Katie Ramsey and husband, Tim, are hoping Newtown and area residents will take part in an event to support research for the very rare childhood illness junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Their daughter, Sophia, was born with the genetic illness, “which is debilitating, painful, and terminal in early childhood,” Kate shares. “She was enrolled in a clinical trial that gave her months of joy despite all her pain, but it was not enough to save her. We continue fighting each day for a cure in Sophia’s memory, and for all the children living with EB who desperately need treatments and a cure.”

Through March 28, supporters are asked “to make waves for EB research by recording themselves running into a nearby lake or ocean, splashing themselves with water at home, or anything else they can think of and posting it to social media tagging @plungeforelodie @ebresearch @sophias.eb.hope and with #PlungeForElodie2021.

“The Plunge for Elodie event was created four years ago when a Connecticut family had a daughter [Elodie] born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, which is another debilitating and life limiting form of EB. The event partners with the EB Research Partnership to provide funding for clinical trials searching for viable treatments and a cure for Elodie and for all those with EB,” Katie tells us.

Incidentally, Sophia’s grandfather, Don Ramsey, is a long-time Newtown resident and was a Newtown public school teacher for many years.

For more information on the Plunge for Elodie and Sophia’s Hope to Cure EB visit ebresearch.org/plunge-for-elodie.html and/or sophiasebhope.org.

Congratulations are in order for Bee Publisher R. Scudder Smith and wife, Helen, who celebrated 65 years of wedded bliss (according to those in the know...) on March 9. Best wishes for many more happy years together!

Nolan MacKrell captured these bobcats frolicking (although they look a bit adversarial to me!) on the corner of Birch Hill Rise and Juniper Road this past Sunday, March 7. While the photo is a bit fuzzy, who can blame Nolan for not wanting to intrude on the playmates for a closeup?

Which reminds me that DEEP recommends taking in bird feeders as spring approaches. Numerous Newtown and Sandy Hook residents can attest to the fact that bears have no qualms about taking down a bird feeder of any size and shape. Warmer weather will bring these creatures out of winter hibernation — and they will be hungry! (Keep a tight lid on any trash containers, as well, or better yet, stash the containers in a garage or shed until pick up day.)

If you had your eye on the sky Monday night, March 8, and noticed any unusual occurrences overhead in the Dodgingtown area, please contact eliza@thebee.com and let her know what you spied. Some residents in that district have reported observing some unusual aircraft.

It’s National Girl Scout Day on Friday, March 12, honoring the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low called the first Girl Scout troop meeting to order. Here are some bits of trivia that may come in handy one day: Girl Guides of America was the original name for Girl Scouts; by 1920 there were nearly 70,000 members, and ten years later, more than 200,000 members. How many members by 2005? Over 3.7 million! Looks like a pretty popular organization. Congratulations to all of Newtown’s Girl Scouts and leaders. And don’t forget to look around town the next couple of weekends when Newtown Girl Scouts will be at various business sites selling Girl Scout cookies.

(You can celebrate National K9 Veterans Day on March 13 and National Potato Chip Day on March 14, in case you are looking for some reason to throw a party this weekend.)

Do you play a musical instrument? The American Legion Post 202 may have a use for you! Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, and American Legion Post 202 is again hosting “Taps” along the Housatonic River, starting at 10:10 am at Eichler’s Cove, continuing north up the river to Brookfield. Volunteers are needed for each of eight locations:

*Musicians to play “Taps” (any appropriate instrument);

*Veterans, Scouts, or other organizations to render a hand salute; and

*Videographers and photographers to record each of the sites.

A video to commemorate 2021 is also planned. American Legion Post 202 would like to include photo remembrances of departed Newtown veterans. Send photos of deceased veterans, preferably in uniform, who lived in Newtown no later than May 1 to americanlegionnewtown@gmail.com, so that the photo can be included in the 2021 video. Include the veteran’s name, rank (if known), branch of service, and era that they served. For more information or to volunteer, e-mail americanlegionnewtown@gmail.com or call 203-577-9568.

You know how much I love bird watching. But birding can be a challenge for some: so, Birdability to the rescue. According to birdability.org, this group “focuses on removing barriers to access for birders with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, intellectual or developmental disabilities (including autism), mental illness, being deaf or hard of hearing, chronic illnesses, and other health concerns.” You can learn about accessibility challenges and how to overcome them, accessible birding sites, and other useful information at this website.

The crafty seniors of the Newtown Senior Center have great things for sale this Saturday, March 13, from 8 am to 2 pm, at their Pop-Up Boutique. You’ll find handcrafted items for spring, St Patrick’s Day, and Easter at the Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street. Proceeds will benefit the Senior Center.

Uh-oh. Beware the Ides of March! Shakespeare’s warning of the March 15 date has a decidedly wicked tone to it, and I think most of us do not see any good of this greeting. But I did some snooping around and discovered, guess what? The Ides of March in ancient days referred to the first full moon of the month, and once was a reason for good cheer. “Ides” was just the 15th of March, May, July, and October, or the 13th of the other months, and used to calculate other dates in ancient Rome. Kalends were the first day of the month (with taxes due), and nones were the ninth day before ides. Hardly ominous, it seems... unless you were Julius Caesar, who was assassinated on March 15. Hence, Shakespeare’s character’s warning.

Let’s see... there is something happening next week... Will you be celebrating St Patrick’s Day on March 17? Or maybe getting into the spirit a few days early at the Newtown Community Center, as they invite people of all ages to “Find The Pot Of Gold” on Sunday, March 14, from 1 to 2:30 pm. Arts, crafts, and a treasure hunt will make for a magical event. Register by calling 203-270-4349 or at newtowncommunitycenter.org.

Even as we begin to feel the excitement of more and more people getting COVID vaccinations, it remains a good idea to keep gatherings limited in numbers. A couple extra glasses of stout or green beer might make you feel like letting loose, but please keep hugs and loud singing to a minimum when you hoist a glass to the patron saint of Ireland this St Patrick’s Day. The more cautiously we go, the quicker we’ll get back to our pre-pandemic ways of getting together. No matter what or how or with whom, have a wonderful and safe Happy St Patrick’s Day!

A bowl of green cream does not really appeal to me, but I will certainly be in good cheer as I collect the news for next week. Be sure to... Read me again!