Seats are still available for Newtown Woman’s Club’s annual Author Book Signing Luncheon, but time is running out to make a reservation. The club this year will welcome Newtown resident LaVerne Blackwell, who published “a short and easy to read memoir” — which is how Newtown Bee Editor John Voket described it after meeting and reading LaVerne’s book — in late 2020. Cost is $25 per person, which includes an entrée of chicken or vegetarian quesadilla, dessert, and soft drink. The event is returning to Newtown Country Club on Saturday, March 18, at noon. Call Marie Sturdevant (203-740-2733) or Marg Studley (203-426-3651) for details and those important reservations.

A familiar name jumped out among the playwrights with work featured in the 2023 Evening of One Acts opening this weekend at Ridgefield Theater Barn. Newtown resident Kate Katcher’s Bassinette is one of eight works included in the production, which continues weekends to April 1. Kate’s work is always so well-written and enjoyable. (I also happen to love Stray Kats Theatre Company logo. A black cat with big beautiful green eyes? I’m in!) Truthfully, Kate’s play is worth the ticket price alone, but audiences are also going to be treated to seven additional one-acts brought to life by regional actors. Visit ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org for showtimes, tickets, and other details.

While Newtown High School’s Drama Department is heading into final rehearsals for its spring musical, Into The Woods, local senior citizens can also plan ahead for a special event. The high school is again inviting senior readers to enjoy supper and a show. For this production, the free offering is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15. Dinner will be served at 5 pm, and the performance will begin at 6 pm, all at 12 Berkshire Road. The buffet dinner is being sponsored by NHS PTSA, and they need reservations ASAP. Call 203-426-7646 to make one. All readers are reminded that the production will be open to the public Thursday through Sunday, March 16-19. See our calendar, in print and online, for full performance and ticket details. Tickets can be reserved in advance or purchased at the door.

While traditionally done around Halloween, Music Theatre of CT (MTC) has decided to conclude its current season with a production of The Rocky Horror Show. Performances open on St Patrick’s Day and those who make the drive to Norwalk may recognize former Newtown residents Stephen Petrovich and Brianna Bauch, who will be right in the thick of things when the curtain goes up next weekend. Petrovich grew up in town, and among his credits he originated the role of Gangle in the North American premiere of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Love Never Dies. MTC’s production of The Rocky Horror Show will be the original musical — there will not be a shadow cast, and the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show will not be playing. For the safety of all, the bringing and throwing of props will not be allowed. Costumes and shout-outs are encouraged, however. Performances will run weekends, March 17-April 8. Interested? Visit musictheatreofct.com to plan your visit to Transylvania.

Free movies return to Edmond Town Hall next weekend, thanks to Ingersoll Auto of Danbury and its ongoing love of the historic theater at 45 Main Street. Audiences have six opportunities to take in a screening of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, playing March 17-19 at 1 and 7:30 pm. In this new adventure from the creators of Shrek, Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll and he has used eight of his nine lives. Will he discover the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives? This cat needs to know! My whiskers are all a-quiver! Let’s meet at the concession stand, buy some Milk Duds (naturally), and find out together.

Meanwhile, this weekend’s feature is Brendan Fraser’s amazing return to the screen, The Whale. Check our calendar, in print on page A-2 and online at newtownbee.com, for full screening details. Saturday night the theater will host the first performance in Newtown of Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Quartet. Mary Hawley would be so pleased! Tickets for that event are still available, and include a special pre-performance reception (check our calendars for all the details). Tickets are not available, however, for the March 25 show by Almost Queen, also planned at Edmond Town Hall. Organizers announced last week that the show has officially sold out.

Newtown resident Cathy Reiss recently shared some pup-dates on retired Lutheran Church Charities’ K-9 Comfort Dog Maggie who now lives in Florida with her forever family. For Christmas, Maggie received a stuffed animal from Santa that she named “Sandy” in honor of all her friends from Sandy Hook Elementary School. She was all smiles when cuddling with it beside the Christmas tree. Then on January 3, Maggie turned 11 years old and had animal-safe cupcakes with her dog brother Marty. Cathy noted, “Maggie and Marty love each other very much.” Maggie could not forget Valentine’s Day this year and sported a stylish red bandana to get into the lovey-dovey spirit. While I am purr-sonally of the mantra that “cats rule and dogs drool,” Maggie has a special place in my heart for all she has done for our community. Thank you, Maggie!

Have you ordered your Girl Scout cookies, yet? The best way to buy cookies is to order them directly from a Newtown Girl Scout participating in the entrepreneurial tradition. While you may have tasted some of the Girl Scout cookies’ tried and true flavors, the new Raspberry Rally cookie is becoming quite popular. The online-exclusive cookie is a thin, crispy cookie infused with raspberry flavor and dipped in chocolaty coating. Also, a fact I find purr-ticularly appealing is that the Girl Scouts have gluten-free, vegan, and kosher cookie options. To find where to buy Girl Scout cookies in your area, visit girlscouts.org.

Calling all writers! Local independent bookstore Byrd’s Books in Bethel is hosting a Writing Workshop on Sunday, March 12, at 3 pm. The event is going to be led by Judith Marks-White via Zoom. If anyone needs inspiration, might I suggest a witty black cat named Mountain as the main character?

On March 2, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary posted on its Facebook page seeking support. The message read, “Between land stewardship, property maintenance, our little lending library, and free community programs and workshops, the sanctuary requires a lot of supplies. A LOT! If you would like to help support some of our most pressing needs, please consider checking out our Amazon.com wishlist. It’s a great way to make a tangible difference to our efforts while helping to keep our programs free and open to the public. Thank you! amzn.to/3YcpsDx.” Also, mark your calendars, because the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary will be hosting its Newtown Spring Wildlife Panel on Sunday, March 19, at 1 pm, at Newtown Community Center. If they need a guest speaker to chat about cats, I’m available.

There were some wrestling standouts on the mats as four Newtown High competitors went to Providence, R.I. to compete in the New England Championships. In the pool — as a cat I can say I don’t particularly like those, but Nighthawks sure seem to — the Hawks made a splash in the SWC Championships with Peter Horan setting a meet record! It’s time for March Madness again and basketball playoff action has been heating up. Visit the sports section for details.

As always, promise to … Read me again.