I find it hard to believe that there is an American flag that is too big for Newtown’s towering pole, but Kym Stendahl tells me there’s one out there, and it’s coming to town for Labor Day. For those of you who like to get a sneak preview of things, take a ride to Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod this weekend for the annual Falmouth Road Race. There, you’ll see the largest American flag in the world.

The flag is 45 by 90 feet. Just how it will fly at the parade still has to be worked out, but it is probably going to take a crane to hoist it sufficiently off the ground. No word yet on how the flag will get to Newtown. At more than 4,000 square feet, this thing won’t fit in the trunk. I imagine they’ll cart it in on an 18-wheeler.

Five-year-old Charlie Aurelia (seen here) doesn’t seem too concerned about interest rates or loans when choosing his bank. Instead, the bank of choice for this mutt is the one giving out biscuits. Here, Charlie is seen hoofing it for a snack at the local branch of Union Savings Bank. No word on whether he made a deposit on the way out.

I ran into a slightly hobbled Alex Aitchison this week. The Newtown resident who hails from Down Under is hurting from a bad back that keeps him from playing the sport he loves: tennis. Alex is, however, still teaching the game. Alex says this will be the first time in years that he will miss the US Open Tennis Tournament, partly due to his bad back. Alex, a USTA official, usually watches the matches from the President’s box.

Several Newtown pizzerias are planning to join in the “Best Greater Danbury Pizza War” to benefit the Fairfield chapter of the Connecticut Alzheimer’s Association. The contest will be held on Saturday, August 18, from 2 to 4 pm at The Village at Brookfield Common. Among the 20 pizza vendors and restaurants from the greater Danbury area participating will be Carminuccio’s, the Fireside Inn, and My Place restaurant. A $5 admission entitles participants to sample all the pizzas and cast their ballots for their favorites. Call Kate McMahon at 775-8698 for more information.

Dolores Carron, who lives in Newington, wrote to say that she is trying to locate people who have a very rare neurological condition known as primary lateral sclerosis. So far, besides herself, she knows of only three other Connecticut residents who have PLS. She wants to set up what she believes will be the world’s first PLS support group. She can be reached at d.carron@worldnet.att.net or by phone or fax at 860-666-9862.

Newtown teachers Jessica Shivy (Sandy Hook) and Karen Blasko (Head O’ Meadow) worked at the Summer Academy, a pilot program for the Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies Magnet School. The two teachers were caught eating Italian ice during the lesson on Italy. I think the teachers were enjoying the snack more than the 50-plus students.

Bee reporter Tanjua Damon had an unexpected guest at her home the other night. A bat decided to swoop in for a little visit. Tanjua told her husband Joe to take care of the nocturnal pest. So to help him out she shut him in the bedroom where the bat decided to rest. Of course he wasn’t thrilled since the bat decided to take a close-up look at his face. So to get away from the creature he crawled into the dog crate. Joe ordered Tanjua to turn off the light. The bat finally figured out he didn’t belong in the house and flew out the window. Joe and Tanjua weren’t looking to adopt a bat any time soon.

While the renovation of the police station interior has hit a lull, Patrol Officer Maryhelen McCarthy has made good use of the former police records room, which will be converted into a new dispatch center. In that room, Officer McCarthy has assembled the many framed pieces commemorating the police department’s 30th anniversary which will go on display at Booth Library from August 13 through 23. In that display, composed of photos and text, the public will have an opportunity to recall the department’s past. The display includes photos of former officers, including Harry Noroian, Jack Qubick, and Klaus Ertl.

All the cool temperatures earlier this summer made me suspect that Connecticut had become the new Maine, but the steamy summer swelter this week made me revise that notion. Connecticut just may be the new Louisiana. I guess that makes Newtown the Big Easy. So everyone slow down, take it easy, and be sure to…

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