Wow! I could barely find a spot to squeeze myself in under a seat at Edmond Town Hall this past Saturday, when [naviga:u]Flagpole Radio Café returned to the stage[/naviga:u], after a two-plus year hiatus. Lots of great music from the Flagpole Orchestra was interspersed with skits and guest appearance by comic writer Tom Leopold. If some of the skits went over the heads of those not familiar with Game Of Thrones or current politics, it was hard to tell: laughter (and some purring, on my part) filled the packed theater. Did you lose track of someone there? Maybe you should have looked up. I hear the balcony offered a great view to those who enjoyed the show from on high.

Newtown High School sports’ teams are on a roll. Congratulations to the NHS wrestlers, who earned the title of South-West Conference Champions on February 9. Just two days earlier, NHS gymnasts captured the South-West Conference Championship, and earlier this month, the NHS Dance Team waltzed off with the South-West Conference titles for Jazz and Hip-Hop. Go, Newtown!

We send our best wishes this week to the pastors, staff, and members of Grace Family Church, who plan to celebrate their first worship service at their brand-new home this weekend. Pastor Barry Fredericks has been waiting for this moment for years, and we couldn’t be happier for him. Sunday worship is celebrated at 8:30 and 10:15 am each weekend and will be done as of February 17 at 13 Covered Bridge Road.

Oh my. Susan Johnson sent us a most enlightening note: “I always read Top of the Mountain mainly because I love cats (especially ones that can write). I do have a correction to the [naviga:u]last column[/naviga:u] that stated ‘There’s a reason you never see Cat Obedience Training offered...’ I’m a certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist. Training cats enriches the cat’s life, strengthens the bond with the pet parent, and solves behavior issues. I would be happy to help solve the problem of batting the glasses on the counter.” Yikes. Here I always thought I had one over on The Bee canines. (And I’ll keep my paws to myself and away from glasses... not that I would ever get up on a counter anyway...)

In addition to multiple opportunities to enjoy a [naviga:u]free screening of this week’s featured film at Edmond Town Hall[/naviga:u], the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers is making sure anyone who has Presidents Day off also has additional chances to see Mary Poppins Returns. There will be four shows — rather than the usual single one to open the work week — on Monday. Screenings are planned at 45 Main Street for 1, 4, 7, and 9:30 pm. Tickets for all shows are $3 each.

Did anyone notice it is winter in New England? From zero temperatures two weeks ago, to springlike 50s less than a week later, to snow and ice... Don’t say this area doesn’t offer diversity in weather.

While gazing out a window as Tuesday’s freezing rain coated Newtown, I noticed a blue jay atop a nearby bird feeder, rhythmically pecking at the metal top. Was he calling his feathered friends to lunch or sending out an SOS?

Who knew that Newtown resident Doreen Kelleher is a hundred percent Irish? I found that out in the first installment of the “Digging Into DNA — Newtown Residents Discover Their Ancestry” series, that ran in the February 8, 2019 edition of The Newtown Bee. If you have embarked on a genealogy journey for your family (or even your pet) and used sites like [naviga:u]ancestry.com[/naviga:u] and [naviga:u]23andme.com[/naviga:u], e-mail Alissa Silber at [naviga:u]alissa@thebee.com[/naviga:u] to be featured in the series. (I wonder if I tried it if I’d find out I’m actually part panther… Rumor has it that my canine friend, Lilith, has discovered she is... a mutt!) Alissa is also chronicling longtime Newtown residents in a series of articles. If your family has been rooted in town for four generations or more, she would love to hear from you. What keeps native Newtown residents here?

Valentine’s Day meant love was in the air this week — and in the lunch room at Newtown High School. NHS’s Lunch Love week returned this past week. According to the school, Lunch Love is an aspiring nonprofit organization started by then-NHS student Elle Sauli in 2017. The program collects donations from students to help pay for lunches for students who might not have money. The goal is for all students to eat lunch every day. We hope the love this program creates lasts throughout the year.

Love was even in the air at The Newtown Bee on February 13, “Galentine’s Day,” the Parks and Recreation television show-inspired holiday to celebrate your girlfriends. Bee staff members celebrated gals — and guys — [naviga:u]in the office with waffles for breakfast and goodie bags.[/naviga:u] Gold stars for the sunshine committee!

Presidents Day is just around the corner, this coming Monday, so of course I couldn’t resist looking up some weird and wonderful things about past and present presidents. George Washington may or may not have chopped down the cherry tree, but bacterial contaminated cherries were the death of our twelfth president, Zachary Taylor. Abraham Lincoln was a grappler. That’s right, Honest Abe was a highly successful wrestler as a young man. (Is that what made him able to wrestle with difficult decisions?) What’s more peculiar than the fact that Woodrow Wilson’s face is on it, is the fact that a $100,000 bill once existed. The super rare bill (good luck finding one) was used between Federal Reserve banks. Jimmy Carter reported a UFO in 1973. “Barry O’Bomber” played on his high school basketball team; guess which president I’m tattling on? Want more weird presidential gossip? Check out [naviga:u]mashable.com[/naviga:u].

There’s plenty weird and wonderful stuff that happens right here in town, and I’m always eager to spread the news. Be sure next week to... Read me again.