There are some humble people that I would like to exalt with my Good Egg Award this week. Ed Pitochelli, owner of Newtown’s Ace Hardware store, Todd Phelps of Allcolor Painting, local chimney sweep and contractor Terrance Ford, and landscape designer Dan Holmes went above and beyond to help a complete stranger, Bill Palladino, when Mr Palladino’s friends put out feelers recently for assistance in sprucing up Mr Palladino’s home, after the aging Sandy Hook resident had a run of bad luck. Mr Palladino can now move to the next phase of his life, thanks to all who helped.

Food names like “Fatty Melt” and “Chubby Melt” tend to make me run in the other direction, but apparently these Southern favorites are the inspiration behind a new sandwich being featured at Friendly’s. The Grilled Cheese Burger Melt is a whopping 1,500 calories of burger, tomato, and lettuce between two grilled cheese sandwiches that take the place of the bun… An average-sized cat needs only about 200 calories a day to remain svelte, and those lightly active, middle-aged reporters around The Bee should be taking in around 1,600 for the women, 2,500 calories a day for the men; so you can see that just one “Fatty Melt” type meal can quickly push you over the edge. Just something to think about with swimsuit season in full swing…

Maybe this will help melt the fatties away: A running club is organizing for people of all ages and levels, for a weekly or twice-weekly jog. Jog the flat, shaded trails at Monroe’s Wolfe Park, Wednesday, July 7, and Thursday, July 8, at 6 pm. Meet/park at the junction of Pepper Street and Cutler’s Farm Road. It’s a great chance to exercise and socialize with like-minded people.

Whether you are on vacation or staycation this summer, Bee education reporter Eliza Hallabeck is hoping students will send in their favorite summer vacation photos, with a caption explaining it, of course, to eliza@thebee.com, by July 30. Eliza will be compiling all those photos for a feature on what Newtown’s youth did during the summer vacation. (If no one sends in photos, Eliza may be reduced to using lots of photos of me, sunning myself out behind The Bee. So be sure to send them in!)

Tina and Ted Welsh’s tag sale preparations had more downs than ups last weekend. Setting up for the sale, Tina invited her neighbor, but not the neighbor’s dog, into the house to take a peek at some sale items. The nosy Bassett hound, left to his own devices, decided to scamper up the open garage staircase into the unfinished attic. Hearing the pitter-patter of footsteps overhead, Ted and the neighbor raced upstairs — but not before doggie dearest slipped 8 feet down a hole and got wedged in a small space next to the chimney. Unable to reach him and with the heat of the day rapidly becoming an issue, Ted and Tina figured out that the dog was caught behind the wall at the back of their hall closet and Tina began heaving everything out of the closet, while Ted got out the saw and began cutting a hole into the back wall of the closet. The hound’s owner kept an eye on the pooch from above, as the dog warden and the fire department arrived, axes in hand. The dog was swiftly retrieved after a few well-placed strokes of the ax, says Tina, and hustled off to the vet for evaluation. (He’s fine.)

That would be enough excitement on a sweltering day, except then, as the rescue truck backed up the driveway, it dislodged a wasp nest and several angry wasps attacked the heroes of the day in the truck. Imagine what Tina’s son thought as he returned home from a run to the sight of three emergency vehicles, an animal control truck, angry wasps, a neighbor rushing out the door with a dog in her arms, and some pretty disheveled parents. But wait — there’s more. Returning to the attic to cover the hole, Ted discovered a wasp had hitched a ride under his shirt, and being unhappy, the nasty insect came out and stung Ted in the eye. This led to some massive swelling, some first aid on Tina’s part, and some thoughts that the emergency room might be the next stop. But hooray! Deus ex machina! As they wondered what to do, a doctor friend unexpectedly pulled into the driveway, and tended to Ted. (He’s fine, too.) The good thing, says Tina, was that after spending the rest of the evening sorting through the pile she had tossed from the closet, she came up with several games that sold at the tag sale. Of course, there is still that hole at the back of the closet…..

Word from our Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, vacationing on the shoreline, has us a bit concerned. She is either in greater need of a rest than we thought, or having way too much fun. Shannon reports that she and her sister felt compelled to pursue a fellow in a Mustang down the road to make sure that they were seeing what they thought they were seeing — a guy with a squirrel in the car. When they reached the stoplight and confirmed the sighting, “It was jumping on his shoulders, and when he stopped at the light, I swear the squirrel had its paws on the steering wheel,” says Shannon. Uh oh…

Darlene Jackson says she is being “amused and distracted” by two new friends. Smokey and Bandit are two striped kittens that she adopted this past week. The little brothers are bringing joy to her household, says Darlene, with their juvenile antics.

Fred Pendergast wants to remind his Pendergast Recycling customers to expect regular pickup the week of July 5. Pat Caruso tells me, though, that Associated Refuse clients will be on a one-day delayed cycle next week.

So, have a Happy Fourth of July! There’ll be plenty of news next week, no doubt, so make sure to… Read me again.