HK Sports: The Haddam-Killingworth Girls Basketball team is hosting the 2nd Annual DeRita Construction Holiday Classic Tournament on Saturday, December 27th and Monday, December 29th. The schedule for the tournament is:
DECEMBER 27:
1:30 St Bernard JV vs Guilford JV
3:30 St Bernard vs Guilford
5:30 Valley Regional JV vs H-K JV
7:30 Valley Regional vs H-K

DECEMBER 29:
1:30 JV Consolation Game
3:30 JV Championship Game
5:30 Var. Consolation Game
7:30 Var. Championship Game

Come out and support the Cougars as they attempt to defend their 2007 tourney title.

The Arts Center at Killingworth will host four sessions of monitored drawing with professional art models beginning Wednesday, January 7th through Wednesday, January 28th. Sessions will run from 7-9:30pm and cost $10 per session. There will be no instruction for this series. Space is limited, register in advance.

Join the Arts Center at Killingworth and Artist Gloria Nilsson for this monthly Fashion Still Life Workshop. On Sunday, January 18th 1:30-4:30pm, combine your fashion flair while learning Designer Marker Rendering. Start with pencil sketches, a few exciting fashion accessories and use this fluid medium to create finished marker comps that will demand attention. Set up a different fashion still life each month with a new medium. Set up a different fashion still life each month with a new medium. For teens and adults only. $30 per session. Material list available. No previous experience necessary.

The Arts Center will also offer a Knitting Workshop with graphic artist and designer Kimberly Conner on Sunday, January 25th, 1-4pm. She will challenge you to create a beautiful and elegant lacy wave scarf. Experiment with new colors and textures to create a one-of-a-kind accessory. Basic knitting skills required: Casting on, knit and purl stitches, and binding off. Cost is $50. Space is limited, register in advance.

The Arts Center at Killingworth, 276 North Parker Hill Road, Killingworth, CT. Call (860) 663-5593 or email artscenterkillingworth@gmail.com, Visit us online: www.artscenterkillingworth.org

Town Fire Marshal Jim McDonald recently recognized the winners of the Annual Fire Prevention Poster Contest. The fourth grade winner is Mary Pizzuto and the fifth grade winner is Gavin Figurelli. Both winners received a $50 Savings Bond. The local winning posters will now compete against other contestants from Middlesex County. County winning posters will be judged for the statewide winner in the Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest during the month of February. County winners will receive a $200 Savings Bonds and the single Statewide winner will receive a $1,000 Savings Bond.

A luncheon will be held on March 26, 2009 for all county winners along with the announcement of the statewide winner.

Fourth grade winner Mary Pizzuto poses with KES Art Teacher Alexis Kelsey and Fire Marshal Jim McDonald.

Fifth grade runners up Jillian Yakimoff and Trevor Mann pose with Fire Marshal Jim McDonald and the 1st place poster winner Gavin Figurelli. Contributed photos

Cub Scouts Pack 18 would like to send a heartfelt thank you the local community for contributing to our successful Holiday charity drive. The Pack collected 122 toys for Toys for Tots and raised $255 at our "buck-a-cup" soup/chili sale at the Christmas in the Village Holiday Gala Sunday December 14th.

Last Thursday night, the Toys for Tots collection was delivered to Adam's Hometime Market in Deep River, an official designated 'drop off' point for the U.S. Marine's collection. The toys will be distributed to children located throughout Middlesex and New Haven Counties in time for Christmas.

Proceeds from the soup/chili sale were given to the Friendly Fund of Killingworth and will be used to provide Oil & Heat Assistance for those local residents in need this winter season.

Special thanks go to Carrie Sassi of Da Vinci Pizzeria, Missy Yakimoff of the Funky Monkey, John Connell, and Matt Stillman for their instrumental involvement and support in making our charity drive such a success.

Weblos Ben Chasse and Cody Connell drop off the Toys for Tots collected at a nearby 'drop off' point. Photo courtesy S. Chasse

HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO ALL

As yet another Holiday Season draws to a close, one's thoughts naturally turn to sharing good times with our loved ones, getting together with family and friends, and enjoying the festivities of the season. It is during this very season that each person makes a sincere effort to extend good wishes to everyone. These very good wishes create collective warmth in all of us and, thus, make it a time to be enjoyed by all. My personal wish is that this collective warmth be felt by all in Killingworth throughout the entire New Year.

We, here at Town Hall, would like to take this opportunity to extend our warm and heart felt wishes to you and your families for a most joyous Holiday Season. May the New Year find you well and may prosperity be yours.

Rich Cabral
First Selectman

HK Sports: Last night the HKHS Girls Basketball team faced off against rival Morgan of Clinton in a matchup of undefeated teams in Shoreline Conference play. The Cougars came away with a resounding 45-37 victory to take sole possession of first place in the conference standings. Shelby Van Huysen led the balanced scoring with 13 points and Allie Rand had a double double scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The team played great defense to secure the win and would like to thank the many fans who cheered them on.

HK sophomore Emily Anderson drives past a Morgan defender in the Cougars 45-37 victory last night at the fieldhouse. Photo courtesy E. Anderson

SNOW EMERGENCY & PARKING VEHICLES

It is of the utmost importance that each and every resident assist our Town Highway crew in their efforts to keep the public roads of Killingworth safe for you and your family by adhering to the following regulations:

      • During any snow emergency, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any public road within the town of Killingworth.
      • From November fifteenth (15) to April fifteenth (15) of each year, it is unlawful during the hours of 12 midnight to 6:00 am to park a vehicle on any public road within the town of Killingworth.
      • Each of these parking violations is subject to fines and any other financial expenditure incurred by the town of Killingworth.
      • It is unlawful for any person to deposit, or permit to be deposited, snow or ice from their premises, driveways, or sidewalk in front of their premises, upon the public roads of the town of Killingworth.
      • Depositing snow on the public roads of Killingworth by any resident shall constitute a violation and shall result in a fine regardless if a snow emergency has been declared.

With your help and cooperation, each resident will transgress the winter months ahead safely.

SECURE YOUR TRASH

All of us enjoy the natural beauty and charm of Killingworth. For years local government, volunteer organizations and private citizens have worked hard to assure that we preserve and protect that beauty and charm. Part of that charm is the ability of local citizens to utilize our transfer station.

Recently, many of you have noticed and commented to this office that there is
an increase in the amount of household refuse that blows out of open vehicles on the way to the transfer station.

Rich Cabral
First Selectman

The Killingworth Library will be closed on Wednesday, December 24th and Thursday, December 25th (open again on Friday). We will be open until 8pm Tuesday night, in case you need some last-minute DVDs, music, or - for those of you hitting the road - audiobooks. Plus, if you still need some last-minute Christmas gifts, be sure to check out our sale items: collectible coffee mugs, Birds of Killingworth booklets, library greeting cards, canvas tote bags, and of course, the on-going booksale. Merry Christmas!

Principal, Miriam Furey-Wagner, is pleased to announce the honor roll for the first term of the 2008-2009 school year at Haddam-Killingworth Middle School. To view a complete list click here.

HK Sports: The Haddam-Killingworth High School Wrestling team returned from Farmington Saturday night with the accolades that proved they could hang with the larger programs in the state. The Cougar roster is designated by the CIAC Class "S", but the Cougars proved that "S" is only small if you think that way.

When the mats were rolled up at the end of the day several significant achievements had happened for the Cougars. Almost the entire team had a chance to wrestle at least one match which aided in the 117 points for the team score.

Five members of the team placed in the top four; Tony LaRosa won first place at 140, Justin Simmers placed 2nd at 125, Eric Gambardella placed 3rd at 215 with Nick Adler at 119 and Bill Baklik at 189 both at 4th. Eric Gambardella also won fastest fall by pinning all his opponents in the smallest amount of time.

The combined team effort secured a 5th place finish out of a nine team field which made H-K the highest placing "S" team. The final notable distinction of the day was to note two of the teams that place higher than the Cougars are top ten ranked teams in the state.

The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. against the Dragons of Middletown at the new Haddam-Killingworth Middle School.

(L-R)Front Row - Nick Adler, Justin Simmers and Eric Gambardella. Back Row - Bill Baklik and Tony La Rosa Photo courtesy G. Korper

The HKHS Boys Basketball team fell to North Branford Monday night, 63-43. Steve Landell led the Cougars with 12 points followed by Wes Nuhn with 10 and Sam Barbuto with 8. HK is 0-2.

Haddam-Killingworth High School will be hosting its 20th annual Holiday Show telethon Tuesday. The live student-produced program hosts a "Shoreline Idol" competition, which raises money for a different charity each year - this year, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The show will be broadcast live from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm December 23 and will be rebroadcast until January 4, 2009. Shoreline residents can turn to Comcast channel 18 and view finalists performing live.

People wishing to vote must register online or call in to the Holiday Show telethon with a pledge in the name of their favorite contestant. Each pledge will equal one vote for the contestant of their choice. The number of votes received by each contestant is considered by judges in determining the winner who will be announced at a concert hosted by John "Cadillac" Saville from 102.9 FM WDRC on January 23.

Ten Finalists:
Katie Armstrong, Hale Ray High School
Melaine Badin, Coginchaug High School
Rachel Burkholz, North Branford High School
Kelsey Crawford , Westbrook High School
Courtney Hargaray, Old Saybrook High School
Mary McGee, Valley Regional High School
Raina Mullen , Lyme/Old Lyme High School
Dane Paracuelles, Haddam-Killingworth High School
Nicole Poulter, Daniel Hand High School
Taylor Sapp, Cromwell High School

Monday: December 15:
• 06:51:01 Medical Call, Fire Tower Road.
Tuesday: December 16:
• 13:04:09, Structure Fire, Hilldale Trail .
• 15:58:33, Medical Call, Whitewood Road.
Wednesday: December 17:
• 10:21:03 Medical Call, Whitewood Road.
Thursday: December 18:
• 10:28:09 Medical Call, Green Hill Road.
Friday: December 19:
• 02:24:38 Structure Fire, Pond Meadow Road.
• 02:53:32 Mutual Aid Standby, Clinton HQ
• 17:09:00 Structure Fire, Maple Avenue Clinton.
Saturday: December 20:
• 06:26:36 Vehicle Fire, Route 81.
• 10:53:23 Medical Call, Boulder Trail.
• 21:45:33 Medical Call, Grouse Court.

HK Sports: The HKHS Girls Basketball team beat Coginchaug on Saturday, 52-43. The Cougars hit 23 of 35 free throws to seal the victory. Shelby VanHuysen led HK with 17 points, followed by Deanna Loso with 15, Allie Rand with 9, Emily Anderson with 7 and Jordan Shultz with 4. The team plays host to Shoreline Conference rival Morgan of Clinton at the HK fieldhouse at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23rd. Both teams bring undefeated conference records into the game. Come cheer us on!

Helping Hands of Killingworth extends our grateful thanks to all those who contributed to make this holiday season bright for many local families at both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Killingworth Lions gathered food, gift cards, and monetary donations at the town compactor on four Saturdays, and we thank them for braving the elements so enthusiastically. Thanks also to all the residents who donated on their way in and out!

The Killingworth Women's Organization collected toys and gift cards for our families, and we thank them and those who donated for their generosity.

We received generous donations of food from the Girl Scouts, the Killingworth Nursery School, Killingworth Elementary School, the Middle School, and the High School, and we thank those who organized those drives and those who contributed. St. Lawrence Church, the Congregational Church, Emmanuel Church, and Temple Beth Tikvah also donated food and/or money. Many local businesses agreed to be collection points for Helping Hands, and we thank all of them. All of this support enabled us to give away generous boxes of canned food, plus turkeys, hams, and gift cards.

The Community Emergency Response Team helped us pack our holiday boxes, and enthusiastic teens from the Congregational Church helped carry the boxes on the Thanksgiving and Christmas pick-up days. There are many others who helped by baking cookies and breads, delivering donations, sorting, shelving, and delivering to shut-ins, and we appreciate your help, which came when we needed it most. One of the recipients left a heartfelt thank you message on our HelpLine (663-4047) in which she thanked everyone who helped for all the food, homebaked goodies, and the gifts for her family. We wanted to share her thanks with all of you who donated. This is how she summed it up: "They say no one cares anymore; they should come to Killingworth."

We are very grateful for the support we received from the entire town of Killingworth. Thank you all, and best wishes for the New Year!

Jan O'Sullivan and Mercedes Ricciuti, Co-Directors