Last year’s closing of the Killingworth Krier left a gap in access to town news and resources for Killingworth residents, but for those looking for all things Killingworth, hope is not lost.

All Things Killingworth, the aptly named website run by a group of four volunteers, was created just before COVID, but the onset of the pandemic pushed the site onto the backburner, according to site designer and volunteer Janet Colandrea.

“Unfortunately, it went dormant with all of the stuff that happened surrounding the pandemic,” she said.

Things changed, however, when the Killingworth Krier announced that it would cease publication on June 1, 2023, and the brains behind All Things Killingworth decided to step in to fill a void in town.

“When the Krier stopped publishing over the summer, the KWO [Killingworth Women’s Organization] decided to bring the site back to life to continue in a digital format to bring people all of the news, information, and events about town,” said Colandrea. “It was a shame when it went dormant, but there wasn’t much we could do about that. COVID really put a stop to everything. In 2023, we started talking about whether we wanted to just let it go, but when we found out the Krier wasn’t going to last, we decided to continue it, bring it back to life, and really feed it with a lot of information.”

Bringing All Things Killingworth back to life meant bringing all the information a resident or visitor to town could need and putting it in one place. The site is full of information about every aspect of town, from businesses to restaurants, parks, and artists.

“The stores, the businesses, the nonprofits, the farms, all of that good stuff. We just wanted a website that would support Killingworth,” said Colandrea. “There are so many great businesses and events, and we felt there really needed to be a one-stop site for all of that info.”

Unlike most area towns, Killingworth doesn’t have a centralized business district or traditional downtown, making for a lack of places for residents to congregate and share ideas, said Colandrea. The volunteers hope All Things Killingworth will become a virtual downtown.

“I would say it is a virtual gathering place. We do try and reach out to organizations in town like the Historical Society for stories that we can feature,” Colandrea said. “Info from the land trust, the trails, and whatever is new to help share with residents. We truly have such an awesome town, so being able to share all of this information and share it with a click of a button is great.”

And with a click of a button, visitors to the site can add their business or organization to the site’s directory.

“We have a button right on the top of the home page that says “Add Your Business” where businesses can add their info, name, email, address, website, social links, and upload a photo. And that goes for any type of organization, whether it’s a nonprofit or an artist. We have a lot of artists in town and being able to have all of that information at hand is really useful. This past holiday, it was nice having these links on the site to shop local. Prior to that, I don’t think I knew half of the businesses that have joined, so it’s pretty neat,” said Colandrea.

Any entrepreneur can join and get their businesses visible to the community; events can be announced, non-profits can join, and even local news and meeting items can be found on the well-designed site, according to Colandrea.

“We want to be that resource for people to come to, especially for businesses. We’re a small town, but sometimes people don’t realize how many businesses we do have in town. It’s great to be able to support Killingworth’s own businesses. That is what it is all about, just being able to support our town and neighbors,” Colandrea said.

The site has received positive feedback, as many residents don’t know what is available to them both commercially and recreationally in their hometown, Colandrea said.

“We have had a great response so far. We are very happy, and users are also excited about it. The restaurant guide and info have been very informative for residents,” said Colandrea. “Everything also links to our Facebook page as well. Whenever we load an article or story, it automatically gets onto the Facebook page as well.”

One of the projects being launched by the site is a maple syrup trail, according to Colandrea. The project seeks to connect maple syrup enthusiasts and artisans with all “things” syrupy.

“We’re excited to announce that we’re putting together a Killingworth Maple Syrup Trail, and we are seeking local help to make it happen,” Colandrea said. “Anyone who taps for maple syrup, demonstrates the syrup-making process of making maple syrup, or if you sell maple syrup or maple syrup-related products, we want to hear from you. We will be posting an official Maple Syrup Trail later this season. What’s not to love about maple syrup? Anyone who wants local syrup, we hope to have that list laid out sometime next month.”

For more information, visit www.allthingskillingworth.com or www.facebook.com/allthingskillingworth. Anyone interested specifically in the syrup trail can email tips@allthingskillingworth.com.