Stamford resident, Kellie Cooke, discovered vandalism at the Jesse Lewis memorial playground at West Beach this past week. A toy soldier placed at the playground, representing the 6-year-old 12/14 victim's bravery that day, has been destroyed. Kellie has started a fundraising effort to replace the statue with a more vandal-proof bronze soldier statue. She tells us that she has been in contact with Jesse's family, and any of the $20,000 goal in excess of purchasing the statue will go to Jesse's family. To support her efforts visit .https://www.gofundme.com/f7uzj958

Wildlife is on the prowl! Maggie Moller watched a mountain lion mosey across Pocono Road one night not too long ago. The big cat she observed is definitely not a bobcat, she says. Even though it was late, the mountain lion walked across the road in front of her car close enough "that I could tell you how many whiskers it had," she tells me. The cat was sleek, short-haired, and sandy colored, with a long tail, and little round ears. Sounds like a mountain lion to me. Many sightings of the wild cat have been reported over the years, in Newtown, and across the state. "I watched it cross the street - it just walked, it wasn't scared or anything - and meander up a hill," Maggie tells me. She added that she would be keeping a close eye on her Boston terriers when they are outside - pretty good advice for any small pet owner. Her only regret is that she was so awed by the sight, it didn't occur to her to take a picture.

On Hawley Elementary School "Dress Like Your Favorite Anything" Spirit Day on March 11, Principal Christopher Moretti was greeted by himself. Student Andrew Corey, pictured with Mr Moretti, surprised his favorite principal by dressing as him. Can you tell them apart?

St Rose of Lima School pre-kindergarten students were on the trail of a leprechaun this past St Patrick's Day. The students donned "leprechaun binoculars" (which looked suspiciously like toilet paper rolls, painted green) and discovered leprechaun footprints on the school grounds. They followed the footprints all the way to a pot o' lollipops. Did "Monsignor O'Weiss" have a hand (foot?) in the trail? The last "leprechaun" footprints were pretty big…

The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts (TBTA), 184 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, hosts a free staged reading of The Rescue Station. Directed by Tom Sheehan, the new work from Newtown's award-winning writer and playwright, Ray Sipherd, is a bittersweet romantic comedy that dramatizes the elusive nature of love and the power of long-forgotten memories. Five local actors will participate in the reading, Saturday, April 2, at 8 pm. Call 203-775-0023 or visit brookfieldtheater.org for reservations.

Paintings by Warren Curtis are featured at the current Bottle Stop Wine & Spirit Superstore pop-up art show, presented by SCAN. The show can be visited during store hours, until April 11. Bottle Stop is at 5 Queen Street, next to Caraluzzi's.

Miguel Rodriguez of Sandy Hook, former manager of Newtown Deli and Catering, has opened his own deli, Brookfield Deli and Catering, located at 782 Federal Road, Brookfield. Miguel is seeing many familiar faces and friends from Newtown visiting his deli, enjoying the great cuisine.

Get fit and support Ben's Lighthouse at the Extreme Boot Camp, this Saturday, March 26, from 11 am to 1 pm, at the NYA center in Fairfield Hills. The 90-minute boot camp workout is followed by an optional 2-mile run outside. Suggested donation is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 to 13. Register at bootcampforben.eventbrite.com, or contact cfoss@nyasportsfitness.com for more information.

The 13th Annual Newtown Spring Welcome Craft Fair will take place in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, 45 Main Street, Saturday, April 2, from 10 am to 4 pm. You'll find lots of interesting items by talented craftspeople there, so put an "X" on your calendar. Admission is free, too.

Johnny Williams of JAW Woodshop will demonstrate a new wood-scorching technique, called shou sugi ban, Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, at his 3 Obtuse Road workshop. Join him from noon to 5 pm to see how fired up he is about this- and enjoy a little beer and bocce.

Draw a picture of Mom, and get it to The Newtown Bee by next Friday. All illustrations received by 5 pm, Friday, April 1, will be included in a special Mother's Day promotion in the April 29 edition. Coloring forms are available at our 5 Church Hill Road office, or young illustrators can use their own paper. Drawings must measure three inches wide by 3½ inches tall. The colored drawings should include the illustrator's first name, age, hometown, phone number, and Mom's name; only the first names of mothers and children, the age of the illustrator, and their hometown will be printed in the paper. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 am until 5 pm, or mail to The Newtown Bee, PO Box 5503, Newtown CT 06470 - or use the drop slot on the front door or the mailbox by the front door.

Congratulations to Newtown author Justin Scott. Number 15 on The New York Times combined e-book/print bestseller list this past week was The Gangster, co authored with Clive Cussler. The Gangster is set in 1906, with New York detective Isaac Bell dealing with a plot against President Theodore Roosevelt. Justin has paired up successfully with Cussler in the past, and it looks like they have another winner on their hands.

I'll have another winner on my paws if you promise next week to… Read me again.