MAD SCIENTISTS: Have fun learning about science! This action-packed after-school program explores the chemistry of everyday life! With exciting hands-on activities, stunning demonstrations and inquiry-based discussions, students will both learn and apply the concepts, tools and techniques of real chemists! Crazy Chemworks serves as the perfect introduction to elementary chemistry! Winter topics include: Detective Science, Kitchen Chemistry, Mad Science Machines, Movie Effects, Walloping Weather. The program is for children ages 6 - 12 and meets on Wednesdays at HES and Thursdays at KES right after school. The class meets on Wednesdays from February 24 - March 31 at HES and on Thursdays from February 25 - April 1 at KES. The fee is $80 (non-res. add $10).

PRE-K MAD SCIENTISTS: Have fun learning about science! Class meets on Wednesdays at the Old MS Art Room . Dates and topics include: February 24 (Shapes/Color); March 24 (Dinosaurs, Space); April 28 (Worms/Microscope). The program meets from 1:30 - 2 pm for the 1st topic and from 2:10 - 2:40 pm for the 2nd topic. The program is for children ages 3 - 5. The fee is $15 each topic or $22 total for 2 topics the same day (non-residents add $10).

Missed the first day of the workshop? Don't worry, it will be warmer and sweeter at Sunday's workshop. Come out to the Welter Farm on Roast Meat Hill Road to learn about the process of taking sugar maple sap and turning it into delicious maple syrup. Our local experts will provide a hands-on opportunity to learn all about the process. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Sunday, February 21st- 1:00 p.m. at the Welter Farm, Roast Meat Hill Road
The Sugar Shack at the Welter Farm will be used for the evaporation process to make maple syrup. Workshop organizers will be working throughout the morning, and visitors are welcome. The final stage resulting in maple syrup can be observed around 1:00 p.m. John McCurdy will make a presentation on the process. Parking for the Welter Farm is available at the Platt Nature Center, 344 Roast Meat Hill Road. Under no circumstances, should cars be left in the Welter Farm driveway. There are no restroom facilities available.

To learn more about the Parmelee Farm and other activities planned, visit www.parmeleefarm.org

John McCurdy shows two young maple syrup makers how to tap a Sugar Maple on Parmelee Farm.

Raymond A. Burghardt, 88, born March 3 1921 passed away peacefully in his sleep February 17 2010 at Wadsworth Glen. He moved to Killingworth from Fair Haven in 1937. Together with his wife Louise they built a building on Route 80 in Killingworth and opened a service station and a repair garage in 1946 with the blessings of Herman Heser of the Killingworth Garage. After opening Burghardt Motors he still did sub-contract work for Herman Heser rebuilding engines. Ray with the support of two friends started the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Department purchasing a Ford Model AA truck and outfitting it with a water tank and pump. They housed the truck at the traffic circle building presently used by the Lions Club. They maintained a wood stove during winter so the tanker would not freeze. Together Ray and Louise handled all fire calls. Ray served for many years thereafter as fire commissioner. He was a member of Jeptha Lodge #95. He leaves a wife of 67 years Louise M. Burghardt a daughter Diane Burghardt and a son-in-law David R. Dawson all of Killingworth. Funeral services will be held at the Swan Funeral Home 80 E. Main St. Clinton on Saturday February 20 2010 at 1:00pm. There will be no calling hours and burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Department or to the Killingworth Ambulance Association with special thanks for their services. For online condolences visit www.swanfh.com

HK Sports: The HKHS Boys Swimming and Diving Team, feeling the absence of some key swimmers, fell short last Friday losing to Holy Cross High School, 104-81. First place performances came from Ryan Buys in the 200 Freestyle (1:58.23) and 100 Butterfly (55.17); Jeff Ludington in the 100 Freestyle (51.96) and the 100 Backstroke (1:01.33); and Ludington, Ryan Blewett, Buys, and RJ Moore in the 200 Medley relay (1:50.37). Individual second place finishers included Moore in the 200 IM (2:25.60); Reece Gesick in the Diving event (177.10); and Blewett in the 100 Breaststroke (1:12.75).

HK will face the 2009 CIAC State Champions, Sacred Heart High School, at home next Monday at 4:00 PM. Write up and photo courtesy M. Hughes

With a berth to the CIAC Class M state tournament on the line, the HK Girls Basketball team travelled almost 2 hours from home to take on the Centaurs of Woodstock Academy on Wednesday evening. The two teams played evenly for most of the first half with a late half Woodstock run giving them an 8 point cushion at halftime. That lead grew to 17 points in the second half, 41-24, and the Cougars hopes of a playoff bid seemed all but dashed. However, spurred by great pressure defense, the Cougars went on a furious 20-3 run to tie the game at 44. The Centaurs regained the lead and the action continued to the buzzer with Woodstock holding on for a 55-50 victory. HK was led by junior Emily Anderson with 22 points, 17 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 blocked shots. Senior captain Jordan Shultz netted 13 points, sophomore Cloe Savino hit two key three pointers to finish with 6 points and junior Carley Mooney chipped in with 5. Rounding out the Cougar scoring were sophomores Kaylee Normandy and Shaina Rowley with 2 apiece. With the loss, HK finishes the season with an overall record of 7-13. The team would like to thank the many fans who supported them both at home and on the road this season. Read more about the game in the Norwich Bulletin. Write up and photo courtesy A.& E. Anderson

Applications to Appeal Property Assessments

If you received a new property assessment at the beginning of February and want to appeal it to the Board of Assessment Appeals, your application must be received at the Killingworth Town Hall by the end of business on Friday, February 19. Application forms are available at town hall, which is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. today and tomorrow. The Board of Assessment Appeals will notify you of your hearing date.

The Connecticut Shoreline Branch of the American Association of University Women is offering a $2000.00 scholarship for the next academic year. The scholarship will be awarded to an eligible woman enrolled or planning to enroll in her junior year or beyond, including graduate school, full-time or part-time in an accredited college or university. To be eligible, an applicant must have completed at least 60 credits and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. She must also be a resident of one of the following Connecticut Shoreline towns: Branford, North Branford, Guilford, Madison, Killingworth, Clinton or Westbrook, and she may not be related to an AAUW Shoreline Branch member.

The deadline for completed applications is May 1, 2010, and the award will be determined by the student’s financial need, academic performance and personal qualifications. Further information can be obtained from the Scholarship Committee chairs, Marcia Myhre (marciamyhre@sbcglobal.net) and Andrea Osburne (osburnea@ccsu.edu). Information and application forms can also be obtained at the AAUW Shoreline Branch web site: http://aauwshorelinect.org .

A light brown, male Husky dog was found on Bar Gate Trail Tuesday evening. He has no tags. If you have any information on the owner, please call Bob Jenkins at the Deep River pound. 860.526.6036

Learn about solar power at the Killingworth Library! Sunday, February 21st at noon - Harsh Luthra of the non-profit group Solar Connecticut will give a presentation on solar power. Learn how to make the switch from electricity to solar, and discover how homeowners may earn their hometown points towards municipal solar energy projects. Visit www.solarconnecticut.org for more information.

HK Sports: The HKHS Girls Basketball team lost to the Highlanders of Portland, 57-40, on Monday evening at the fieldhouse. Senior captain Jordan Shultz led the way with 19 points for the Cougars. Prior to tip off the Girls Basketball team and Cheerleading squad honored their senior captains. In the final game of the regular season and with a berth in the Class M State Basketball Tournament on the line, the Cougars travel to Woodstock Academy on Wednesday evening to take on the Centaurs. Game time is 7pm

Senior Night Honorees pictured (L to R) - Kelcey Bartolotta and her parents Diane and Dave, Jordan Shultz and her parents Robin and Tod and Camille Kostek and her parents Christina and Allan. Write up and photo courtesy E. Anderson

Town Hall will open at 9:30 today on account of the the weather.

Free, confidential income tax assistance is available in Killingworth and other shoreline communities. Trained volunteers will help persons age 60 and older in preparing their federal and state returns. Volunteers will be at the St. Lawrence Parish Hall on alternate Tuesdays 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, and 4/6 from 9am until noon. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 388-1611.

When you come to your appointment, please bring all your earnings records and year-end tax statements as well as a copy of last year's return. Don't worry if you think you might not have all the forms you might need - the volunteers will have the necessary forms available. There is also additional help and information on the AARP Tax-Aide website.

HK Sports: On Saturday evening the HK Boys and Girls Indoor Track Teams competed at the Class S State Championship meet held at the New Haven Athletic Center. Both teams had an outstanding meet as the girls scored 24 points to place 7th out of over 50 teams while the boys scored 17 points to place 8th out of 50+ teams. The girls were led by senior Marina Annino who in just her first track season ever won the Long Jump competition on her final jump with a leap of 16' 4.25" to earn All-State accolades. Annino then joined with teammates Jess Moore, Caitlin Blancaflor and Ali Armstrong to place 3rd in the Sprint Medley Relay with a time of 4:33.02. The same foursome then returned in the 4x400 relay and ran a great race to place 5th as a team in a time of 4:23.46. Senior Jess Moore capped off her tremendous meet with a 3rd place finish in the 1000 meter run in a time of 3:16.57.

The boys team was led by several strong individual and relay performances throughout the meet. Starting off the meet was the 4x800 relay team of seniors Ray Cerino, Jason Funaro, Connor Walsh and Dan Hollenbeck who ran a season best time of 8:34.96 to place 4th in the race. Funaro returned in the 3200 meter run to run a personal best time of 9:55.64 which not only placed 3rd in the race but also broke the previous school record of 9:56.47 set by Cory Weiss in 2005. Senior Chris Pfrommer picked up a 6th place finish in the high jump competition with a jump of 5'10". Finishing the meet was the 4x400 relay team of Pfrommer, senior Ryan O'Neal, Cerino and sophomore Andrew Vollaro who placed 3rd in a time of 3:39.82.

Next up for the Cougar track team is the Connecticut State Open Championships held next Saturday at noon at the New Haven Athletic Center. Qualifying for next Saturday's State Open Championship is Marina Annino in the girls long jump, Jason Funaro in the 3200 meter run and the boys 4x400 relay team of Chris Pfrommer, Ray Cerino, Ryan O'Neal and Andrew Vollaro.

Resident Jan O'Sullivan recently placed second in the 11th annual Westport Public Library crossword puzzle contest. The competition drew about 120 competitors from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz was there to provide some word game entertainment during the scoring before the finals, and he brought the three white boards that are used in the finals of his annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.

The 33rd annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament will be held in Brooklyn this coming weekend. O'Sullivan was the top finisher from Connecticut last year, finishing 65th overall.

Pictured are (l-r) Westport Library first place winner Peter Rimkus, a software developer from Ashford, Conn., Will Shortz and runners-up Jan O'Sullivan and Alice Dutton also from Connecticut.

Photo courtesy J. O'Sullivan

Sunday: February 7:
• 17:41:28 Medical Call, Bridle Path Trail.
Tuesday: February 9:
• 13:10:44 Medical Call, Bar Gate Trail.
• 14:43:28 Medical Call, Parker Hill Road Extension.
• 16:19:25 Medical Call, Route 148.
Wednesday: February 10:
• 03:20:21 Medical Call, Parker Hill Road.
Friday: February 12:
• 18:43:55 Fire Alarm, Buell Hill Road.
• 22:59:31 Medical Call, Route 81.

Trevor Hines and Alexia Perugini were honored recently at the Connecticut Association of Schools' Eleventh Annual Elementary Celebration of the Arts at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

The objective of this program is to recognize students with outstanding citizenship, cooperative skills, and artistic ability in performing or visual arts at the elementary level. Trevor was selected for the Music Award, and Alexia was selected for the Art Award.

Pictured with Trevor and Alexia are Irina Rubalsky, Music Teacher and Alexis Kelsey, Art Teacher at Killingworth Elementary School.

The HKMS Girls Basketball team ended the season defeating Old Saybrook, 59-21, at Old Saybrook on Thursday. The Cougars, once again, had a strong offensive outing while shutting down their opponent defensively. HK gave up a meager 7 points in the first half while scoring 27 points. Fourteen Cougars in all saw action in the final game. Scoring for HK were Maya Savino with 16, Liz Anderson with 13, Kiley Anderson and Lauren McCann with 8 each, Casey Jackson wiith 6 and Jessica Kasper, Erin Kane, Maddy DeRita and Kayla Gesick each chipping in a pair. HK's record for the year finished at 12-2. Write up and photo courtesy D. Savino