I couldn't help but notice some happy messaging decorating Sandy Hook Elementary School ahead of tours and the start of the 2016-17 school year, like this bulletin board decorated with the words, "Let's have a colorful year!" Parents, don't forget to take photos of your children returning to school on August 29 and submit them to possibly run in The Newtown Bee's September 2 edition. The deadline to submit photos by e-mail to education reporter Eliza Hallabeck at eliza@thebee.com is Tuesday, August 30, at noon. Photos may also be used in a future Back to School special section or on our website, newtownbee.com. When submitting a first day of school photo, be sure to include the student's name, age, and school. I'd wish everyone a very furry school year, but I think humans don't appreciate fur as much as I do. Have an equivalently great year! www.newtownyogafestival.org, or at the door, Saturday morning - and youth under age 16 get in for free.lel@se-ltd.com to find out more about this fun, local singing group.The Bee abroad! Let The Newtown Bee be a stowaway on your next trip - take a picture of you and your paper having an adventure outside of Newtown, and we'll put you in a future edition of the paper. Then you'll have another reason to buy the print edition of The Newtown Bee - aside from having access to all of the content each week! What? No subscription? Not a problem; call 203-426-3141 and ask for the circulation department.

Congratulations to Representative J.P. Sredzinski, who this week was honored with the 2016 PSAP Finest Awards as Line Supervisor of the Year. The global recognition program is for emergency communication professionals. Rep Sredzinski is the public safety dispatch supervisor for Stratford Public Safety Communications Center (SPSCC) in Stratford.

It's not a stretch for me - especially the cat pose - but there will be pros on hand to help you make the most of your stretches this Saturday, August 27, at the annual Newtown Yoga Festival. Anyone, of any ability, seeking a fun and educational way to enhance yoga practice will want to be there. The event gets underway at 9 am and offers a variety of yoga practices and other movement programs until 4 pm, at the NYA Sports & Fitness Center at Fairfield Hills. Tickets for this popular event can be found at

I'm getting my vocal chords in shape, yowling my way up and down the scales - and you should think about doing the same. Rehearsals for the Newtown Choral Society begin Wednesday, September 14, at 7 pm, in the Newtown Middle School chorus room. All are welcome to join, whether highly experienced in choral singing or just a beginner. Stop by, or contact Laura at

Maybe you have happy feet, instead. If so, hurry on over to Lathrop School of Dance, lower level of Edmond Town Hall, this Saturday, August 27, for registration and meet the faculty, from 10 am to noon. You can find out about all of the dance classes offered at the iconic Newtown dance school, from tap, to ballet, to Zumba, to hip hop. Classes are for all ages and abilities, and for boys as well as girls. Miss Diane and staff are ready to welcome you, Saturday, and every day.

Nora Murphy and her mom got themselves into a pickle this past weekend... really. The two ladies put up jars and jars of Nora's delicious pickles. There will be so much for friends and family to look forward to at the table.

Labor Day Parade marchers will be pleased when they turn the corner onto Glover Avenue this year. The newly resurfaced road will have them stepping smoothly and happily on their ways to the judges' stand, with nary a pothole or crack to trip them up. Thanks to the highway department for a fine job.

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So, it's true. You can make just about anything on the library's 3D printer. These piglet game pieces were recently created to go with a Lord of the Flies board game. This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy went to an isolated tropical island...

A special lunch for a friend was in the making on a beautiful, late summer day at the Pleasance, this past Tuesday. Waiting for the other friend to arrive, we spotted the hostess's preparations: the table was set with placemats, china, two bud vases with pink flowers, and all the fix'ns for a sandwich on covered plates. She even brought padding for the chairs! The occasion? It turns out the recipient of all the fuss was celebrating a birthday. What a lovely way to do so, and what a special friendship.

It's my understanding that one of our office dogs, Piper, tried to steal the show from reporter Alissa Silber while she was conducting an interview outside in The Bee's backyard. Ms Silber conducted her interview with poise, while Andrea Stratford, who will be featured in the September 9 edition of the weekly Snapshot column, responded with even more aplomb. When Piper whined for attention, Ms Stratford happily obliged and played fetch during the interview. I have to say, I have never interrupted an interview. Cats 1, Dogs 0.

I hope that next week it is This Column 1, Non-readers 0. Be sure to... Read me again.