If the beautiful bumble bee weather vane atop our building looks particularly golden this week there’s good reason for it. Fifty years ago this week that unique weather vane, and even the cupola below it, was installed atop 5 Church Hill Road. A four by five foot structure was built by Harry Rishor of Newtown, assisted by Ray Goldberg and Steve Fesh. The idea for the weathervane came from The Bee’s then-Editor, Scudder Smith. The signature work was then designed and constructed by John Hallock, a metal craftsman of Bethlehem, who created the 35-pound directional based on The Bee’s stationery. The weather vane arrived first, by way of John’s yellow VW convertible. “On his way,” a story in the July 26, 1974 Bee shared, “he received quite a few stares because the bee was perched in the back seat” of his vehicle. The weather vane and the cupola both went to the roof on Wednesday, July 24, 1974.

Another way to remember its age, as pointed out by the current Editor of The Newtown Bee: The weather vane is just a few months younger than Jim Taylor. Jim quietly sailed right past his own milestone a few months ago.

Happy Birthday Barbara Bloom! A little birdie (who I haven’t eaten, since they shared good news with me) tells me Barbara has a milestone birthday within the week. I’ll leave it at that, and hope she had a wonderful celebration.

As covered this week by Reporter Sam Cross, The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale has wrapped up for another summer. That means a few things: the library’s budget will be receiving a nice financial injection once the sale’s numbers are finalized, volunteers have returned to the library to start preparing for next year’s sale, and donations are again being accepted. Readers are invited to once again offer donations of gently-used books, games, puzzles, and media to the Friends. Donations can be dropped off just inside the Friends’ Donation Room, opposite the elevator on the first floor of the library, 25 Main Street, any time the library is open. Donations are sold year-round through The Little Book Store, located on the main floor of the year; some are set aside for the Holiday Sale in December; and many, many donations are put into the annual summer event. Proceeds from the sale of these items help the Friends support the purchase of library materials, online services, programs, and special projects.

A gentle reminder that the Friends cannot accept encyclopedias and Time-Life Series collections; outdated reference and text books, and travel guides; VHS tapes; Readers’ Digest condensed books; or magazines and free pamphlets. A special Fall Donation Day will be scheduled in October. I’ll let you know when that date is firmed up.

FAITH Food Pantry has firmed up its newest donations drop-off location. Thanks to longtime food pantry volunteer Andy Engels, a permanent cabinet has been installed in the vestibule of C.H. Booth Library. Andy, who constructed the Little Free Library installed outside the food pantry in September, also built the new collection cabinet now in place at the library. Visitors can drop off nonperishables any time the library is open (Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am-8 pm; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 am-5 pm; and Sunday, 12-5 pm). I know some of the food pantry’s clients are particularly thankful for cans and boxes of cat food…

Jim and Sue Shortt will host Night on the Farm next week. Readers are invited to join their family and employees for live music by Andy Corson, the opportunity to buy dinner or snacks from Stacks Mobile Food Truck, and of course enjoy ice cream from the recently launched ice cream portion of their longstanding farm and garden center. The evening is all planned for Tuesday, July 30, at 52A Riverside Road. You can tell ‘em I sent you, of course.

Also next week, readers are invited to join Newtown Forest Association members as they officially kick off their centennial next week. State Senator Tony Hwang is planning to be at Holcombe Hill Preserve, 65 Great Hill Road, on Thursday, August 1, for 10 am. Tony will present a proclamation on behalf of the State of Connecticut to officially acknowledge the centennial of conservation by NFA. There will also be a special announcement made that morning. Light refreshments will be served following the announcements. All are welcome. Registration is requested via email to trent.mccann@newtownforestassociation.org.

According to a recently released survey, Connecticut residents plan to view approximately 24 hours of the Olympic Games over the next two weeks. HostingAdvice surveyed 3,000 sports fans about their Olympic viewing ambitions and learned Nutmeggers are going for the gold in couch potato viewership. The average Connecticut sports enthusiast plans to dedicate a full day, cumulatively, to viewing, cheering, and even groaning at what they see unfolding in Paris. Some states are taking their Olympic devotion to new heights. Hawaii leads the pack, with residents estimating a jaw-dropping 98 hours of viewing time — four straight days of non-stop Olympic action. On the flip side, Montanans appear less consumed, planning a modest 8 hours of coverage, or just enough time to watch the opening ceremony and maybe catch a few swimming finals.

Tradition still reigns supreme when it comes to how viewers will tune in. Two-thirds of viewers will opt for the classic TV experience, while a tech-savvy 22% will stream on their phones. A small but dedicated 1% plan to watch via game consoles. Social media takes the gold for staying updated, with 55% of fans turning to their feeds for the latest Olympic news. News websites claim silver at 27%, while official Olympic apps and sports apps battle it out for bronze.

My ambition has reached its nadir yet again, as the International Olympics Committee has had another four years to work a catnap competition into its routine but has disappointed me once more. I’d easily pick up the gold there. I hope you’ll remember to pick up a copy of the paper next week, or check me out online, where in seven days you can … read me again.