Now that the weather has warmed up and we are spending more time outside, you never know what you’re going to run into.

A few people around town have been running into a black bear. The most recent sighting was Monday morning in Sandy Hook. Police got a call from Pat Anzellotti in Sandy Hook who had a black bear in the backyard on King Philip Trail. By the time the police got there, the bear had slipped back into the woods, which seems to be a relief to the officers. Actually, the state DEP says it doesn’t do much about bear sightings unless the bears are becoming a nuisance in their search for food.

I have always found that when confronting a bear, it helps to be in a group in which you are not the slowest runner.

In other wildlife news, the family dynamics are about to change for the three American bald eagles living on an island preserve in the middle of the Connecticut River under the watchful video-camera set up by Northeast Utilities. Only one egg was laid, and the single eaglet that hatched April 9 is about to fledge. If you log onto the website www.nu.com/eagles, you’ll see the youngster (which is as big as its parents but lacks the white head) hanging about on the edge of the nest under the watchful eye of one of the adults who still bring it food. Shifting from one foot to the other and stretching its wings to flex those growing muscles, the adolescent eaglet displays behavior not unlike a teenager about to ask for the car keys. He’s grateful for the free lunch, but he’s ready to go.

Also, Elaine McClure says she noticed a large box turtle slowly plodding along the center of Scudder Road when she was driving there this week. “Now that’s perseverance,” she said, reflecting on the turtle’s determination to make its way up the long, steep hill.

Now that summer schedules are kicking in, people are looking forward to a more relaxed pace. Hard to imagine, but even Gordon Williams, Newtown’s consummate volunteer, welcomes some downtime. Gordon has served this year as president of the Newtown Historical Society, he has been an active member of the Newtown Lions Club, he has worked on Al’s Trail, and he serves on the board of the Booth Library. Gordon’s evenings were filled with meetings and events but since these activities and duties are tapering off, he says he’s enjoying his free time. “You’re looking at the other Gordon,” he said recently, “the one who loves to stay home and read.”

Sandy Motyka said she has been getting a lot of messages on her answering machine, messages that are obviously meant for someone else. Apparently her number was printed by mistake in a church notice for an upcoming potluck dinner. “People have been leaving messages telling me what they are bringing to the supper,” she said. “I’ve been writing it all down. I wish I knew which church it is because I’d really like to try the rhubarb crisp.”

Mark Favale, the postmaster in Hawleyville, has designed a commemorative postmark to help support awareness for breast cancer research and for the postal service’s breast cancer research stamp. The postmark will be put free on first class mail on Saturday, June 11, from 8 am to noon, at the post office on Hawleyville Road. It can also be ordered by mail until July 11.

Customers of Shortt’s Farm on Riverside Road are appreciative of the smooth, paved entrance to the farm that Jim Shortt put in this spring. Dipping and diving through the deep and myriad potholes that graced the entrance previous years was always a challenge, and one that won’t be missed by regular clients.

Members of Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown decided earlier this year to pay tribute to the town’s 300th birthday with a standard flower show. Artistic divisions, they decided, would reflect the tercentennial as well as Newtown with categories such as Flagpole, another called Mary Hawley — Our Benefactress, and still another called The Inn at Newtown. Horticulture classes will also be presented at the show, which will be presented at Newtown Meeting House on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11. Hours are 6 to 9 pm on Friday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. Twelve judged associated with The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut will be judging the classes. The public is invited to visit the show, free of charge.

 Newtown resident Monica Roberto and Kim Coleman, who lives in New Fairfield, have started a nonprofit organization, The Animal Center, to help solve the problem of unwanted, stray, and feral cats in Newtown. June is “Adopt A Shelter Cat Month” so each Saturday this month the two women are bringing kittens available for adoption to Paws On Main, a specialty pet products store owned by Diane Alena of Sandy Hook. The shop is located at 268 Main Street in the Stepney Plaza, next to Senior Ponchos restaurant in Monroe.

In keeping with this theme of kindness towards cats, I am now going to take a nap. But I will be back next week, so be sure to…

Read me again.