Imagine Pat and Jeff Forger’s surprise when they arrived at Jeff’s mom and dad’s place at Liberty at Newtown for a Father’s Day dinner and found a surprise guest had decided to join the family. Eleanor and Bob Forger live in a ground floor unit, and just outside of their living room on the patio, a huge snapping turtle had made itself comfortable, much the chagrin of Bob, who planned to crack lobster shells out there. Fortunately, Pat tells me, the snapper ambled off before dinnertime to “bigger and better things.” I tell you, Newtown is becoming a regular Wild Kingdom these days — bears, peacocks, turkey, fox, deer, and owls, not to mention the usual raccoon, opossum, squirrels, and chipmunks. And now, we can add snapping turtles to the list… and skunks.

From the distance, the black and white wriggling mass on the hillside looked like a silly dog vigorously scratching its back, but as I moved in a little closer…. I moved back a lot faster. The black and white swathe making its way across the White Wood Road lawn was a mother skunk followed en masse by her brood of five (or maybe six) skunklets. They all scurried off over the crest of the hill as I scurried swiftly to the other side of the road. Cute, at a distance, but I didn’t want to push my luck. Nobody loves a stinky cat.

Puzzlers, rejoice! If you aren’t getting enough challenge with your jigsaw puzzles at home, stop by the library. Set up on one of the display tables near the main circulation desk is a puzzle that welcomes visitors to puzzle over it for a few minutes or a few hours. When that puzzle is completed, another one gets underway. I guess it is sort of like New England weather: if you don’t like it, wait a minute.

As they gear up to feed the throngs at the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale next month, Troop 70 has been busy with some techie stuff. The Newtown Boy Scouts have launched a new website. The site contains information about Boy Scouts of America, the history of scouting, and information on becoming a Boy Scout. It also contains informational videos, fantastic pictures, and an easy-to-use navigation. This website builds off of the skills and experience of Newtown’s oldest Boy Scout Troop. Take a few minutes to browse the results of their hard work at troop70newtown.org.

 Another thing you might want to take a few minutes for is a stop at Newtown Country Mill on Route 302 in Dodgingtown. Linda Manna’s country store chock full of antiques and primitive reproductions is celebrating ten years in business. She has been so successful, thanks to her local and regional customers, that the shop is popping at the seams with items. So Linda is having a big sale on furniture and other terrific items now through July 7 — because in the world of merchandising, autumn is just around the corner and she needs to make room for all of the new treasures coming in. Stop by and tell Linda congratulations, and don’t forget a Milk Bone for the ever-so-friendly Crash, Linda’s golden retriever.

So school’s out and it’s the first full week of summer vacation. If you’re a parent and you’re already looking for something to have the kids do during the summer (or you know you meant to do something and can’t quite remember what it was), Gordon Williams and Newtown Historical Society have one suggestion: Summer History Camp. Gordon put a little bug in my ear this week, reminding me that there are just a few spaces left for this year’s camp, which will run the week of July 21–25 at Matthew Curtiss House on Main Street. Campers dress in costumes provided to make the 18th Century come alive and activities include making bricks, baskets, ice cream, and even marbles. Campers will also make a walking field trip to the nearby meetinghouse on one day, where they will see the stock that was recently built by Newtown resident Alan Graves especially for history camp. Camp meets each day from 10 am to 1 pm, is open to children ages 8–10, costs $150 per child, and is limited to just ten kids total. Interested? Call Gordon at 426-6443 ASAP. The camp is in just a few weeks and he and the other organizers are trying to finish planning for it so they need to hear from parents within the next week if you’re interested.

Many have wondered about St Rose’s annual carnival, which will be back before we know it. It’ll be here, in fact, July 1 to 5, and parishioners and other Newtown residents have wondered where the carnival will take place this year now that part of the church’s field and some of its parking lot are no longer available due to ongoing construction at 46 Church Hill Road. According to Father Bob, the rides will be on the parking lot immediately behind the church and the food tents will be on the rectory’s back lawn, where there is a great deal of available space. Some of the traditional white game trailers won’t be making an appearance this year, but Stewart Amusement will still have plenty of carnival rides and some of their game trailers including the water guns, basketball throw, Whack-A-Mole, and others. Bingo’s back, too. The fun starts at 6 pm each night.

The water can wait, of course, but the staff at Treadwell Park pool is worth a little time out of my nine lives. The counselors, lifeguards, and attendants — including school and college students trying to earn gas money during the summer — have a few months of vacation time to fill. They could be at home on the couch. They could be staying out late with their friends and making a mess of the kitchen when they get up at noon to fry bacon and eggs (which I wouldn’t mind). Instead they’re learning to lifeguard, learning to mind the front gate to the pool, leading camp activities, and more while adding up what experiences they can toward a bigger goal.

Are the lifeguards interested in a medical career as an EMT? Do the young men and women watching over swimmers have an interest in sports medicine or physical therapy? I purred over the questions for awhile, I napped a bit, and then my ears perked again when I heard gate attendant and high school student Michael Gabor speaking up Monday at the pool. With diligence he was doing his job collecting pool passes as residents stepped toward the bathhouse before reaching the poolside. Freckles and a smile greeted parents, children, and the lone resident sneaking in a few laps during her lunch break. He certainly could not have known each person that passed the attendant’s window, but he made an effort to be polite to swimmers using the public pool.

From my perch in the sun I noted at least the one lone swimmer walk away with a smile, thanks to Michael, who pulled her pass from a card holder and told her to have a good day. For Michael, the lifeguards, counselors, and other students and young adults spending their vacations at work — earning what in some cases is only minimum wage — I am glad your otherwise idle hands have not wandered to the water pistol to rouse this sleeping cat.

Let’s hope I don’t have to use a water pistol to rouse you next week in order to… Read me again.