I’m Facebook official! After years and years of sharing the good news of Newtown and her residents in print and online, I’ve decided to join social media. You can find me by searching for Mountain Top Cat or directly at facebook.com/TopOfTheMountainCat. I hope having an online presence will make it easier for my friends to share little bits of tid with me, which I will of course continue to share in this space each week. You can now message me through Facebook, make a comment on my page, or even — can you see me pouncing with excitement now? — send me an email! Yes! I’ve also been given my own email, mountain@thebee.com. Tell me something happy, unusual, exciting, and even brag worthy. The latter may even earn someone a Good Egg Award. Top of the Mountain has always been about sharing good news. I hope these new options will make it easier than ever for you to do that.

Bruce the Spruce is certainly enjoying his summer, judging by his latest outfit. The ladies in our Production Department put the finishing touches on Bruce the Summer Spruce late last week, so now he’s ready to model it for readers.

The annual maintenance at Newtown Community Center-Newtown Senior Center is scheduled for the stretch of Monday, August 26-Sunday, September 1. The building will also be closed Monday, September 2, for Labor Day. Definitely mark your calendar so you aren’t disappointed by showing up any of those days to find the doors at 8 Simpson Street locked up tight. There will be activity inside the building, of course, but nothing for the public to take part in.

Hearts of Hope-Newtown is planning a new event for late autumn. All are invited to not only attend Art of Hope: Art Auction & Fundraiser, readers are also invited to help create original works of art for the November 8 fundraiser. Organizers have 12- by 12-inch boards with heart outlines and the words Hearts Of Hope stenciled onto each board. Artists of all levels are invited to paint the boards with any design or theme they’d like to offer for the auction portion of the evening. Here’s the catch: organizers are asking for those painted boards to be returned by the end of the month. If creating art isn’t your thing, how about donating it? Heart-shaped pieces, photographs and other art is also being accepted. As of early this week there were already more than 40 items in hand, the vast majority of them those painted boards. Anyone who would like to create or donate an item should contact Ivy Pearson at ivy@ourheartsofhope.org. Keep in mind, if you’d like to paint one of those boards, organizers are asking to have them returned by the end of the month. Check in with Ivy for all the specifics.

As for the event itself, Art of Hope will be presented at Newtown Community Center on Friday, November 8. It will run from 6-9 pm. Rich Minor from 98Q will be the emcee, food will be provided by Loree’s Fine Food, and live music will be performed by Rich Molden & Friends. Tickets are $45 each and available now through ow.ly/9Acy50SW5Jt.

I know sometimes I read like a calendar or desk planner, but saving money is important for everyone and an annual opportunity to do that is fast approaching. Tax Free Week 2024 will run from Sunday, August 18, through Saturday, August 24. That stretch will be a great time to save on back-to-school clothing and footwear costing less than $100 per item, both in stores and online, and all without the 6.35% state sales tax.

A few reminders: Since sales tax is calculated after the use of any coupons or discounts, if the final price per item is less than $100, the sale is exempt from taxes. Clothing or footwear under $100 put on layaway during this week is also tax-free. Goods not covered under the program include, but are not limited to, clothing or footwear specifically designed for athletic activities: football cleats, specialty boots for fishing, hiking, skiing and other activities, as well as wet suits, helmets and headbands, etc, and accessories such as jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, etc. Check with a retailer before buying if you’re not sure or contact the Department of Revenue Services (portal.ct.gov/drs, then click on 2024 Connecticut’s Sales Tax-Free Week) for a full list of qualifying and non-qualifying items.

Meanwhile, if you need help keeping track of dates and your schedule, don’t forget we have Connor Kwarcinski’s Newtown Veterans calendar available at the office. Connor’s Capstone Project this past spring was the creation of a full-color calendar that features local veterans, and runs from July 2024 through December 2025. The calendars are $20 each, and Connor will donate all proceeds to American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and two additional related organizations. You can stop in for a calendar at 5 Church Hill Road weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm (earlier and later by chance, like my sleep schedule). Calendars can also be purchased through Venmo @Operation SOM, Apple Pay (203-595-1846) or by sending a check made out to Connor Kwarcinski, 162 Boggs Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, with your name and address attached.

Bridgewater Country Fair is this weekend. The 71st presentation of that massive event opens Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday. I hope everyone who attends has a fun and safe time. Friday night will be the big Fireman’s Parade, stepping off at 6:45 and following its traditional route right down Route 133 in front of the fairgrounds. Best wishes to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue, who hopes to defend last year’s Best Overall Fire Unit title in Bridgewater while also continuing their work to repeat the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association State Championship for a second consecutive season. The company took another step toward that achievement when they returned home with Best Overall honors following Thomaston’s fire parade on August 3. I understand Friday’s is an important parade for them. Be sure to wave to all of the folks marching in the parade as they step toward the official opening of the long-standing country fair.

I’m marching into next week’s column already and can’t wait to share more Newtown news and notes. You can find out what’s up when you come back next week to … read me again.