In celebration of July, when most blooms and pollinators are at their peak, a Pollinator Photo Contest by Protect Our Pollinators (POP) was introduced last week. Readers are invited to share their photos of pollinators in their natural habitat, but be quick about it. Deadline for this competition is August 5. Entries should be a clear photo of a pollinator in its natural habitat. File format should be JPG, minimum of 1,000 pixels (150 DPI). Limit two entries per individual to be sent to propollinators@gmail.com by Monday*. Entries will be divided into three categories — 5-12, 13-18, and 19 and older — and they will be judged by a panel from Protect Our Pollinators. The winning photos will be published in The Newtown Bee. The winning photographers will also be eligible for a free native plant during a native plant sale being planned by POP at C.H. Booth Library in early September.

*(Note the column that ran in last week’s paper arrived with an incorrect email address. Definitely send those photos to the gmail.com address listed above.)

Remember last week when I mentioned Andy Engels had constructed a permanent collection bin that has been installed for FAITH Food Pantry at C.H. Booth Library? This week I’m offering a Good Egg Award to Andy, not only for that good deed but also for the second one in just as many weeks. Andy built a second collection cabinet that has now been added to the lobby of Newtown Community Center. A suggestion list with the cabinet at 8 Simpson Street mentions baked beans, beef stew, brownie mix, canned fruit, canned tomatoes, cat food (dry and wet), cat litter, cereal, cleaning supplies, coffee and tea, cookies, crackers, dog food (dry and wet), jam/jelly, juice, laundry detergent, lunch snacks, pancake mix and syrup, pasta sauce, paper products, peanut butter, ready-to-eat soups, spices, and toiletries.

That new drop-off spot joins long-standing locations in town that also accept donations: The Newtown Bee office (just inside the front door), 5 Church Hill Road; Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market (near the coffee station), 5 Queen Street; and Union Savings Bank, 1A Commerce Road. Donations can also be dropped right at the pantry on Tuesday mornings between 9:30-11:30, Thursdays between 4-6 pm, and Drive-Thru Food Drive events, the first Saturday of each month, 10 am-noon. Visit newtownfoodpantry.org for the latest requests, details on making financial donations, and the pantry’s Amazon Wish List. If you’d like to ask a question or arrange a large donation, contact the pantry at 203-837-0816 or vp@newtownfoodpantry.org.

I was prowling about the Democratic Town Committee Summer Picnic this past Saturday when I bumped into Connecticut State Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told me how much he enjoys coming to Newtown and what a great town we have. Sen Blumenthal later mentioned to the crowd that he has marched in 36 of our Labor Day Parades! Do you know how many years that is in cat years?! (176)!

A homeowner on Rock Ridge Road has provided water at the edge of their property for thirsty dogs walking that street, a real blessing on these hot summer days. So I was saddened to come upon this sign while walking there recently: “To my Canine Friends Your water station was STOLEN. New one soon!” A second Good Egg Awards goes this week to the homeowners for their act of kindness – and a big frownie to whoever swiped the water station! Grrrrr.

In July 2004, ground was broken at One World Trade Center. Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in a federal prison, five months of house arrest, two years probation, and fined $30,000 for attempting to cover up illegal stock trading. A Bridgeport man who was staging an illegal fireworks display in the Riverside section of town was charged with illegal possession of fireworks and first-degree reckless endangerment — and suffered minor burns and scrapes — when a large number of powerful fireworks positioned on a dock accidentally discharged, causing multiple simultaneous pyrotechnic explosions at ground level. And the then-newly formed Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Management Committee discussed issues ranging from stepped up security measures to imminent maintenance requirements, to the future scope, structure, and charge of the committee itself.

Meanwhile, Felicia Figol and Matthew Wood also began careers with Newtown Police Department. Belated congratulations to each for reaching their 20th anniversary with the local PD last month. Newtown PD K-9 Ofc Figol’s anniversary was July 21, and Sgt Wood followed last Friday, on July 26. Ofc Figol has served as a Cadet coordinator, Marine Patrol Officer, and Field Training Officer, although as noted on the department’s Facebook page last week, she is best known around town as the department’s K9 handler. Prior to joining Newtown PD, Ofc Figol served for several years as an Arizona State Trooper. Sgt Wood was a Patrol Officer and Field Training Officer before being promoted to Sergeant. He also spent several years as the Citizen’s Police Academy coordinator and department’s Special Olympics CT Torch Run Coordinator. For the past several years he has served as a patrol supervisor. He is also nationally recognized as an instructor for the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program.

The PD was visited last week by Newtown resident Lisa Yu, who offered her latest donation of Cuddle Bear book/teddy bear sets for officers and detectives to provide children when they encounter them on calls and other times of trauma. The 39 sets Lisa donated after fundraising for them have the teddy bears and copies of Cuddle Bear books sealed for safe, clean storage until they’ll be needed. If her name and the donation sound familiar, Lisa made a similar visit to Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps 2½ years ago. In January 2022 she delivered dozens of similar kits for the EMTs there to have available when they respond to calls. The Yu family has counted on NVAC a few times, she told us in 2022. Her son has severe food allergies, she shared. During one of his rides to the hospital in an ambulance, he was given a small stuffed animal. “It truly calmed him and made the experience much easier,” she said. That led to Yu launching that first fundraiser, to benefit the local ambulance corps.

St Rose of Lima Parish offered thanks last weekend to Deacon Rick Scinto for 12 years of service. Deacon Rick was the featured guest on July 28 when a Farewell Reception was held following the 11:30 Mass that morning. He was one of six men who were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese of Bridgeport in June 2012. He began his service to the local parish the day after his ordination, and has been a steady presence since. His next assignment, I understand, will be in another very local parish.

April’s total solar eclipse was the big event of the year for many who enjoy watching and studying the night sky, but we have a close second approaching this month. The Perseid Meteor Shower on the overnight of August 11-12 will offer one shooting star every minute. Keep in mind we’ll need clear skies, of course. Experts have a few additional suggestions: turn off window and outdoor lights, and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Find a wide open space, like a ballfield or lakeside area (or even a cemetery — being respectful, of course), because you don’t want to try to watch through breaks between trees. Keep staring at the sky, because the meteors move fast. And sit in a chair or lie on a blanket, because you don’t want strain your neck. The optimum viewing time will be around midnight or 1 am, when we should be seeing these about once a minute. If you’re impatient and want to start looking earlier (or need to get children to bed early), early birds can begin looking skyward around 9, but know that you’ll only see a meteor every four or five minutes.

That’s more frequent than the appearances I make for you, dear reader. Nevertheless, I hope you’ll remember to come back to this spot next week, when you can … read me again.