There have been some crisp mornings following on the heels of summer’s last hurrah (thanks to Tropical Storm Irene). Is it any surprise that the autumnal equinox “falls” at 5:05 am, this Friday, September 23? Chances are, by the time you read this, we will be well into the first day of fall. I’m already grooming my full coat of fur in anticipation of still chillier days to come, and keeping an eagle eye on the corners of the office for mice that may decide a winter home in The Bee is preferable to a stone wall.

Not only do we bid farewell to summer, but regulars at the Church Hill Road Starbucks also bid farewell this week to general manager Peter Johnson, who has served up thousands of lattes and greeted customers with a big smile for several years. Peter is moving on to the Apple store in Danbury Fair Mall, in case you miss his familiar face. I guess it is an apple a day, now, not a latte a day that will keep the doctor away for Peter. Good luck, Peter!

Mary Fellows gave me a ring this morning, with a reminder that we are heading into the final stretch for the 2011 Sandy Hook Organic Farmers’ Market season. There are five more weeks of the market. “It’s the height of the season — come out and enjoy pie, and meat, and bread, jams and jellies, vegetables, and even pasta. You can shop for the week there,” said Mary, in that wonderfully enthusiastic voice of hers. “And price-point wise, you can shop for the same prices that you’re paying at the supermarket. And it’s all locally grown and brought in for us each week,” she reminded me. Bee workers had the chance to sample some of the market’s wares in the form of delicious pies from Whistle Stop Bakery in Ridgefield, this week. I highly recommend not missing out on these treats. If you find yourself too busy to slow down and stroll through the stalls, call Mary ahead of time at 203-313-9908 to have her set things aside for you. She will have bags ready for those who want drive in, pay, and go home with fresh baked goods and other items. The market runs each Tuesday afternoon, from 2 to 6 pm, at Fairfield Hills. Go.

If you weren’t at the author presentation for Little Princes: One Man’s Promise To Bring Home The Lost Children of Nepal this past Saturday morning at Newtown Congregational Church, you missed out on an astounding story told by Conor Grennan. Conor’s program was equally heart wrenching and hilarious, as the founder of the nonprofit Next Generation Nepal, dedicated to returning trafficked children to their families, presented a slide show of his time volunteering at the Little Princes Children’s Home in Godawari, Nepal. The organization has rescued more than 400 children from slavery and prostitution, and reunited them with their families. Little Princes is available at amazon.com, or on Kindle. It’s a good read, and will open your eyes to a world we all hate to admit exists.

Nunnawauk Meadows Residents Association will host its Annual Giant Tag Sale this weekend. The Community Building at 3 Nunnawauk Road will be open Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25, and will be filled with “an exceptional selection of jewelry, baked goods and household items, games, linens, books and more,” one of the event’s organizers promised this week. All are welcome but take note: the baked goods usually sell out on Saturday. The event will run from 9 am until 3 pm each day.

Also this weekend, Newtown Social Services will be conducting a food drive at the Health Fair on Saturday, September 24, from 10 am until 2 pm, at Newtown Middle School. Items that are most needed for the food pantry are soup, cereal, baked beans, canned fruit, canned tomatoes, beef stew, and rice. Donations are greatly appreciated, to help the depleted pantry (once again, thanks to Tropical Storm Irene).

I hear that September 30 is the final day of business for the Just A Buck store in Sand Hill Plaza. The store is closing its doors after many years of providing every kind of knickknack imaginable for “just a buck” to Newtown residents. Owner Toni tells me that she wants to thank the residents of the town for their support over the years. I’m wishing goodbye and good luck to her, as I’m sure many others will want to, also, in the next week.

Who knew there was a trans-Atlantic short cut to our town? NHS tennis coach Martin Margulies spotted this signage with a familiar name this past July, while overseas. The sign is posted just outside of Cumbria, in northern England.

I haven’t received any nominations lately for the Good Egg Award, but I have come up with one of my own. This Good Egg  goes to Terry Ferris and the Ferris Farm Creamery. Terry has been offering ice cream customers a chance to donate 25 cents (or more) to get red sprinkles added to their orders this past week. All of the donations go to support the Light The Night Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fundraiser at Fairfield Hills, this Saturday, September 24, via Shannon’s Bees walking team. So far, more than $185 worth of red sprinkles has brightened the tongues of customers and the coffers of the LLS. Thanks, Terry! You are a Good Egg!

Remember, if you know someone who gets a kick out of doing a good deed just because she or he can, and never gets the accolades he or she deserves, then nominate that person for the Good Egg Award. E-mail Nancy@thebee.com, subject line Good Egg.

 Well, I can’t resist: Hello, Dolly! (Or rather, Hello, Dolley!) Newtown Historical Society will present a program on the life and activities of First Lady Dolley Madison, at 7:30 pm, Monday, October 3, in the community room of the C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. The presentation will be by Shelton Intermediate School Assistant Principal Carolyn Ivanoff. While she will not be reenacting the life of the fourth First Lady, Ms Ivanoff does plan to discuss Dolley’s life, as well as dress in historic costume. Please note that this month’s program is a week earlier than usual in order to avoid the Columbus Day holiday, the following Monday. Reservations are not needed, and admission is free. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.

Reservations are not needed for this column, either. So be sure to… Read me again.