When you moved to Newtown, did a fellow resident gift you with [naviga:u]a subscription to The Newtown Bee[/naviga:u]? Or have you paid it forward and bought a new neighbor a subscription, so they will be up-to-date on all things Newtown? If so, contact Alissa Silber at alissa@thebee.com or call 203-426-3141 to share your story and be featured in an upcoming article.

It’s not too late to wish your favorite nurse a Happy National Nurses Week! The American Nurses Association National Nurses Week began on Monday, May 6, and runs through Sunday, May 12. Nurses step up in the best and worst situations to help people; if you know a nurse, give him or her a big thank you. (You can do that anytime, by the way!)

Sandy Hook Elementary School PTA members created a “seed shop” in the school’s lobby on May 8, handing out seeds for teachers to take home and plant. It was just one of the many things done throughout the district this week to celebrate teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, noted nationally May 6 to 10. It’s never too late to tell your teachers how much you appreciate them. Go ahead, share your love, and let’s watch appreciation blossom year-round.

Newtown Park and Bark’s Tenth Anniversary Strutt Your Mutt event is coming up on Saturday, May 18. Bring your favorite person — oops — your favorite canine to the 2K walk at Fairfield Hills (Keating Farms Avenue), between 11 am and 2 pm. It’s $10 per dog, with a limit of three pooches to a person. Or sign up a team of dogs this year by breed, color, or just puppy pals for the price of $50. There will be contests, games, vendors, demonstrations and a whole lot of fun for all. Look pretty — the afternoon ends with the Strutt Your Mutt Pageant. Register and get more details at[naviga:u] [/naviga:u][naviga:u]https://www.newtownparkandbark.org/[/naviga:u], e-mail friendsofnewtownparkand bark@gmail.com, or visit the Newtown-Park-and-Bark Facebook page.

Just a reminder that Black Swan, 182 South Main Street, is celebrating Mom this Saturday with her favorite: ice cream. Enjoy some Cherry Garcia, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Vanilla, or Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream with your favorite mother. It’s Black Swan’s way of saying, “Thanks, Mom!” They will be serving from noon to 2 pm.

Representative JP Sredzinski (second from left in photo) joined Monroe officials First Selectman Ken Kellogg, ELM Representatives, Town Clerk Vida Stone, Planning and Zoning Administrator William Agresta, Emergency Management Director David York, Parks and Rec Director Missy Orosz, and Park Ranger and Tree Warden David Solek on April 30 to plant a new elm tree on the Monroe Green, in celebration of Arbor Day. Rep Sredzinski represents a section of Newtown, as well as Monroe. The tree was donated by Eastern Land Management (ELM), a Stamford-based company with a branch in Monroe. “The Town of Monroe has not only proved their commitment to our environment, but that public-private partnerships can work as well. I thank ELM, Monroe First Selectman Ken Kellogg, and Monroe Tree Warden David Solek for their diligence in getting this tree planted for our community,” said Rep Sredzinski .

The Arbor Day Foundation sponsors this event each year as a day to celebrate the role that trees play in human welfare and to promote tree planting and care. Trees not only increase property value, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community, they can also reduce wind and water erosion of topsoil, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate temperatures, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife.

There is a new cancer support group in town, intended to help those with cancer, survivors of cancer, for those with a family member diagnosed with cancer, or for anyone who has lost a loved one to cancer. The group meets each Wednesday, at 7 pm, in the Holy Innocents building on the St Rose campus, 46 Church Hill Road. The group welcomes all. Call 203-948-1369 or e-mail flsequenzia@gmail.com for more information.

Those little foxes that Robert LaPorta noticed last week have attracted more attention this week. Conrad Neufeld of Newtown glimpsed a foxy face while walking through Fairfield Hill, too. Taking pictures on Thursday, May 2, he caught several young foxes at play. “They were in the sun, playing around,” he said. Mr Neufeld saw that other people noticed the young foxes, but kept about 50 feet away. I am hoping that all admirers continue to give these wild animals the peace and respect they deserve. They may be adorable, but they are not puppies!

Governor Ned Lamont and Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner Rollin Cook recognized the state’s correction officers and correctional employees during National Correction Officers and Employees Week, which ran from May 5 through this Saturday, May 11. The week thanks correction officers and staff for keeping facilities and communities safe. Established as National Correction Officers Week by President Ronald Reagan under proclamation in 1984, the observation was expanded by Congress in 1996 under a resolution to include other vital members of correctional staff. So here’s a little shout out to our Garner Prison officers and staff in honor of this week!

National Public Radio reports that scientists are very concerned about plant and animals on our planet. “Up to 1 million of the estimated 8 million plant and animal species on Earth are at risk of extinction,” NPR reported last week, and guess what? The reasons have to do with how humans affect our environment — plastic and contaminants in water, climate change... Marine creatures and pollinators are among the threatened.

Your chance to make your opinion heard about the future of Fairfield Hills is slipping away. Members of the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee ask that if you haven’t already, please take the 10 to 12 minutes to voice your opinions at ffhsurvey.com. The survey ends on Wednesday, May 15.

I trust your calendars are marked for Saturday, May 18, when the Newtown Choral Society presents its spring concert at 4 pm. The performance, at the Meeting House on Main Street, will feature music from hits through the centuries, from early folk music to the Beatles and beyond. Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 for senior citizens — or from a NCS member.

The Newtown Bridge Club has notified us of the annual Longest Day event. The club is holding its third fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association on Wednesday, June 19. “There will be Duplicate and Social bridge games and Scrabble tournaments and casual play,” NBC tells us. The agenda includes morning, afternoon, and evening events with complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided by local establishments. The Longest Day will take place at Edmond Town Hall beginning at 9 am with light breakfast fare, followed by the morning games at 10 am, lunch, and afternoon games at 2 pm. After the 5 pm dinner (with live jazz music), the evening games start at 6 pm. For information visit newtownbridge.org.

Every day can seem long, but not if you pass it reading this column. Be sure next week to... Read me again.