My sincere thanks this week to Shirley Ferris, who sent a note after reading last week’s Way We Were column and its request for help identifying two young men in a photo. Shirley easily recognized Scott and Bob Kimball. The family raised Herefords and occasionally, along with their brother Ed, showed them at local fairs, she said.

Welcome back Steve Bowers! Steve hadn’t been seen at work — the full-serve Wheels/Citgo station at 47 Church Hill Road — for weeks. After being a very steady presence there for over five years, it was jarring to keep driving past the station and not see him. Fortunately he’s OK. It turns out he needed some down time following knee surgery about six weeks ago. He returned to work this week and I know I was among many who were very happy to see that familiar smile again.

Newtown Woman’s Club and local students recently assisted Danbury Vet Center with the National Vietnam War Veteran Day 50th Anniversary Recognition Luncheon last week. While the 50th anniversary of the departure of US combat troops from South Vietnam was March 29, the Danbury location was among those to host an event a little early, on March 27. Several Newtown Woman’s Club members went to Danbury on Wednesday to set up tablecloths and potted flower centerpieces. Art students from Reed Intermediate School had created posters, some of which were hung in the event hall that morning. Then on Thursday, other Woman’s Club members were in Danbury to welcome veterans and their spouses in The Center’s lobby by holding more of the posters by Reed School students. The Vet Center staff prepared a wonderful lunch for the crowd of roughly 50 people. Cakes, cookies and other hot food was also donated by local establishments and friends of the Newtown Woman’s Club.

The annual Friends of Newtown Seniors Membership Drive will launch May 7. A little birdie tells me this year’s event will be at Newtown Community Center, and it will be a combination “learn all about FONS while enjoying a ‘Flavors of Newtown’-style treats.” FONS board members will celebrate past accomplishments and share future goals of the local organization dedicated to helping the Newtown community address issues that affect the lives and well-being of seniors. Mark your calendar now; additional details TBA.

Meanwhile, Newtown Youth & Family Services is still hoping to hear from residents interested in volunteering for just a few hours for Independent Living Day 2025. The annual event is a community-wide initiative aimed at helping senior citizens, veterans, and disabled residents of Nunnawauk Meadows live safely and independently in their homes. Volunteers take on myriad tasks including planting flowers, raking leaves, cleaning furniture, washing windows, and more. NYFS coordinates the effort, which this year is planned for Sunday, April 27. Light breakfast will be served and check-in will begin at 8:30; work is scheduled to begin at 9 and run no later than 1 pm. For additional information or to volunteer contact NYFS Youth Coordinator Madison McColl at mmccoll@newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org or 203-270-4335. I’d love to help, especially if any of the folks looking for a little bit of help have a cat or two in the house.

Meanwhile, a workshop coming up in May at Newtown Community Center, “An Introduction To Creative Floral Design: Parallel Design,” is waitlisted! Flower Show Judge Peggy Townsend, who is also a longstanding member of two local garden clubs and an award-winning designer, has a full house joining her for the workshop we just had a press release about last week. The Judges Council of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc is offering the morning workshop, which has drawn interest from across the state.

Newtown Scholarship Association is the benefactor of the Big Y Bag Program this month. The local association will receive $1 each time shoppers buy a $2.50 reusable bag at the Queen Street store before April 30.

Speaking of the good folks at Newtown Scholarship, the deadline for the Hertberg Family Foundation Scholarship may have passed for this year, but the NSA General Scholarship deadline is still ahead of us. But just barely. All Newtown High School graduating seniors and Newtown residents attending other high schools who are pursuing college or other forms of post-high-school education and have demonstrated financial need are encouraged to apply. Deadline is Friday, April 11. Applicants will be interviewed by the Awards Committee later this spring. Students will be notified of the date, time, and location. Visit https://www.newtownscholarship.org/ and click on To Apply.

Newtown Historical Society is inviting residents to participate in creating a historical record of Newtown’s local experience dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic five years after it began. Contributions will be archived with those of other Newtowners and accessed in the future by scholars, townspeople, students and others who study and look back on this historic time in our modern life. Everyone was touched by COVID-19 in very different and personal ways. Children and parents, seniors and students, merchants, and highly educated professionals all found creative new ways to work and play safely. Much of the story of COVID-19 will be about hardship and difficulty, but not all. The historical society believes a complete record should also reflect new work requirements and adaptations, pastimes, family time, entertainment, steps to protect from the virus, changes in the household and other personal observations describing how lives have been affected by the pandemic. If you’d like to help update the continuing story of this historic era, visit newtownhistory.org for more information.

Bee Reporters Jenna Visca and Sam Cross have often been mistaken for each other. The friends and co-workers have occasionally tripped up readers or interview subjects thanks to their similar appearances. The two had some fun on Tuesday of this week, when they purposely dressed alike and waited to see how long it took for their April Fool’s Day prank to be noticed. Both wore denim jackets, matching shirts and necklaces, and even styled their hair similarly.

Speaking of Tuesday, friends and employees of Julie Allen Bridals weren’t fooling around when they celebrated Melanie Mattegat this week. Melanie and husband Jay are the owners of the South Main Street bridal shop — one of the largest and longest-running in the state — and the business celebrated its 55th anniversary on April 1. Julie Allen Bridals was founded by Melanie’s mother, Julia Allen, as a home-based business from Allen’s Head O’Meadow Road home. Two moves — first to a retail outlet at South Main Shopping Center and then into the 7,800-square-foot space they built in 1993 at 154 South Main Street — and countless happy brides later, the family business continues to thrive and inspire.

Julia Allen Bridals again participated in a Prom Attire Donation Drive, which will provide gently used prom attire and formal wear to students in need who want to rock their prom. The salon also recently launched Sunday Private Bridal Experiences, when brides-to-be can enjoy a dress shopping experience with family and friends over breakfast nibbles and coffee on a Sunday of their choice.

I’m not one for fancy dress, but I do enjoy a good snack now and then. I also love sharing little bits of news. I’ll share my next collection next week, when you can come back and … read me again.