During Diversity Week at Middle Gate Elementary School, February 22 to February 26, which included many different activities and lessons, students collected for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. More than $200 was collected in coins and small dollars. If I had thumbs, you know I'd be giving a "thumbs up" to these generous kids. For now, a paws up will have to suffice.stroseirishcabaret@gmail.com or 203-331-2310. Proceeds will help the Knights perform their charitable works.www.surveymonkey.com/r/votebiz2016. You'll find lots of other Newtown businesses there, as well, hoping for the winner's spot in various other categories.www.onlyinyourstate.com/connecticut. According to the story, being a Dairy Farm of Distinction helps the creamery produce "some rich flavors of ice cream." While we agree with the website's decision to put FAC on its list, it just makes it that much more difficult to wait until opening day! We're down to just over a month. The farm will open its 14th season on Tuesday, April 5.www.photos.newtownbee.com? Lots of photos from current and past issues of The Newtown Bee, all available for purchase. You can choose a photo and turn it into a keepsake, such as a mousepad, stickers, tiles, a mug, or a photo puzzle; get prints; wall art; or download the photo. What a great way to remember that you (or someone you adore) has been in The Bee!

Everyone is always saying how they wish they had 24 more hours in the day in order to get all the daily tasks accomplished. Well, we didn't get 24 hours inserted into a day, but we did get 24 extra hours on Monday, with February 29 added to the month. It seems like we all should have been able to do a little something extra, but it just felt like a regular Monday to me…

I see that Newtown Cultural Arts two-time Arts Festival poster winner (Whew. That was a mouthful) Tracy Van Buskirk and Newtown Bee award-winning cover illustrator (among other accolades) Kim Proctor are presenting a program at the library this coming Sunday afternoon. Learn about relief printing from these two experts, and create your own beautiful print during this 2 to 4 pm workshop. There is a $10 supplies fee, and this is a class for ages 15 and up. Call 203-426-4533 to register or for more information.

The St Rose Knights of Columbus Council 185 will host its annual Irish Cabaret on Saturday, March 12. The event will again be in Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall, adjacent to St Rose School, at 40 Church Hill Road. Doors open at 7 pm, and the entertainment will begin at 7:30 pm. Keltic Kick, a talented and lively group that has been delighting crowds with live Irish and rock music for many years, will provide the majority of the evening's entertainment (some entertainment will certainly come from the crowd itself). Tickets are $30 (BYO beverages and snacks), and early reservations are strongly suggested. The event regularly sells out. To reserve tickets visit kofc185.org. For additional information contact Chris Carney at

There are so many great new businesses popping up around town. Maple Craft Foods is now a finalist for the Newtown Business of the Year Award from our hometown Chamber of Commerce, in the New Business category, along with Café Xpresso and Boostcycle. Maple Craft Foods is the maker of bourbon barrel aged Vermont maple syrup, apple cinnamon maple syrup, and Fruple, the maple sweetened Italian ice. Café Xpresso is the maker of fine coffee drinks, pastries, sandwiches, and more, and Boostcycle offers residents a way to rev up that heart rate in a fun spinning atmosphere. Here's where you can help them out - submit your vote at

Congratulations to Ferris Acres Creamery, which picked up another honorary award this week. The Sugar Street emporium was featured in "These 11 Ice Cream Shops in Connecticut Will Make Your Sweet Tooth Go CRAZY," a story recently posted at

Has some little kitten lost its mittens? The Bee received an anonymous gift of two small-scale mittens recently. They were found just outside the front door of our office, protected in a plastic bag, and each was accompanied by notes that simply directed us to "Enjoy! Share, Hang Up." While there were two mittens, we wouldn't call them a pair. One was covered with horizontal lines of all colors of the rainbow, and the other was alternating green and white horizontal lines. Inside each mitten we also found a small scroll, with a handwritten note. One note was a quote by George Eliot, and the other came from Theodore Roosevelt. We will definitely hang these up for someone else to find, at which point the new owners will discover what those quotes are.

Guess what you'll find at

I hope you don't need my photo to remember that next week I'll have more news for you. Be sure to… Read me again.