Last weekend, when the nation’s thoughts were turning to one ex-president, Ronald Reagan, preparations were getting underway in eastern Connecticut to honor another ex-president, Jimmy Carter. The Navy was getting ready for the christening of the USS Jimmy Carter, the most advanced nuclear-powered Seawolf class submarine, at Electric Boat in Groton.

Meanwhile, Ron Bienkowski was attending a School Business Managers conference at the same time and place. When his family joined him for the weekend, the Mystic Marriott was all prepared for the gala celebrations that preceded and followed the actual christening at Electric Boat. The Bienkowski family ended up meeting Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States.

The always engaging and gracious Mr Carter was more than happy to pose with Ron’s two sons, Ryan, 10, and Johnny, 5, for a snapshot, which by now should occupy an honored place in the Bienkowski family scrapbook. Also in attendance at the ceremonies were Navy Secretary Gordon England, James R. Schlesinger, who served as secretary of energy in his administration, Rosalyn Carter, Amy Carter, and the captain of the new submarine along with top Navy brass.

Father John was spotted on Saturday, running around the soccer field behind St Rose with a large black and white umbrella that he used to chase away the geese that have been attempting to stake a claim to the area. Apparently it worked, because the geese haven’t been back. Maybe the Cemetery Association would like to hire Father John for a couple of shifts at Hawley Pond in the Ram Pasture.

The newly arrived Leah Katherine Bigham was making the rounds of town offices last Friday, June 4. Leah, who is quite small and especially enjoys milk, had her mother, Lisa, in tow as she greeted town workers at Edmond Town Hall, Canaan House, and the police station. Leah, the daughter of Lisa and Steve Bigham of Southbury, was born May 17 at Danbury Hospital. Leah, who was 19 inches long at birth, weighed seven pounds, eight ounces on delivery. Lisa, who is the administrative assistant in the town’s building department at Canaan House, is on maternity leave. She expects to return to work in early autumn. Leah enjoys her sleep and spending time with her father, according to Lisa. The utterly cute newborn blue-eyed blonde plans a career in basketball. At 19 inches tall, she must have one heck of a vertical leap for her jump shot.

Bee arts editor Shannon Hicks celebrated her 35th birthday on Wednesday this week and started off the day with a flat tire. With the temperature soaring quickly into the 90s, wrestling with the tire change soon overheated Shannon. The first stop after she got the car rolling again was at Dunkin’ Donuts for an extra large iced coffee.

It would be interesting to know how many Newtown residents got up early Tuesday morning to watch Venus crossing in front of the sun. At sunrise, the weather did not look promising with a low bank of clouds obscuring the northeastern sky. But by 6:45 am, the sun had burned through and it was possible to view the event indirectly, by using binoculars or a telescope to project the image onto a white piece of paper –– or directly, by using special filtered lenses.

Seen against the sun’s giant disk, Venus looked no bigger than a tiny pea floating in front of a competition-size pumpkin. By 7:15 am, it was all over but the shouting. For those who made the effort, they had the satisfaction of knowing they were the only ones alive today to have ever experienced it. For those who missed it, we’ll all get another chance eight years from now. The next transit of Venus across Sol is June 6, 2012. After that, we must wait another 120 years.

My next transit across the newspaper page is just seven days away, however, so be sure to…

Read me again.