The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received June 3, 2026.
I want to thank the Killingworth Lions Club for selecting me for their 2025-2026 Citizen of the Year Award during their Night of Giving, and the Killingworth Board of Selectmen for their accompanying Proclamation. I appreciate the honor it is to be recognized as a citizen/volunteer by the Lions, whose very mission is service. To receive a Proclamation from my adopted town is icing on the cake.
I “came from away” (Staten Island) but quickly found that by volunteering for this and that, I was accepted into the tapestry of Killingworth’s life. Writing “Meet Your Neighbor” columns for the Krier, I met people who were involved in community life. I found that, with a few necessary exceptions, Killingworth runs on volunteers. Being a part of that has been very rewarding.
How encouraging to hear the many hours of community service the Lions scholarship recipients, Ian Young, Ashley Kelly, and Ethan Pitts, contributed to their community. Each exceeded the hours required by their High School by multiples of ten, together totaling more than a thousand. Volunteerism is being paid forward by our youth.
Volunteering brings us together, gets things done, and keeps us civic minded. We look around Killingworth and see what we’ve accomplished: the fields, the courts, the cranberry bog, Helping Hands, Parmelee Farm, walking trails, our schools and library. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes volunteers to create the places for that child to thrive.
Again, I want to thank the Killingworth Lions Club, its President David Beaudette, Lion Greg Wind, the Board of Selectmen, and all the wonderful Killingworth volunteers and their organizations for the work they do every day.
Kathleen Amoia, Killingworth
