The annual celebration of your right to read what you like, Banned Books Week, started this past Saturday, September 27, and runs through Saturday, October 3. For reasons that range from “anti-family” to “unsuited to age group,” to dozens of other supposed offensives, hundreds of books each year are targeted by groups and individuals for removal from school and public libraries. Thanks to efforts by librarians and others, books like these Top Ten Banned Books 2015 remain available for readers to judge for themselves: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Persepolis, And Tango Makes Three, The Bluest Eyes, It’s Perfectly Normal, Saga, The Kite Runner, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, A Stolen Life, and Drama. (Two of my all-time favorites, Of Mice and Men and To Kill A Mockingbird, frequently end up on the banned books list, not to mention I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.)

I hope you didn’t miss one of nature’s rare shows this past Sunday night. Not only were we treated to an amazingly huge “supermoon” climbing over the horizon (the closest the moon comes to earth this year), but that was followed by a total lunar eclipse. Like a slow blink, earth’s shadow covered night’s eye in the sky, a scene that won’t be repeated in this combination for many more years.

It’s good to know that lessons learned at home stick with kids when they move on. Newtown High School 2012 graduate Jake Solomons apparently was influenced by the generous spirit of his hometown. He has been busy at the University of Delaware, where he is studying, helping his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, raise money for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, benefiting children and families facing trials related to pediatric cancer. Last year’s efforts raised $36,500, according to Jake, and this year he says his fraternity wants to raise $50,000. Good luck, Jake!

Okay, that baby handed over to Pope Francis wearing the Pope outfit might have made the news, but just wait until my favorite canine friend steps out on Halloween wearing her Holy Hound costume. That’s right, not only can you go trick or treating as the High Holy One (and who could say “No”?), but dogs can now be outfitted with vestments that are sure to be a blessing. There are also “I Heart Pope Francis” T-shirts for pups available, and for those not quite ready for the top papal job, a nun costume. I find it curious that the only pope costume for cats, online, is one called “Evil Pope…”

A blessing might be in order, and St Rose just happens to be offering the blessing of the animals this Saturday, October 3, at 9 am, in the field behind the Church Hill Road church. A second blessing of the animals will take place an hour later, at 10 am, on the playground of Trinity Episcopal Church at the flagpole. Cats, dogs, and all kinds of other leashed or caged pets (from all denominations) are welcome to the events. I’m keeping my paws crossed that this blessing does not involve a dunk in the water.

Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes. Along my strolls this past week, I have observed some confused flowers. I’ve seen lilacs blooming; a few renegade azaleas brightening bushes; a dandelion or two; some vinca; and a couple of forsythia branches covered in yellow blossoms. Of course, the maple tree at the corner of Glover Avenue and Queen Street showed its true colors this week, so those springtime flowers won’t be blooming for long, I fear.

You may not be ready to put away your gardening tools, and that’s okay. Here’s an opportunity to put them to good use: the C.H. Booth Library is looking for volunteers to help tidy up the plantings around the building, Friday, October 9, and Sunday, October 11. Grab your gloves and clippers and join in from 8:30 to 11 am. Come one day, or come both. All help is appreciated. Call 203-426-4533 for more information.

Friends of the C.H. Booth Library is looking to help you, help them. Book Donation Day is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, from noon to 5 pm, in the back parking lot. Bring your lovingly used books, CDs, DVDs, games, puzzles, computer games, and LPs and volunteers will gladly assist you in unloading your vehicle. All donations will be sorted and cataloged for the July 2016 Annual Book Sale, the Friends’ biggest fundraiser each year. What a great way to make room on your shelves for new books!

I don’t consider myself a particularly tech-savvy cat, but now and then I stumble across something that makes my whiskers perk up. It seems the new Apple IOS9 operating system has a bit of a glitch, if you have a limited data plan. The Wi-Fi Assist feature turns on and off to cellular networks as it senses a weak connection. That seems like a good thing; except that if it is turning on when you don’t realize it, your limited data plan can run up a big bill for overage. I came across the fix at cbsnews.com — go to “Settings,” then “Cellular.” Scroll all the way to the bottom, past your apps — and deselect Wi-Fi Assist. (If you have an unlimited plan, this won’t affect you.)

Speaking of apps, the American Red Cross has a hurricane app available for smartphones, which could (or hopefully not) be useful this coming weekend. The app can help others locate you, should a hurricane strike, and allows you to let others know if you need assistance. Don’t forget to keep your phone charged, though, as any storm draws near.

I’ll be looking for the perfect storm of news, no matter what the weather. Be sure next week to… Read me again.