Killingworth, Connecticut's community news and information source since 2003
Submissions accepted at editor@killingworthtoday.com
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Saturday, February 28, 2009 Allie Rand skies for the tipoff at the start of the second overtime  HK was down 4 points with 48 seconds left in the second overtime and Old Lyme had possession of the ball. Then, Emily Anderson made 3 steals and scored the last 5 points, including the game winning freethrow with just 8 seconds to play, to win the game and secure the Cougars' second Shoreline Conference Championship. Anderson had a total of 15 points and six steals. Shelby VanHuysen had 20 points to lead the Cougars. Allie Rand had 8 points, Deanna Loso had 7 and Jordan Schultz had 6. HK is 19-4 as they head into the state tournament. Special thanks to the many HK fans and the awesome Cougar Den for their support. Read more about the game in the Middletown Press  HK players and coaches celebrate their Shoreline Conference Championship. Photos courtesy E. Anderson and R. Sokol  The Killingworth Park and Recreation Commission will host a special meeting regarding the Wettish Property Multipurpose Athletic Fields this Thursday, March 5th between 7:00 and 8:00 PM at the HK Middle School cafeteria. The Commission would like to invite the residents of Killingworth to attend. At this meeting the commission will discuss the proposed layout/plan, the process for bidding, vetting out the actual cost to build the fields, the process for approval of the project by the residents of Killingworth this spring, and the proposed schedule for commencing construction. Questions from the audience will be entertained.  To the Editor:
I have know Bruce for many years through the Killingworth Lions Club and have seen him in action on many committees. He is one of the hardest working and involved people in Killingworth. We, the residents of Killingworth are lucky to have such a dedicated person as a member of our community. This recognition is well deserved. I'm proud to consider him a good friend and fellow Lion. Thanks to the selectmen for recognizing Bruce. Sincerely, Tim Gannon To the Editor: HURRAH!! Great choice, Selectmen! I have never met anyone who could give more than 100% so consistently on any Town Committee or Board as Bruce Dodson can. Sincerely, Sue Davenport Friday, February 27, 2009Of the Board of Selectmen Town of Killingworth Whereas, Bruce E. Dodson, a longtime resident and servant of Killingworth, Connecticut, has devoted his time, effort, numerous skills and extensive knowledge to the betterment of the Town of Killingworth and its citizens, in a most humble and selfless manner, thereby standing as a shining example of honest and dedicated service and citizenship; Whereas, he has served his beloved community with the utmost dedication and diligence through a variety of civic, social, charitable, and public service roles; and Whereas, those efforts, too numerous to fully recount, include long standing service as an active member and leader of the Land Trust Board of Directors, including two periods of service as President and one as Vice President; long time service as member and chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals; service as member and most active participant of the Open Space and Parmelee Steering Committees; Whereas, his leadership, participation and promotion in the aforementioned posts have resulted in great and beautiful areas of this Town having been preserved and maintained for current residents and countless generations to come;  Whereas, his professional career no less deserving of acclamation than his other endeavors, Bruce has worked commendably as product designer and developer for General Electric and Timex and finally for himself, wherein he began a business designing important and much needed medical devices, for a better employer could not be hoped for; Whereas, through all of these efforts, Bruce has also been a dedicated and loving man of family, married these nearly thirty-four years to his beautiful wife Nancy, the result of this union being their lovely daughter Sarah and later joining the Dodson Clan, his most faithful and ever present companion, an Irish Wolfhound, Patric; Whereas, Bruce's love of his family, neighbors and community at large have lead him to selflessly expend many hours and efforts to ensure the enrichment and betterment of the lives of the citizens of this fine Town of Killingworth; Now, Therefore, we, the Killingworth Board of Selectmen, in acknowledgment of the foregoing and in recognition of the fine works and deeds of Bruce E. Dodson, do hereby proclaim the 23rd day of February of the year of our Lord 2009, as Bruce E. Dodson Day.  The event is a fun filled day and attendees can pick up bargain "treasures". The monies raised by the auction are used to supplement the fire company annual budget, as well as purchasing additional training and special fire/rescue equipment. Outfitting a dorm room for students? Furnishing a cottage? Looking for unique items? The auction is the place to be!! An "Auction Hotline" has been established for those wishing to donate quality items for the auction. The number is 860-663-2043 and the line is automatically answered 24 hours a day. Please leave your name, phone number and the items to be donated. A firefighter will return your call and make arrangements for pickup. Thursday, February 26, 2009The Haddam Killingworth Teen Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is planning a trip to Mobile, Alabama in early April to work on a property that will house a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The group, which is under the auspices of HK Youth and Family Services, is made up of students from Killingworth and Haddam which actively meet throughout the year and have worked on local habitat projects including painting, landscaping and raising awareness.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit agency which builds decent, affordable houses for people of all backgrounds, races and religions. Volunteer labor works with a selected family to build a simple and decent housing. When completed the house is sold to the family at no profit. The trip to Alabama will take place over April school vacation. During their week in Mobile will work on a property in Mobile County which was hit very hard by Hurricane Katrina. Recent statistics note that over 28% of children live in poverty in the county and that over 600 families are without a home. Volunteers for Habitat work on nearly all phases of homebuilding including roofing, siding, painting, although participants ages 16 and 17 are prohibited from excavation, demolition, using power tools and roof work. The group will stay at the Seton Center in midtown Mobile which is a restored convent and has dormitory type of accommodations. Although much of the week will spent working on the project site the group hopes to be able to enjoy some of the local flavor and attractions. The HK Chapter is looking forward to the experience of helping a disadvantaged family in obtaining a decent and affordable home. Understanding that they are fortunate to have a stable, safe and respectable place to live, members are excited to put their energies to good use. Chaperones for the trip include Cheryl Chandler of Youth and Family Services and parent volunteer, Elizabeth Malloy. Student parents including Deb Olsen, Sheila Muir, Laurie Armstrong, Beth Miller, Brian West and Michael O'Rourke have been active in the planning and logistics of the trip. Fundraising activities are being planned. A pancake breakfast "Hotcakes for Habitat" and silent auction are scheduled for March 21, from 8 am to 11 pm to be held at the Higganum Firehouse at 439 Saybrook Road, Higganum. If you are interested in learning more about the trip please visit their blog at http://hkhabitatyouthgroup.blogspot.com. If you are interested in supporting the effort please contact Cheryl Chandler at 345-7498.  HK Teen Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (l-r): Jennifer Muir, Hannah Malloy, Allison Armstrong, Grace Malloy, Sarah MacDonald, Kayla O'Rourke, Eric West and Kate Miller. Photo and story courtesy E. Malloy  ARE YOU LOOKING TO TRANSFORM YOUR BODY? Sign up for a group personal training class at THE FITNESS CONNECTION and win BIG in our TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE! This is a win/win situation - lose weight and win a prize for the greatest percentage of weight loss! The Winter Session challengers lost a total of over 150 pounds in 7 weeks! As a challenge participant, receive weekly food coaching and body changing strength and conditioning training throughout the 7 weeks to guide you to your new body. Or skip the Challenge and just come workout for a better body, improved health and to feel great about yourself every day! The Late Winter schedule at THE FITNESS CONNECTION begins on March 2nd. Classes begin as early as 5:15AM. Personal training with Fitness Trainer, Joey Morman, in a small group setting for only $160 (less than $14/class). We meet twice a week for 6 weeks. Work your whole body each class and most importantly, LOVE the way you look and feel after only 12 sessions. For details or to reserve a spot, call 860-663-0326. Get connected with The Fitness Connection and start feeling great about yourself! On February 22, three students representing three generations earned their black belts in Combat Hapkido. Greg Merola (KES student), Sid Werthan (Sculptor), and Ed Ricciuti (Author) have been training for years at Killingworth's Green Hill Combat Hapkido school. Hapkido, meaning "The Way of Coordination and Internal Power", was developed in Korea in 1940. It is a martial art utilizing kicks, strikes, throws, deflections and a plethora of manipulation techniques, most notably joint locks. Joint locking techniques are designed to move a wrist, elbow, knee, etc. in the opposite direction to its normal function, thereby causing pain compliance or, in an extreme situation, injury to an attacker.
"Combat" Hapkido is a form of Hapkido developed to incorporate more of the elements of physical science and is designed to deal with physical threats in a modern world. It is used by our military and police forces, as well as those in many other countries. Arthur Blair, founder of the school says "the goal of these movements is to make an opponent compliant, not to damage the joint. The intent is to be in control of an attacker, not beat someone into oblivion." In this art there are ten belts to acquire on the journey to black belt. They represent nearly two hundred different techniques. To earn a black belt, the student must demonstrate, in an hours-long test, proficiency in all of them - from memory! Merola and Ricciuti trained long and hard for this and will continue to do so. As will Werthan, who lives in Guilford and teaches Tang So Do. As much as one must learn to earn a black belt, in Combat Hapkido this rank is considered the beginning of the true learning process.  Arthur Blair, Sid Werthan, Greg Merola, Edward Ricciuti, Sean Gallimore (instructor) Photo courtesy J. Himmelman Wednesday, February 25, 2009The Board of Selectmen Monday evening voted to request the assistance of The Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization, to help in negotiations and fund procurement towards the possible purchase of the 260-acre Venuti property on Route 148.
Amy Patterson, a Project Manager for TPL, said the national non-profit organization helps communities identify their most important lands for recreation, watershed protection and habitat conservation. The TPL facilitates an agreement with the land owner and assists the community in finding available private and public funding sources. It ushers the project from inception to closing. At its own expense, the TPL does the necessary title work, environmental assessments, obtains appraisals or brings the current appraisals up to the highest "yellow book" standards and assists the town in the public campaign to get the project approved through informational sessions and public hearings.The TPL has experience helping communities resolve conflicts over landuse and property valuation. Patterson said the process normally takes about a year, but the slow economy may extend that. She emphasized that her organization is only a facilitator and does not enter into any contract with the town or landowner. Patterson said the goal is to negotiate a price as close to fair market value as possible and therefore is limited by the appraisals. She said that TPL then has all the tools to find the funding if it is out there. She said many private grants will mirror the restrictions of a state or federal grant. An area of the parcel can be reserved for active recreation, but most conservation grants are specifically designated for open space conservation and passive recreation only. Patterson is currently working with the Town of Chester on the acquisition of a 4.5 acre parcel on the Connecticut River. They were recently awarded a $489,000 DEP grant and a $50,000 grant from the Gateway Commission.  HK players celebrate their Shoreline Conference semifinal victory over Cromwell. Photo courtesy E. Anderson Tuesday, February 24, 2009The Board of Selectmen voted last night to reconstitute the Town's Traffic Safety Committee for an indeterminate term. The BOS will look to the two political committees for recommendations before making appointments.
The committee will provide advice and assistance to the Legal Traffic Authority (LTA)/Board of Selectmen and the Resident State Trooper on all matters related to traffic safety as it relates to the Town's infrastructure. The Committee will investigate issues and concerns of Town Residents regarding traffic safety, and in turn will make appropriate recommendation to the LTA, Resident Trooper and other Town Agencies to resolve these issues. The committee's works products for 2009 will include:
The girls tried out in five elements: cheer, chant, dance, jumps and interview. Based on the top scores the top ten are chosen for the First team and the second ten chosen for the Second team. The All Conference Cheer Squad will perform together at half time during both the girls and boys basketball shoreline final games. The girls game is Friday February 27th, at Coginchaugh High School, the game time is 7:00pm. The boys basketball shoreline final is Friday March 6th at Haddam-Killingworth High School at 7:00pm. At the boys final, the cheerleaders will be recognized with plaques for making First team and with certificates for the Second team. Congratulations to freshman Julie Vegliante, junior and HK Cheer Captain Kelcey Bartolotta, junior and HK Cheer Captain Camille Kostek on First team. This is the second year Kelcey and Camille have shared this honor.  Photo courtesy C. Kostek Robert W. Hanby of Killingworth, formerly of Millville, NJ, on Friday, February 20, 2009. Son of Barbara A. Hollister of Guilford. Brother of Marlene Rogers of Guilford. A proud Navy veteran, Robert served during the Gulf War aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). He was past commander of the American Legion Post # 82, a member of the VFW Post # 2169 and a member of the Order of the Elks all in Millville, NJ. He had been employed with US Postal Service for over 20 years and was an avid fisherman. Private Memorial and Burial services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Hanby's memory may be made to the American Legion Post # 82, Buck and Mulberry, Millville, NJ 08332. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. www.GuilfordFuneral-Home.com
Monday, February 23, 2009After several successful runs in regional and national theatrical productions, 27-year-old former resident Adam Souza made his conducting debut in the musical Wicked on Broadway in early January. The 2000 Haddam-Killingworth High School graduate and son of residents John and Anna Souza, has spent the last several months learning the Wicked score, taking an occasional turn with the baton, and preparing to take the production on a national tour in early March, starting in Fort Meyers, Florida.
Souza said the experience of conducting on Broadway was "completely outrageous". His duties as Music Director and Conductor include controlling the pace of the production and he said his experience as an actor and musician have been a great help. After graduating from the Boston Conservatory in '04 he acted and sang in a regional production of Forever Plaid then played first keyboard in a national tour of Les Miserables and was first keyboard and assistant conductor in a national tour of Spamalot. When asked if he missed being on stage, Souza said conducting is "absolutely where I want to be". He said he owes a great deal of his success to Michael O'Flaherty, long-time Resident Music Director of the Goodspeed Opera House. Souza interned in East Haddam in high school as well as throughout college. Souza started piano lessons at age eleven, and according to his father, was gifted from the start. He was involved in all the HKHS productions and majored in musical theater, with a minor in conducting in Boston. Souza is very excited about the upcoming tour and said the hardest part will be teaching the show to a new orchestra in each town. He said the production travels with only six musicians and fills out the majority of the orchestra with local professionals. The tour stars Marci Dodd and Heléne Yorke and following Fort Meyers, will play in 10 cities and conclude in Wichita, Kansas in early November.  Please join the Christian Education Committee and the Senior High Youth Group of the Congregational Church in Killingworth for a Mardi Gras celebration in the church hall Tuesday, February 24 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring the whole family to feast on an assorted variety of pancakes, sausage, and more in a festive setting complete with Mardi Gras beads, balloons, music and crafts for the kids. Tickets are $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors and children 12 and under. All proceeds will benefit the Scholarship Fund. For more information or to reserve tickets, please call the church office at (860) 663-1789.
  The Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company responded to the following incidents during the week beginning Sunday, February 15, 2009: Sunday: February 15: • 03:49:02 Mutual Aid Fire Standby, Deep River, Winthrop Station . • 08:58:54 Medical Call, Green Hill Road. • 19:46:00 Medical Call, Woodland Trail. Wednesday: February 18: • 19:10:38 Automatic Alarm, Running Brook Drive. Thursday: February 19: • 05:56:51 Fire Alarm, Surrey Ridge Road. Saturday: February 21: • 18:56:23 Medical Call, Bar Gate Trail. • 20:49:16 Structure Fire, Deep River, Shailer Pond Road. Sunday, February 22, 2009Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen Monday, February 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Town Office Building 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge Of Allegiance 3. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting held February 9, and Special Meetings of February 10, 17 and 19, 2009 4. Visitors: Concerning Items on the Agenda 5. Tax Abatements & Refunds: 6. Vacancies: (A) IWWC - 1, (B) OEM - 1, (C) Public Health Agency-5 (D) Recreation -1 (E) Housing Partnership - 4 (F) Estuary Council of Seniors - 2 (G) Municipal Land Use - 1 (H) Open Space Sub Committee - 2 7. Appointments: A. Colin McLaren, Denise Metcalf, Susan M. Nesci, Ernest J. Pizzuto - Public Health Agency 8. Old Business: A. Traffic Safety Committee - F. Dudek 1. Charge for Traffic Safety Committee 9. New Business: A. The Trust for Public Land* B. Recreation Comm. recommends Scot R. Thomas for H-K Rec. Authority C. Charge for Public Health Agency D. BOS Approval of Highway Use Permit for New Haven County Motorcycle Run to benefit Homes For The Brave, "Female Soldiers Forgotten Heroes" May 31, 2009 10. RJC Announcements 11. Selectmen's Concerns 12. Visitor Comments: General 13. Adjournment * This item may be discussed in Executive Session Printable version |
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