The 50th Annual Country Fair at the Congregational Church in Killingworth will be held on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1st - on the church grounds at 273 Route 81, just north of the traffic circle.

Two days of fun and nostalgia will begin with the traditional Chicken Barbecue Dinner under the tent on Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. The menu features barbecued chicken, several side dishes, pie, soft drinks and coffee. Tickets will be sold at the door, but can also be purchased in advance at the church office. Call the Congregational Church at (860) 663-1789 for more information or reservations.

On Saturday morning, August 1th, the Killingworth Road Race begins at 8:30 AM at the Congregational Church. The race is a scenic four mile loop, with water stops. For more information or to register, call the church or visit www.killingworthchurch.org

The Country Fair will continue on the church grounds on Saturday, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. There is something for all ages: Touch-a-truck, white elephant sale, kids games, great food, bake sale, plant and book sale, country store, and more...and don't forget our fantastic quilt raffle.

Tickets for the quilt raffle will be sold in advance as well as at the chicken BBQ. This year's quilt is an authentic Amish heirloom quality quilt named the Lone Star. Raffle prices are $1.00 per ticket.

Donations for the silent auction and white elephant sale are welcome. They could be items or gift certificates for stores and also services. If you have items to donate or gift certificates please contact the church office at 860.663.1789.

Haddam-Killingworth High School Principal Charles Macunas has announced the Fourth Quarter Honor Roll for the 2008-2009 school year. Find the complete list here.

The 2009 regular legislative session, which ended on June 3, was clouded by two events. First, the Republicans as the minority party decided to mount long filibusters during the debate of legislation. The use of the filibuster is not just the province of the Republicans because the Democrats widely used it when they were the minority party. Nevertheless, I found the filibuster a frustrating impediment to the passage of important legislation, particularly because the Republicans filibustered bills that they actually supported and ultimately voted for.

Typically, the filibusters lasted five or six hours, often deep into the night, and they either slowed down or prevented the passage of significant bills dealing, for example, with improvements in the teacher certification process, reducing the cost of pharmaceutical drugs and a major solar power incentive. When one of my environment bills was being filibustered, a Republican leader apologized to me but said that "talk" is the only real power of the minority party.

Remarkably, Senate Rule 29 permits a time limit to be set on debate, but when I tried to apply that rule, I was cut-off by my own leadership who informed me that this rule has never been exercised and should never be exercised in the interest of open and free debate. When one senator started talking about his fishing trips, I called for a point of order. The lieutenant governor, as the presiding officer of the Senate, refused to rule on my motion, and a Republican leader told the majority leader that my motion would only prolong the filibuster. In any event, I have asked our staff to do a review of the practice of other states in the prevention or restriction of filibusters, and I will continue to press for reform.

The second event clouding the session related to the Republican attempt to establish a Senate Ethics Committee in the aftermath of two legislators having been adjudged guilty of misconduct, one for double-billing the state and the other for forging campaign documents. The Democratic leadership decided on a direction with which I disagreed, namely, that an ethics committee would only be empaneled on an ad-hoc basis to deal with senators convicted of the more serious crimes or misconduct of a highly prejudicial nature. Thus, when the Republicans offered an amendment to create a standing Senate Ethics Committee, I voted for it, consistent with a bill I have introduced each year since I was elected. The amendment did not pass.

With respect to these matters, we need a new day in Hartford!

Sunday: June 21:
• 02:41:03 Medical Call, Route 148
Monday: June 22:
• 09:14:31 Medical Call, Chestnut Hill Road .
• 13:45:41 Medical Call, Ironworks Road.
Thursday: June 25:
• 01:25:48 Medical Call, Pond Meadow Road.
• 13:54:46 HAZMAT, Parker Hill Road.
Friday: June 26:
• 17:49:28 Medical Call, Cranberry Meadow Lane.
Saturday: June 27:
• 11:07:28 Fire Alarm, Route 81.

Connecticut has very strict laws regarding the use of illegal fireworks and still every year people in Connecticut are severely injured in accidents with fireworks. Fireworks burn at very high temperatures and will ignite almost anything that they come in contact with; clothes, hair, fabric, etc., not to mention the force of each explosion.

Please be safe during this holiday and leave all fireworks displays to the professionals.

The Estuary Council Regional Senior Center has two volunteer board of director positions open for the town of Killingworth. Those interested in serving must be 55 and older and reside year-round in the town they wish to represent.

The Estuary Board of Directors consists of volunteers from each of the nine towns the center represents. Board meetings are held once a month at the Old Saybrook site at 220 Main St. For information or an application, call 860-388-1611.

Submitted by Rob Artus
Tony Savino, Chairman of the Killingworth Housing Partnership (KHP), recently provided a second interim report to the Board of Selectman in which he outlined the results of the KHP's third extensive housing study in Killingworth. In an engaging presentation, Savino provided results of the committee's analysis of Over 55 Housing, which revealed a significant need and desire in Killingworth.

The KHP's interim report reported results of a town-wide questionnaire which received heavy response. "The study clearly shows us that there is a dire shortage of Over 55 housing in Killingworth and a significant need," Savino said. He added, "Over 60% of our senior residents are telling us they want Over 55 housing in Killingworth and many would like to make this move within the next three years. The results and our analysis clearly indicate the need to begin effectively developing our planning and zoning regulations to allow certain tasteful yet effective cluster and single-acre Over 55 properties to accommodate our long-time senior residents".

Rob Artus, KHP committee member added "Everything you need to know is right here in this report - our analysis was extensive and clearly the demand for Over 55 housing is significant. This is something we can and should do, and it can be done tastefully and in keeping with the character of the town. One day, if we're not there already, many of us will want to downsize yet remain in Killingworth but currently that really just isn't an option. The KHP is here to see this through and I want to do whatever I can to make this change happen".

In a 45-minute presentation, Savino reported to the Board of Selectman the progress his committee has made and asked for their support. "The Board was very receptive and we had a great dialogue. Over the last two years, we have identified significant housing needs in Killingworth that can be accomplished, yet we have woefully inadequate planning and zoning regulations to encourage this effort. The needs are real and with the Board's help and support, our next effort will be to initiate the necessary changes in regulations. I was very impressed with their interest and I feel that we share many of the same goals and frustrations".

The KHP consists of Tony Savino, Kathy Smith, Rob Artus, Pat Worth and Crissy Roelefson and has just welcomed four new members to their committee. You can read the KHP's second interim report here and also review their previous report here, which detailed the significant need for of housing for Region 17/Town employees and reported on the benefits and tax ramifications of single-acre zoning.

Winnie Cook of Vero Beach, FL, formerly of Killingworth, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, June 25, 2009. She was born Winifred E. Wills the daughter of James and Winifred Wills on May 13, 1931. She married the love of her life, Lee Cook, on May 13, 1950. Besides her husband, she leaves five loving children, Jeff Cook of Killingworth, Linda Grenman and her husband John of East Hampton, Craig Cook of New York City, Karen Sypher and her husband Raymond of Essex, and John Cook of Deep River, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She lived most of her married life in Killingworth, moving to Vero Beach, FL in 1996. She owned and operated Cook's Village Pub in Killingworth. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Vero Beach. Winnie loved to spend time with her family and friends. She had an incredible sense of humor, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 1, from 4pm to 7pm at the Robinson, Wright, & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook. A celebration of her life at June's Outback Pub in Killingworth follows immediately.

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

Don't delay! You must license your dog by June 30th to enter Killingworth's Top Dog Contest! Three winners will be randomly selected to receive the highly coveted #1, #2 and #3 tags and will be featured in the Killingworth Krier and here on the killingworthtoday.com website.

Don't let your dog down ... license to win!

Elsbeth Kane and the Senior Dance Team at Backstage Dance Center will embark upon their twelve day trip to Washington, DC starting today, in order to compete at the Dance Masters of America Nationals this summer. Kane won Teen Miss Dance of CT this past April and will be competing for National Teen Miss Dance while down in DC. Her teammates: Barbara-Ruth Hickey, Jordan Keegan and Samantha Hogan will be with her the whole time while performing along side her with three of their competition dances that also ranked high enough to move onto the national level this summer.

Nationals has been a huge undertaking for these four dancers, but highly anticipated none the less. All four girls have been working extremely hard to prepare for the upcoming dance competition and are excited to showcase their combined, and individual, talents on a national stage for the first time.

Dance Masters of America is one of the oldest and most prestigious dance organizations in North America. It has chapters throughout the United States and Canada as well. While at Nationals, the girls will be competing against students from all across North America for the first time with talent coming from the north, south, east, and west for the chance to win a crown.

Kane will be competing with her tap solo - "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", choreographed by Alicia Monaco, along with taking scored classes in Jazz, Tap, and Ballet and an interview session. She is just one of hundreds of title holders looking to win a national title this summer, but her team mates and family wish her the best of luck, "Good luck Els, this is your time to shine!"
Photo: Elsbeth, Barbara-Ruth, Jordan and Samantha. Photo and story courtesy S. Hogan

Here's When - Here's Where - Here's How

Margie's "Summer Silly Song Sensation Creation"
Wednesdays , June 24 - July 29 10:30 - 11:00
Presented by Margie Warner ages 2-6 @ Killingworth Library
*space limited - drop in - residents given priority*

"The Leaf Man + His Friends"
Thursday, July 9 3:00 - 5:00
Presented by Dept. of Environmental Protection
ages 4-8 @ Killingworth Library

Hip Hop Dance Workshop
Thursday, July 16 4:00-5:00
Presented by Lisa Ramaccia (Dance 10 Studios in Wethersfield)
grades 4-5-6 @ Haddam-Killingworth Middle School

"Recycled Chic"
Tuesday, July 21 6:00 - 7:30
Presented by Claudia Mathison
grades 4-5-6 @ Killingworth Library

"Trash to Treasure"
Wednesday, July 22 3:00 - 4:30
Presented by Claudia Mathison
grades 4-5-6 @ Killingworth Library

"Habitat Dream Designs"
Tuesday, July 28 6:00 - 8:00
Presented by Dept. of Environmental Protection
ages 9 – adult @ Killingworth Library

David Alan & Bogus' Magic Show
Thursday, July 30 6:00 - 7:00
ages 3 + @ Killingworth Library

* NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED * LIMITED SEATING *
** call Killingworth Library - 663-2000 for more details **

The Killingworth Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at their June "Business After Hours" event at the Killingworth Equestrian Center on Tuesday, June 30th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The event is open to members and those interested in joining the Chamber. Refreshments will be served.

The event will be hosted by KEC owners Barbara and Brian Fitzsimmons and Trainer Johnna Chenail on their 26-acre horse farm located at 552 N. Roast Meat Hill Road.

Philip Roth's novel "Exit Ghost" is the selection for the July 14th meeting of the Tuesday Book Discussion Group at the Killingworth Library. It is the ninth and, according to Roth, the last of the Nathan Zuckerman novels. Now in his seventies and in failing health, Zuckerman becomes less an observer and more a participant in the life he finds around him.

The discussion begins at 1:00 in the Killingworth Library meeting room and newcomers are always welcome.