Artwork by eight members of Newtown Senior Center is on display in the showcase in The Newtown Municipal Art Gallery through the end of July. Lynn Walsh, the Senior Center art instructor, arranged the exhibition. The showcase is within the main corridor of the municipal center at 3 Primrose Street and presents works in addition to the regular presentations on the walls there. Newtown Cultural Arts Commissions hosts and organizes both locations.

The exhibition within the municipal center is presenting recent works by Kathy Ciocca, whose design featuring one of the cupolas at Fairfield Hills was selected in April to be the signature art for this year’s Newtown Arts Festival. This year’s event is planned for September 20-22, with an opening concert Friday night. It’s going to be here before we know it — like many post-summer events, it’s going to feel like it’s months away until we reach Labor Day and then it’ll be right there. After having to cancel last year’s festival ahead of expectations of very bad weather, organizers have said they are planning the 2024 presentation to be better than ever. The festival is offered on the soccer fields at Fairfield Hills, and I for one am looking forward to seeing what returns and what joins the wonderful festival in just a few months.

My sincere condolences to Connecticut State Police, who lost two K-9 officers within the past week. Elmer, assigned to Detective David Collins in the CSP Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit, died July 6 due to medical complications. Just a few days earlier, K-9 Drago died. Drago served with Troop C in Tolland and assigned to Trooper Kyle Kaelberer. I joke regularly about dogs and their silliness, but it’s never easy to think about anyone reaching the end of their life. I’m sure I’m joined by many human counterparts when I offer silent thanks to those good boys for everything they did to serve and protect the rest of us.

On a much happier note, I’m so happy to hear that my feline friend Cyprus has decided to return home. After nine days on his own, without a single way of letting his family know he was safe and alive, Cyprus decided to create his own fireworks last week. He reportedly climbed a very tall tree in his neighbor’s yard on Independence Day and let the nearby world know he was back. Fortunately someone knew to then call on Hunter Dolyak, a local tree guy, who went up that tree to fetch Cyprus and return him to his family. Cyprus was a few pounds lighter than when he first went on his week-plus walkabout, but I hear he’s otherwise healthy.

I was reminded this week that there are a few food pantry locations in town. In addition to FAITH on Church Hill Road and Hospitality Hall at Newtown Congregational Church, Trinity Episcopal Church has been hosting The Little Pantry since October. The structure is in the church parking lot, with easiest access via the driveway at 12 Church Hill Road (the driveway shared with Newtown Hook & Ladder). The pantry is in the median closest to the playground and carries a simple motto for its shelf-stable and non-perishable food offerings: Give What You Can, Take What You Need. A recent note mentioned the pantry’s current urgent needs include cat and dog food, coffee and tea, individually wrapped toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, bar soap, and body wash. Additional information and updated requests can always be found at trinitynewtownct.org (click on Get Involved, then Serve Our Community) or by calling 203-426-9070.

Meanwhile, I send healing thoughts toward Trinity Church Pastor Andrea Castner Wyatt. She had some planned surgery recently. I hope she can return to church life quickly.

Belated anniversary wishes to Sports Editor Andy Hutchison and his beautiful wife Mary Beth, who just passed the 10-year mark of their big day.

A reminder this week that Newtown Conservation Coalition is planning a site walk of the Rochambeau Historic Trail and surrounding area from 10 am to 2 pm Saturday off Old Castle Drive. For those using a GPS, the address is 1 Old Castle Drive. The Town Lot GPS address is 1 Cornfield Ridge. According to the Coalition’s Facebook page, this is a free community event for all ages and abilities. There will be guided walks and historic enrichment commencing at 10:30 am near General Rochambeau’s Revolutionary War encampment site, followed by an optional short guided hike on Newtown’s section of the Washington-Rochambeau Trail listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The tours will all meet back near the encampment for a BYO picnic and more interaction with Revolutionary War historians, Town Historian Ben Cruson, and other experts and special guests. The event began when organizers wanted to highlight to readers the importance of that area in response to a local builder’s planned development there with a simple guided walk. Organizers are asking that humans are the only attendees; leave the dogs home for just a few hours. Rain date is July 14. Reservations are available and updates will be posted if that rain date needs to be used at facebook.com/groups/newtownconservationcoalition.

Meanwhile, if you’re feeling really adventurous, Southbury Public Library will also be hosting a 90-minute program on Saturday about the Rochambeau route in this area. What roads did the French Army take to get through Southbury during the Revolutionary War? “The Rochambeau Route, from Breakneck to Newtown” will be presented in the Kingsley Room of the library, 100 Poverty Road. It will be presented by John Dwyer, whose family has lived in Southbury for eight generations. John has analyzed period journals, maps, surveys, correspondence, and even taken deep dives into the local land records to come up with answers to those questions. His program will begin at 1 pm, which means you could attend both programs if you plan well. Registration is requested and available through southburylibrary.org. For additional information contact Rebecca Randall at rrandall@biblio.org or 203-262-0626 extension 2.

Last week’s paper told readers they had just a few more days to help The Mission & Outreach Committee of Newtown United Methodist Church with a collection to support Off The Streets. The collection has been extended, however, but now I really mean it: readers have just a few more days after this week’s paper date to help. Off The Streets assists the needy with finding housing in surrounding communities as well as providing necessities to create a home. The church committee is inviting readers to donate new twin and queen size sheets or sheet sets. The collection is now continuing to July 14, and donations can be placed in the narthex of the church, 92 Church Hill Road.

That’s it for me this week. It’s too hot for this cat. I need some cold milk, a quiet corner, and a nice nap. I hope you enjoy the next seven days, and then remember to come back here to … read me again.