The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and who doesn’t like fireworks? I like to think of them as loud and giant fireflies that appear once a year, but that’s just cat talk. Some of my canine pals, though, are not looking forward to this coming weekend. Loud noises, even heard from a distance, are disturbing to many dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website says that certain breeds, “like German and Australian shepherds, border collies, cattle dogs and Shetland sheepdogs, are susceptible to developing noise fear and phobias, ” and that “Most of the sounds that dogs fear are sudden, loud noises like thunder, firecrackers, and gunfire.” This might be because they have particularly good hearing, or have learned to associate the loud, loud noise with some other unpleasant situation. Whatever the reason, do your dog a favor: don’t take him or her with you to watch the fireworks. If it is the snap, crackle, and pop of neighborhood fun, find Fido a safe and quiet place to wait out the festivities. Your dog will be happy, and so will you.

The fifth of July is a big day, too. It is the kick off for the Society of Creative Arts in Newtown (SCAN) summer show. In conjunction with the Town of Newtown and the Office of the First Selectman, original works of art by SCAN members will be on display in Newtown Municipal Center at Fairfield Hills. The exhibit will run through July 29, and be viewable Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4:30 pm. The public is invited to attend an opening reception, Saturday, July 9, from 2 to 4 pm, at the municipal center.

Boy Scout Troop 270 held awards at Newtown Congregational Church earlier this summer. Congratulations to the following guys for receiving Life Scout: Jack Benedict, Daniel Bittman, Nicholas Lafky, Marco Manes, and Matthew Rosa; for the Star award: Travis Hanna, Henry Summ; earning First Class: Christopher Lafky, Jon Vaughan, and Mitchell Weimann; Tenderfoot: Nikhil Trivedi and Oliver Wood; Scout: John Bittman, Joseph Caruso, Justin Cicarelli, Rory Edwards, Ryan Hom, Gabriel Locke, Cameron MacDonald, Matthew Menousek, Shane Powers, Kevin Riccardi, McKinley Seaver, and Jason Silkowski. The Troop Spirit Award went to William Cosgrove and Rob Russo, and All Year Round Camper Award to Chris Erikson and Matt Rosa. According to Scoutmaster Peter Lubinsky, the boys have been working hard assisting Eagle Scout candidates perform community service and enjoying high adventure excursions through Venture Crew 270, along with other camping excursions. The troop is looking forward to their weeklong stay at Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island this summer, too. Weekly meetings for Troop 270 are held on Wednesday nights, during the school year, at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street. For information about the troop, contact the scoutmaster at 203-270-8382.

I expect to see a lot of hustle and bustle about Reed Intermediate School toward the end of next week. The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Annual Book Sale, featuring tens of thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, games, and puzzles starts Saturday, July 9, and runs through July 13. But before the crowds push through the doors next Saturday morning, scores of volunteers will be hauling box after box into the school cafetorium and adjacent rooms, setting up tables, and tending to the details that make this sale one of the most popular in the region. (Feel free to stop by on Friday with a cup of coffee or two to revive those hard workers.)

The Good Egg Awards seem to all be heading in the direction of the town swim crew lately. Another save! Hooray for the Parks & Rec lifeguards! This past week, rookie lifeguard Nick Lafky assisted a mother and child having a bit of trouble in Treadwell pool. I have to say, I feel pretty confident these days about taking a dip in our lifeguard-protected swim areas. Nick, you are a Good Egg!

I’ve been particularly fond of curling up on a chair in the gazebo at The Pleasance for my afternoon summer nap, the past several years. That building was one of several around town that collapsed this winter under the snow load, though, so my napping spot this spring has been a problem. I’ve tried stretching out on the benches in front of Edmond Town Hall; resting in the Newtown Congregational Church’s memorial garden; and snoozing on the front steps of the Meeting House. But nowhere has been quite so restful as The Pleasance. What a relief to see this week that a new gazebo has been set into place in the exact location. Now all I have to do is wait each day for the plein air lunchtime crowds there to thin out, and get back to my sweet dreams at The Pleasance. Shhh. Cat Sleeping.

I hear that Samantha Kent is up to her old tricks — of helping out. The 2010 NHS grad spent a week recently volunteering at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, founded by the late Paul Newman for seriously ill children and their families. I think the words “incredible,” “amazing,” and “indescribable” apply to her experience. I’ve heard from other Hole in the Wall volunteers that what one takes away from the experience is always way more than they feel that they give.

I was chasing a mouse when I looked up and thought I had taken a wrong turn and ended up in Manhattan. But this Lady Liberty is reigning over a garden in the Hattertown area of town. I don’t know what I like better: her saucy mouth or her doorknob eyes. At any rate, she seems to be wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July, and I will add to her wishes. Have a safe and fun Independence Day celebration!

Keep your eyes open — I could be prowling around anywhere this coming week looking for news that’s as juicy as the mice I find. Don’t forget to… Read me again.