No need to license us kittycats, but the month of June is dog licensing month for all Newtown dogs, six months and older. Licenses are $8 for a spayed or neutered pup (please provide a copy of spay/neuter certificate if it’s not on file); otherwise, $19. Dog owners must present a copy of the pet’s rabies certificate when obtaining a license — but if you have a current rabies certificate on file with the town, you can renew online at newtown-ct.gov. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a check made out to the Town Of Newtown to Town Clerk’s Office, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown CT 06470 to obtain a license by mail, use the drop box at the north entrance of the Municipal Center, or visit the Town Clerk’s office (3 Primrose Street).

Cats, as well as dogs, though, should be vaccinated against rabies. A low-cost rabies vaccination clinic takes place Saturday, June 12, from 9 to 11 am, outside the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street. The fee is $20 per pet, CASH ONLY. Proof showing a rabies expiration date of June 12, 2021 must be present for a three-year rabies dose; otherwise a one-year dose will be administered. Thanks to Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals for staffing this clinic!

Jim Wright had a surprise visitor to his yard last Friday morning. This bear meandered through his Tamarack Road property — maybe on its way to a Memorial Day weekend picnic?

FAITH Food Pantry’s next monthly drive-thru event is this weekend. Residents are invited to visit the pantry at 46 Church Hill Road, between 10 am and noon Saturday, June 5. Volunteers will collect items including financial donations. The pantry’s wish list this month includes apple and cranberry juice, body wash, brownie mix, coffee, dry cat food, ketchup, laundry detergent, macaroni and cheese, mayonnaise, shampoo and conditioner, and snacks and crackers in individual size packs. If you cannot get to the pantry on Saturday, or during regular donation hours (Tuesday, 9:30 am-11:30 am; and Thursday, 4:30-5 pm), donation boxes are available in multiple locations in town, including the front lobby of Bee Publishing Company, 5 Church Hill Road. If you are needing food, pet and/or cleaning supplies from the food pantry, appointments are still needed. Call 203-837-0816 or 203-426-5604 to make an appointment.

Look out! Here they come! The 47th Rooster Run 5K and 10K race sets off at 8 am this Saturday, June 5, at Fairfield Hills. At 10 am, “Little Dash” participants will head out on a run. Presented by Newtown Parks & Recreation, all proceeds from the race will benefit the Newtown Scholarship Association. If you haven’t yet registered, visit runsignup.com for details. I know there are plenty of runners out there eager to get back in the fray: as you might suspect, though, the only thing this cat will be chasing around is my tail.

On that note, proud dad Jack Halmose has shared with us the news that his son, Justin Halmose, past winner of the Rooster Run 5K and Run For Hunger 5K, among others, will not be defending/participating this year due to the fact he’s now a United States Marine. He just graduated boot camp (Parris Island, S.C.) this past Friday (May 28) as a Private First Class and is now stationed at Camp Geiger (Jacksonville, N.C.) for infantry training. Job training in security forces follows infantry training.

Also, Justin received recognition at graduation for being the most physically fit Marine in his company, out of 360 graduates, Jack tells us, earning the honor with a perfect score of 600 out of 600. The physical fitness award is referred to as “Company Ironman.” Congratulations and best of luck to Justin!

I’m looking forward to seeing photos from this coming weekend’s NHS Senior Prom. Families are reminded that The Newtown Bee will have a collage of photos from the event in the next issue, and are encouraged to send in their own photos from the prom. E-mail photos to eliza@thebee.com by Monday, June 7, at 8 am, with the names of those pictured, from left to right.

Dawn’s Pizzazz, 69 Bantam Road, Litchfield and 81 West Street, Danbury, will host a Cut-A-Thon, Saturday, June 4, from 1 to 5 pm, to celebrate its 35th anniversary and to benefit the family of Jonathan Coelho, a young area father who died from COVID in 2020. His two children are Braedyn and Penelope. Braedyn was born with several medical complexities. All proceeds will be donated to The Jonathan Coehlo Fund to provide financial assistance with medications, procedures, camps, equipment, and more. Call 203-794-1113 for an appointment.

If you or someone you know, a Newtown/Sandy Hook resident or someone who works with the public in town, would like to be featured in our weekly Snapshot personal profile, contact alissa@thebee.com. You don’t have to be famous — but here’s a chance for you to be so in your hometown!

Haven’t had time yet to get your COVID-19 vaccine? Members of the public can visit a clinic at the St Rose of Lima Holy Innocents Faith Formation Center, 38-B Church Hill Road, Monday and Tuesday next week, June 7 and 8, for either the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. From 4 to 8 pm, Griffin Health and Connecticut Department of Public Health invite anyone unvaccinated to take advantage of this opportunity for protecting your health and the health of others. No one will be turned away. Call 845-641-7277 with any questions.

You know the drill: Don’t look at the sun directly! But look for a “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse on Thursday, June 10. The full eclipse will last for roughly an hour and 40 minutes. No part of the US will see the full eclipse, but people along the East Coast and Upper Midwest will get a peek at a partial solar eclipse just after sunrise.

Good news: Botsford Fire Rescue has announced it will present its Summer Bash this year. The annual fundraiser was among the multitude of events canceled last summer, but a recent Facebook post said the fire company is moving forward with plans for Saturday, August 28. Additional details will be released.

Mark your 2022 calendars for June 10-11 for the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company LobsterFest, which has been canceled this year; and visit the company’s website (sandyhookfire.com) for ways to support that company.

I’ll be looking for your weekly support, as always. Be sure next week to... Read me again.