Lots of folks to offer congratulations to this week, beginning with the Newtown 9U Blue Hawk Cal Ripken players, coaches, families and fans. The team spent last weekend in Ocala, Florida, where they were one of an estimated 30 teams competing in World Series competitions. If you’ve been following our Sports pages, you already know that in order to reach the games at Ocala Rotary Sportsplex, Newtown first won the state title in early July, then the Cap Ripken New England Regionals in mid-July. Now that they're safely home again, State Senator Tony Hwang is inviting readers to join him in celebrating the team and its recent accomplishments. Tony and others will be at Edmond Town Hall this Friday afternoon (August 11) at 4:30 pm. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, please consider celebrating these players, who did had a phenomenal run this season. They did not win the World Series but it was a very exciting run and they made their hometown very proud. I hope each of those players really understands that.

Congratulations Robyn E. Abrams, a Newtown resident who recently placed third in the 5th Annual Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Photography Exhibition. Robyn’s close-up of an alligator staring intently away from the camera, titled “Eyeing My Next Meal,” was one of more than 100 images submitted for this year’s nonjuried competition. Photographers were invited to submit up to three of their favorite images. A jury of three local photographers selected adult winners, another judge considered entries from ages 18 and under, Zoo Director Gregg Dancho selected Zoo Director’s Choice, and the public was invited to vote for People’s Choice Award through an online voting process. Congratulations Robyn, and all of this year’s winners.

We’re pretty excited about something else happening soon at the zoo: BEE-Community Kind Day. In celebration of National Honeybee Day — yes! that’s a thing! — on Saturday, August 19, from 11 am until 3 pm, Zoo Career Explorers and Conservation Discovery Corps members will be at the zoo’s beehives, celebrating the important role of pollinators in ecosystems. Honeybees are critical to our food supply. Their decline is concerning to scientists around the world (and this cat, of course). Visitors next weekend will learn how they can help, while also enjoying some honey-based treats. Event sponsor Liberty Bank will also be giving away free bee backpacks and lunch bags. Access to the event is included in regular zoo admission. Call 203-394-6565 or visit beardsleyzoo.org if you need details.

Members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company are standing proud again this week. Nearly 20 members of the company were in Thomaston last Saturday night, when they participated in the parade attached to the town’s annual Firemen’s Carnival. Sandy Hook returned home with the massive trophy for Best Overall Company, as well as the plaque for Most Men in Line. This is the second successful appearance this season for Sandy Hook, who also returned triumphant from Bethany a few weeks ago. The company’s next parade appearance is scheduled for August 18 at Bridgewater Country Fair Fireman’s Parade. That event often attracts additional Newtown companies, so if you’re along the parade route next Friday night, watch for other familiar names and faces as well. Of course, all five of this town’s volunteer fire companies participate in our annual Labor Day Parade, so that’s something else to look forward to on Monday, September 4.

Local senior citizens are invited to join the Friends Of Newtown Seniors (FONS) Labor Day Parade group. FONS has openings for up to 20 people to join them that Monday morning. Parade line-up begins at 8, and step off is at 10 (but depending on the parade line of march, could be later than that), and the route is just about 1.5 miles long. Plan for a full morning in the center of town if you do want to join the fun. To learn more send a note to FONSchoreservices@gmail.com or call 203-430-0633 with your name and contact information.

Former resident Mike Allen is also to be congratulated. Mike’s podcast achieved two career milestones last month. “Amazing Tales from Off and On Connecticut’s Beaten Path,” which specializes in stories about Connecticut history, registered the 100,000th time that listeners have accessed an episode and logging the 100th episode published. In fact, according to statistics published by Buzzsprout and The Podcast Host, “Amazing Tales CT” is among the top five percent of podcasts nationwide. Additionally impressive is the fact the program was created less than two years ago. Special guests and subject matter experts join Mike each week to discuss interesting topics from across Connecticut. New 20-minute episodes are available every Thursday. If you’d like to listen to any of the 100 episodes that have already been released, or start following when new ones are issued, visit amazingtalesct.com.

Through August 20, Newtown Community Center is hosting its annual Back-To-School Fill A Backpack Drive. Visit the lobby of 8 Simpson Street — open weekdays 6 am-9 pm, Saturday 7 am-7:30 pm, and Sunday, 7 am-5 pm — with items that will benefit Newtown students. Requested items include backpacks and essentials to fill them, from loose leaf paper, rulers, glue sticks, child-safe scissors and construction paper to pocket folders, notebooks, crayons, pencils and pens, erasers, and markers.

You can send the sports guys away for separate vacations, but you can’t guarantee they’ll stay away from sports … or each other. Newtown Bee Sports Editor Andy Hutchison and his family recently enjoyed ten days away from home and work, traveling within New England and just enjoying almost anything that didn’t have to do with heat and/or humidity. Meanwhile, our summer Intern-Reporter Owen Brown, whose specialty is in the sports realm, also went away with his family, also heading in the general northerly direction. How ironic it was to hear that Andy and Owen’s families ran into each other last week when their families each decided to head to the same Cape League baseball game.

Last year Edmond Town Hall cleared out some of its duplicate movie posters. The theater still has a large collection, however, and is looking for help getting it organized and catalogued. Interested? Send an email to theater@edmondtownhall.org.

Very exciting news this week from the producers of The Flagpole Radio Café. Barbara Gaines and Martin Blanco formally announced that not only are the local ensembles of musicians and stage performers preparing for a full show next month on the main stage of Edmond Town Hall, but (a) Loudon Wainwright III will headline and (b) two additional FRC shows are being worked on for the 2023-24 season. Details have yet to be finalized, but I’ve already put December 2 and May 4 on my calendar for the additional events.

Ann Marie Cioffi and fellow Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs handlers were at the library on Monday. The group was featured during this month’s presentation of Memory Café. We’ll have a story about that next week. Meanwhile, if you or someone/a group you know of would benefit from a visit by these beautiful and friendly canines, Ann Marie says she’d love to hear from people. The NSTD schedule has been very slow lately, she said, in large part because people haven’t thought to reach out since the COVID pandemic. She and fellow handlers continue to receive requests for one-on-one visits, but they’d love to begin doing more group visits as well. The best way to start the conversation is to send Ann Marie an email (“If they call me and I don’t hear the phone ring, I’ll never notice the missed call,” she said with a laugh. “Best to just send me something in writing.”). Send those requests to Caseyberry@aol.com.

Did you know Connecticut is the seventh most dangerous state to drive in at night? That’s according to recent data released by Zanes Law, who analyzed fatal crash data from the National Traffic Safety Administration (2017-21), and came up with Hawaii at the top of the list. I don’t know about this. I’ve seen the way many people drive right here in town. It’s terrifying out there! The report and its results also mean we have the night-time worst drivers in all of New England. Vermont came out at the top of the list, better than anywhere else in the country. I wish more people were safer when they’re behind the wheel. Maybe it’s time to mimic the habits of the Green Mountain State.

Contemplate that for a moment or two, and then please remember to come back next week to … read me again.