Ben Plaue, an alum of Newtown Youth Wrestling Association and incoming Newtown High School wrestler, has a special request: “Most of us have had the privilege of getting new gear every year, whether it be shoes, headgear, or even more expensive items such as singlets and new mats. We also have been lucky enough to have a great high school and youth program that has had enough funding to give us the best practices and experiences. However some wrestlers do not have the opportunity to really embrace the sport. I am asking you to help USA Wrestling for Peace through donations of gear or money. The donations will go straight to helping some less fortunate wrestlers in my home country of Guatemala learn to love the sport of wrestling. To donate, visit donate.usawrestling.org.

Rob Cox tells me he was out paddling at sunset on Taunton [Lake] last week with friends, when they came across “a monster-sized carp. It was spotted by my friend Dave Boyle from his stand-up paddle board. John Vaughan was able to reach into the water and grab it with his bare hands and pose with it for this photo.” “Who knew such creatures roamed our local pond?” asks Rob — certainly a surprise to this cat! (Be careful — I’m told the monster was released after smiling for the picture.)

How better to prep for the fun of the September 2 Labor Day Parade than an evening of music on September 1? The 1970s Newtown rock band Panacea, made up of Leslie Ballard, Corky Ballard, Rick Kuhn, Jon Dodson, and Bruce Tibbits, will be joined by Manny Pavone and the Willie Portera Trio for a free concert at Dickinson Park on Sunday, September 1 — rain or shine, beginning at 2 pm; Panacea takes the stage at 4 pm. It’s a free concert, so bring your chairs and blankets, snacks, and don’t forget your dancing shoes, because previous Panacea reunion concerts have had everyone up and kicking up their heels.

Then bring that folding chair for the parade on Monday morning. As always, the parade starts at 10 am and will make its way down Main Street, up Glover Avenue, and onto Queen Street. Pick your spot early, and leave time for catching up with friends. It’s half the fun of having a Labor Day Parade! P.S. It’s good form to salute whenever the American flag passes by...

All the Kindness Carts created by Reed Intermediate School students in June paid off in a big way. Reed fifth grade teacher Karen King shared photos taken of the 2019 Kindness Cart clean water drinking well being installed at Bunadin School in Nimba County, Liberia. The well was made possible thanks to three clusters at Reed creating carts to sell goods, enticing students with tasty treats and other creations, all while raising money for a cause. The 2018-19 effort raised more than $5,000.

The C.H. Booth Instagram account last week noted that there was a rather unexpected (and not so cute) entry at the library during the Cutest Pet Contest: a little bat. Staff members decided it best that this self-entrant go back outside...

Are you wondering what you can do to help animals? This poster, spotted in the second floor staircase at the library, has some ideas. It reads, in handwritten text, “Come adopt an animal at a shelter near you… if you can’t adopt you could make toys, blankets, and beds for the animals!” and lists local shelters and their addresses.

March For Our Lives was founded by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. Its mission is “To harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives.” Recently, the group announced A Peace Plan for a Safer America. Demanding C.H.A.N.G.E.; they ask that policymakers take these steps:

1. Change the standards of gun ownership;

2. Halve the rates of gun deaths in ten years;

3. Accountability for the gun lobby and industry;

4. Name a National Director of Gun Violence Prevention;

5. Generate community-based solutions;

6. Empower the next generation.

Read more about the Peace Plan at marchforourlives.com/peace-plan/?utm_source=082619ppb.

Dressed in matching outfits, sisters Avianna and Marcella Leonardi visited The Newtown Bee’s office with their dad, Brian, and mom, Elena, on August 23. Brian was interviewed for the Snapshot profile by features reporter Alissa Silber. If you know someone (who lives and/or works in Newtown) who would like to be a Snapshot, e-mail alissa@thebee.com or call her at 203-426-3141.

It’s still fair time in Connecticut! The 107th Goshen Fair takes place this weekend, August 31 through September 2. The Goshen fairgrounds are located 1/2 mile south of Goshen center on Route 63 (116 Old Middle Street for GPS.) Fair hours are Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 9 pm, and Monday from 8 am to 6 pm. Enjoy truck pulls, music, fireworks, wood chopping contests, and more. For more information, call 860-491-3655 or visit goshenfair.org.

Then the Bethlehem Fair takes place September 6, 7, and 8, at 384 Main Street North in Bethlehem. It’s more fair fun with exhibit barns, antique cars and trucks, mini horse pull, best tasting tomato contest, music, oxen draw tractor pull, and — you guessed it — lots more. Call 203-266-5350 or visit bethlehemfair.com for details.

That said, I am “fair”-ly sure you will be pleased, if next week you... Read me again.