested for, confirm the quality of the treatment and drinking water provided by Connecticut Water to its customers.

In addition to the environmental benefits, getting outdated and unused medication out of medicine cabinets prevents misuse and reduces the chances of children getting into them.

All medicines brought to the event must be in their original containers. Prescription medicine containers must have the patient's name crossed out, but the name of the medication must be visible. Only the following items will be accepted for disposal:

Expired or unwanted prescription medications
Over-the-counter medicines (cough and cold remedies, pain relievers, etc.)
Vitamins/nutritional supplements
Veterinary medications
No mercury thermometers, medical waste or sharps will be accepted.

All medicines collected will be safely incinerated.

"We are pleased to be the first water utility in the state to offer this type of collection day," said Maureen Westbrook, vice president of Customer and Regulatory Affairs. "We believe this is a practical, meaningful response to the public's concerns about the potential impacts of disposal of pharmaceutical products and are proud to partner with several other organizations in this important effort."

In addition to CVS/pharmacy and the State Department of Consumer Protection, Connecticut Water is working in partnership with the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency, Tidewater Institute, Connecticut River Watershed Council, Rivers Alliance and the Farmington River Watershed Association to promote the event. For more information visit www.ctwater.com or call Connecticut Water Customer Service at 1-800-286-5700, or Corinne Ewing at CVS/pharmacy, (401) 770-5085.

This morning the Haddam-Killingworth High School administration received a report from the Connecticut State Police that a female student enrolled at the high school was approached by an individual while she was walking to her bus stop in the Hayden Hill Road section of Haddam yesterday morning (Thursday). The vehicle was seen in this same area again this morning. According to the State Police the individual, described as a white male, 6' 2", 255 pounds with salt and pepper hair and partially grown facial hair, was driving a Grey, Dodge Caravan with an unconfirmed CT marker plate.

State Police officials are presently investigating this as "a suspicious incident."

In response to this report, district officials, working cooperatively with the State Police have initiated the following steps:

1. Notified each school of the report (Each Principal will ensure that students are notified appropriately)
2. Notified all bus drivers of report
3. Sent a Honeywell Alert message to all parents in the District
4. Sent written notice of report home with all students
5. Notified Town officials in both Haddam and Killingworth
6. Notified area school districts of report

Please remind children of what to do if they are approached by a stranger.

If you have any additional information, please contact the State Police.

Any questions may be directed to the Central Office of the district at 345-4534.

UPDATE: Regional School District officials have been informed by the State Police that the individual reported above has been identified and has been questioned regarding this situation.

According to the State Police, there is no need to engage a criminal investigation at this time. District officials remind parents to remain diligent about speaking to their children about proper ways of managing an approach by a stranger.

Regional School District 17 opened its doors to students yesterday to start the 2008-2009 school year. As the bus doors opened at Killingworth Elementary School, new sneakers, backpacks and nervous smiles were the dress of the day for the kindergartners. At the middle school and high school, catching up with friends and hurrying to homeroom was the norm. Teachers and staff at all five district schools are prepared to start the new year with the slogan, "Believing is Achieving". Superintendent Gary Mala said in his opening day address, "Just as last year the district articulated its commitment to making dreams come true, this year we must believe that we can positively impact the results associated with the work of our schools by working together to achieve great things for our children".

The Town of Killingworth has placed automated traffic control devices near both schools and State Troopers have beefed up speed enforcement throughout the town. Remember school zones are 25 mph zones. With bus stops along every road and construction slowing several major and minor thoroughfares, please plan some extra time in your travels to ensure your safety and the safety of our town's children.

Principal Rita Peretto welcomes students at KES

Fifth through eighth graders arrive for a new year at the middle school.

Hey everybody who drives cars -

Did you see the school buses and know what a special day this was?
Did you see kids standing on the sides of the roads this morning?

Do you know how scary it is for us to hear your big engines when you drive by?
Do you know how tiny we are and how really really big you are?

Please go slower - please look for me standing there - please keep me safe

This is a letter from a kid who started school yesterday

The State DOT will begin paving the Route 80/81 roundabout today, August 28, at 6:00 p.m. and will pave through the night until complete, by 6:00 a.m. on Friday, August 29.

Roast Meat Hill Road will be closed from the Killingworth/Clinton line to Rte 81 (last 800ft) on Friday morning; August 29 from approx 7-10:00 a.m. Clinton Public works will be repaving that section. No through traffic will be allowed.

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:

• Manage utilities and put out small fires
• Treat the three medical killers by opening airways
• Controlling bleeding, and treating for shock
• Provide basic medical aid
• Search for and rescue victims safely
• Organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective
• Collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts

CERT class will be held at the Killingworth Firehouse 333 Route 81 on:
Oct 4, Sat from 9:00 to 4:00
Oct 8, Wed from 6:30 to 9:30
Oct 15, Wed from 6:30 to 9:30
Oct 18, Sat from 9:00 to 4:00

Please contact Killingworth Director of Emergency Managment Donald McDougall at 663-1355 or email donaldmcdougal@townofkillingworth.com

Higganum Center - Where has it gone?

I have been contemplating writing this letter for a few weeks regarding Higganum center businesses. Where is our center going? The Country Market has signed the lease and will be moving to Tylerville in the fall. Rumors come and go about another market coming in but in order for another business to go into that building, much renovation needs to be done by the Grange or the new owners. I am still wondering why the building was not kept up to date since the grange received a good amount of money over the years for rent from the Country Market but never did the proper upkeep of the building.

One business leaving and now two weeks ago Higganum Drug Center closed without any notice to customers other than the newspaper article. Unless you heard it word of mouth you wouldn't have known. I visit an older couple once a week and they asked me when is the Drug Store closing, and I replied it's closed. This couple was there on 8/12 and were not informed that the store was closing. I would have thought we would have gotten a letter in the mail stating they were closing and how to go about getting our prescriptions. It is too bad something couldn't have been done to keep Higganum Drug where it was since now we will be without a pharmacy and market in the center of town. I just want to say "Thanks" to John and all the employees for many years of dedicated service to our town. All of you will be greatly missed. The designers of the sidewalks should think about moving them to Tylerville since that is where the businesses will be now.

Elaine Jackson
Higganum Resident

Marilyn L. Fowler, 75, of Haddam, wife of the late Donald H. Fowler, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Aaron Manor in Chester. Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Edward J. and Lillian (Churchill) Lonergan.

Marilyn lived in Haddam for 36 years. She was a teacher at Haddam-Killingworth schools for 17 years and during that time she served as a coordinator of multiple subjects before retiring in 1989. She received a bachelor's degree from Vassar College in New York and later a master's degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown. She taught in public school systems for 35 years. Marilyn served as a justice of the peace, on the Haddam Democratic Town Committee, was a member of AOH and NCCJ and a former member of Middletown Junior Women's Club.

She is survived by two daughters, Deborah Lee East and her husband, David, of Clinton and Kate Lee-Salerno and her husband, Frank, of Higganum; a brother, Edward A. Lonergan and his wife, Nancy, of Old Saybrook; a granddaughter, Rebecca Salerno; a niece, Tammy Lonergan; a nephew, Edward F. Lonergan and his wife, Laura; and four grandnieces, Viktorija and Taylor Grillo and Taryn and Cara Lonergan. Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Stephen Lee.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. at the Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown, and interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Family and friends may call at the funeral home Thursday, two hours prior to the service from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations in Marilyn's memory to the Donald and Marilyn Fowler Scholarship Fund c/o Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 305 CT-271, Higganum, CT 06441. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at doolittlefuneralservice.com.

by Gary Mala
Dear Parents and Concerned Citizens:
I am once again honored and excited to welcome you back to another school year. As in past years, this one is filled with the great promise for our continued success as a district. Above all else, this year provides us with another, unique opportunity to shape the lives of the children we serve.

This is yet another pivotal year for our district given the massive work achieved over the past few years and the realities associated with raising the expectations associated with our work particularly in the areas of teaching and learning. Our agenda, dedicated to children, is aggressive and is highlighted by the following initiatives that we are implementing during the 2008-2009 school year: Read more

On the first Tuesday of every month, all are welcome to attend a meditation program sponsored by Body Awareness thru Pilates & Massage and The Peace House. The FREE program which begins next Tuesday, September 2, will be held at 190 North Parker Hill Road from 7-8:30 p.m.

For more information contact Jeff Smolen at 663-1255, Su Dowling at 203-453-0137 or Amy Etra or Randy Davis at 663-0508

"The radiant one inside me has never said a word..."       Rumi

The Haddam Killingworth Board of Education extends its best wishes for a productive and safe 2008-2009 school year. The beginning of a new school year is a time of great excitement. The Haddam Killingworth school district is excited to introduce and welcome the newest members of our faculty.

High School:
Phillip Holtz, Physics Teacher. Phillip has six years teaching experience in various levels of physics, chemistry and physical science. He comes to us from Bristol Central High School and he has received his B.S. and M.S. from Southern CT State University.

Janet Kohn, Child Development Teacher. Janet's past experience in Child Development has been at Waterford High School and at Jared Eliot Middle School in Clinton, where she developed a babysitting/home alone program. Janet received her B.S.from the University of Rhode Island and her M.S. from Southern and Eastern CT State University.

Shefali Metha, General Science Teacher. Shefali comes to us from California where she received his B.S. in Chemistry from The University of California. Her past experience includes being an instructor at John Hopkins University. Shefali received her M.S. from Central CT State University.

Erin Grant, Spanish. Erin has two years teaching experience. She taught at St. Francis Academy in Baltimore, MD and RHAM High School in Hebron. Erin is a 2002 graduate of Haddam Killingworth High School and plans on coaching track. She received her B.S. from St. Anselm College.

Middle School:
Neil English, Assistant Principal. Neil comes to us from Old Saybrook Middle School where he has taught math for the past six years. Neil has a wide variety of experiences working with young students. He has been a resident director at the Grove School, Semester at Sea Residential Coordinator and an AmeriCorps N.C.C.C. Service Volunteer. Recently Neil has developed a district-wide Skills Program that boosts students' achievement. Neil received his B.S and M.S. from the University of Pittsburgh. He earned his 6th year degree from Sacred Heart University.

Holly Maynard, Special Education. Holly has previous experience in our HK community. She has worked with special needs students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Holly received her B.A. from Central CT State University and her M.S. from Southern CT State University.

Elizabeth Young, School Counselor. Elizabeth was a counselor at Guilford High School from 1996-2003. Presently, she is a community volunteer for our Youth and Family Services working as a mentor with a middle school student. Elizabeth received her B.S. and M.S. from Southern CT State University.

Burr Elementary School:
Jennifer Dorau, Pre-School Teacher. Jennifer comes to us from the New Britain YWCA Child Care Center where she was the head pre-school teacher for the past two years. Jennifer has also worked at Trinity College as a support specialist for the summer programs. Jennifer received her B.A. from Eastern CT State University.

Melissa Dowd, Grade 1 Teacher. Melissa comes to us from Deep River Elementary School where she worked as a long term substitute in second grade. Melissa also has previous experience working in the Hamden and Bethany school districts. Melissa received her B.A. and M.A. from Quinnipiac University.

Laura Lenahan, Grade 3 Teacher. Laura has had previous teaching experience at Killingworth Elementary School where she has been a long term substitute in Art and worked as a 3rd grade teacher in a one year position. Laura received her B.A. from Trinity College and Sacred Heart University.

Killingworth Elementary School:
Jennifer LaCoss, Reading Teacher. Jennifer's past experiences include teaching reading for the past 11 years in the Wallingford School system. Jennifer has also taught kindergarten, 4th grade and technology. Jennifer received her B.S. from Southern CT State University and her M.S. from S.C.S.U. and C.C.S.U.

Join the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee at our September 7th fundraiser from 3 pm until 7 pm at 294 Route 148. Help support our state and national candidates. Speak to officeholders and candidates while enjoying food and refreshments. Take a stroll around a family homestead that is "old Killingworth" as you discuss today's concerns for constructive change. Tickets are $20 a person; $30 per couple; $5 per child under 12. Reservations are appreciated: 663-3747 or killingworthdemocrats@gmail.com.

The Estuary Council of Seniors, a regional senior center that provides programs and services for anyone age 55 or better in the estuary region, has volunteer board openings.

They are available in the following towns: Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Killingworth, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. Candidates must be at least 55 and live year round in the town they wish to represent.

For more information and an application, call 860-388-1611.

Green Hill Combat Hapkido student Sean Gallimore recently passed his test for a "third dan" or third degree black belt. Gallimore has been training in various martial arts for twenty-six years, and in Combat Hapkido for five years. According to owner Arthur Blair, "it would normally take around seven years for a student to reach a third dan level, but since Sean already had so much experience with the martial arts, he had developed the mind-set and the fundamentals, which made techniques easier to learn, so his time frame was shorter".

back row (l-r) Cody Buffinton, John Himmelman, Sean Gallimore, Ed Ricciuti, Mark Harrison, front row (l-r) Sam Cogar, Kyle Buffinton, school owner Arthur Blair, Wendy Blair, Hannah Pederson. Photo courtesy A. Blair

Haddam-Killingworth High School's Project Graduation is gearing up to begin planning the all night drug and alcohol free graduation celebration for the class of 2009!

All meetings take place on the second Tuesday of each month and meet at 7:00pm in the lower media center of the high school. Please join us at our first planning meeting on Tuesday, September 9th.

The committee is in need of a chairperson for the food committee and also for the entertainment committee. If you are able to help out with either of these two committees, or in any other capacity, please contact Project Grad Chairperson, Kaycee Blancaflor, at 345-7419 or kccallahan@uks.com or Vice Chair Sue Craffey at 345-3908 or jcraffey@snet.net with any questions.

Parents of HKHS students, please keep an eye out in your mail next week for Project Graduation's major wrapping paper fund raiser. Please consider placing an order to help Project Graduation raise funds for this worthwhile event. Orders will be collected at the HKHS Open House in September.

A resident reports that she has a very scared medium-sized beagle in her backyard. The dog has a collar and leash on, but is too scared to come close enough to catch. The resident lives on Route 148, but says the nearest neighbors are on Parker Hill. If you have any information about a lost dog or know of a beagle type that lives in that area, please call 203.434.7583 or email the editor at editor@killingworthtoday.com.
UPDATE: The dog was reunited with its owner Monday morning.

After a long struggle with afflictions beyond medical comprehension Charlene Laramee passed away Thursday, August 21, 2008. Those whose lives she was a part of will not forget her warmth, her kindness or her boundless generosity of spirit. No living thing in need was ever turned away by her. Her compassion for the human condition was matched only by her uncommon affinity with animals. Her charity was unconditional, her friendship unqualified. It is no cliché to say that the world is a smaller place without her in it. The lives of all who knew her are diminished by her loss.

Though fate did not provide her recent years with the blessings she deserved, her recent sorrows should not obscure the memory of the life that came before. Her intelligence and sense of humor could not be ignored and shall not be forgotten. Nor should her dogged persistence in pursuit of what she thought just and right. Her indomitable will and fierce courage carried her through unimaginable struggles against a silent enemy. Against insurmountable odds she did not flinch. Perhaps this world is not big enough to hold such a heart. She was a rare and wonderful thing in a world gone wrong.

Charlene is survived by her daughter Brittany Celmer and by Ray Celmer, the man who loved her without limit for 27 years and always will. They will miss her more than words can express. She will be remembered - Charlene was always unforgettable anyhow. She is also survived by the innumerable friends whose lives she touched. To those who loved and supported Charlene to the end her family is truly grateful. Your compassion will not be forgotten. May she rest in peace. Lord knows, she earned it.

A Memorial visitation will be held at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St. Centerbrook on Wednesday from 5-7pm. Interment will be private.

Agenda
Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge Of Allegiance
3. Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on July 28, August 11, and Special Meeting held July 23 and August 14, 2008
4. Visitors: Concerning Items on the Agenda
5. Tax Abatements & Refunds:
6. Vacancies:
    (A) IWWC - 1, (B) OEM - 1, (C) Public Health. - 5 (D) Traffic Study Comm. - 2 (E) Housing Partnership - 4 (F) Library Board - 1 G. ZBA Alternate - 1
7. Appointments:
    (A) ZBA Alternate - David Denvir
8. Old Business:
9. New Business:
    A. Multi-year Capital Improvement Plan
    B. Town Hall Hours/Discussion
    C. Bid Opening - Cleaning of Catch Basins
    D. Establish Charter Review Commission
    E. BOS Approval of Emergency Management Performance Grant Program For FFY 2008 (10/1/07-9/30/08) & FFY 2009 (10/1/08-9/30/09)
    F. Resolution Authorizing MOA between DEMHS and the Town of Killingworth
10. RJC Announcements
11. Selectmen's Concerns
12. Visitor Comments: General
13. Executive Session: On-Going Negotiations Concerning Real Estate Acquisition
14. Adjournment
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