The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard (2GHG) is seeking dedicated men and women to join for its Class of 2025. No prior military or horseback riding experience is necessary. This year, in fact, 2GHG will accept a limited number of non-riding members. Recruit training lasts 16 weeks, beginning in March, and consists of classes exploring the deep history of 2GHG, drill and ceremonies, horse care, and horseback riding. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit 2GHG during its open house on Saturday, November 16, at 9 am, or have a tour of the barn and watch troopers and horses conduct a weekly riding drill.

Chartered in 1808, the all-volunteer group is one of the oldest surviving military cavalry troops in the United States. Its mission is to serve the governor and the people of Connecticut as ordered by the governor or the adjutant general. The 2GHG also supports the military department during emergency response. In addition, 2GHG brings history-rich educational programs to all ages, preserves Connecticut’s strong and revolutionary history, and participates in ceremonial functions including parades, special appearances, and presidential and gubernatorial inaugurations. For additional information, contact Sergeant Major Anthony Farina at 203-746-6080.

Barb Ruscoe offered Bee employees their choice of four homegrown eggplants last week. A member of our Antiques and The Arts Weekly staff, Barb had some extra eggplant to share so she put them on the yellow cabinet in our hallway that’s been talked about in previous columns. When the vegetables weren’t immediately scooped up, someone gave them some personality, as seen in this photo from Sales Rep Jeff Williams. It didn’t take long for someone to then fall for the googly-eyed veggies and take them home!

I was reading through Newtown Senior Center’s Octgober newsletter this week and smiled when I read the new installation of Staff Member of the Month. Alexa Griffin is featured and I was so tickled to read her thoughts on voting. She thinks like I do: I won’t tell anyone how to vote, I’ll just encourage them to get out and vote. Alexa says she knows “too many people who aren’t planning to vote. This is such an important part of our lives ... Make sure you’re registered and get out there on Nov 5th to exercise your right to vote!” Yes! What she said.

Just back from The Original Semi-Annual 183rd York Antiques Show, Madelia Hickman Ring spoke with David Perrelli last week for a segment of iCRV’s “Antiques Trail.” Madelia has been with Bee Publishing Company since 2017, and the Editor for Antiques and The Arts Weekly since 2022. If you aren’t already familiar with it, A&A was launched in 1963 by our late Publisher R. Scudder Smith. It was initially a section of The Newtown Bee, just like Education or Sports, but it grew into such a popular section that in 1974 Antiques and The Arts Weekly became its own newspaper. It continues to cover auctions, antiques shows, and the art world every week, in print and online. Its staff is housed in the same building at 5 Church Hill Road that has been home to The Newtown Bee for well over a century. If you’d like to hear Madelia’s interview visit icrvradio.com, scroll down to the Antiques Trail box, and then on the link for “Wednesday 25th of September 2024 – 11:00 am.” To learn more about our sister paper, visit antiquesandthearts.com.

The first seasonal gift of the year arrived at 5 Church Hill Road this week. Thank you Mr Tuesday Afternoon, a regular reader of Antiques and The Arts Weekly who can’t wait for his new paper each week. He visits our office every week, sometimes even before A&A arrives from the printer, just to make sure he’s among the first to read the new issue. He has a wonderful Italian accent, tells the best jokes, and this week he snuck a small orange gourd onto the front stoop on his way out.

Last week I mentioned a new state law that went into effect on Tuesday, including the recognition of our official state candy. Dozens of new laws went into effect this week, including one that better protects my law enforcement canine friends. The killing of a Police K-9 is now a Class D felony, punishable with up to 10 years in prison and fines of $10,000. Anyone who intentionally hurts or kills a police dog will also be required to make restitution including expenses for veterinarians. State Bill 339, An Act Requiring Restitution When A Police Animal Or Dog In A Volunteer Canine Search And Rescue Team Is Injured Or Killed, was raised and signed into law in just three months. Also known as “Broko’s Law,” the measure was named after the CT State Police K-9 who was shot and killed in December 2023 when a suspect was fleeing in the Pawcatuck section of Stonington. Broko became the first police dog in state history to be killed in a shooting in the line of duty. The bill passed unanimously, 35-0 in the state Senate and 146-0 in the House of Representatives.

There is now also an official ban on dog racing (now a misdemeanor, finally!) and protections for small reptiles and goldfish as prizes (also now a misdemeador). In the plant world, there is a new ban on seven invasive plants that can no longer be imported, moved, sold, purchased, transplanted, cultivated or distributed. There are exceptions for research and educational purposes, but those who violate the new ban face a fine. Additionally, Connecticut now bans the sale and use of soil treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. This is the first of a multi-step process that will eventually ban the manufacture and distribution of many other items due to the significant danger these “forever chemicals” pose to the environment and anyone’s health.

Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s current production is Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Newtown has a terrific presence there. NHS graduate and former resident Charles Romano is Anthony, the young sailor who falls in love with Todd’s daughter Joanna, while longtime resident and veteran actor Mark Feltch is playing the sinister Judge Turpin. Perry Liu of Milford is the titular character, with Priscilla Squiers of Danbury as the resourceful pie shop owner Mrs Lovett. Performances continue in Bridgeport weekends to October 13; call 203-576-1636 or visit dtcab.com for full details and reservations.

This weekend offers the first of two opportunities to take advantage of paper shredding events, each hosted by a local organization. The first is Saturday, October 5, rain or shine from 9 am until noon, when Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Ladies Auxiliary will be set up at the SHVFR main station, 18-20 Riverside Road. Secure on-site shredding will be provided by a professional mobile company for $10/box, increasing by $5 for larger boxes. Donations of clothing, bedding, shoes, towels, and linens will also be accepted for recycling and reuse by Helpsy. The Auxiliary will receive a donation for every pound collected.

Next weekend is the return of the FONS Paper Shredding event. Friends of Newtown Seniors members and friends will be at Newtown Savings Bank in Plaza South (274 Main Street South) on Saturday, October 12. This fundraiser will also run from 9 am until noon, with similar pricing: a file-size of papers to be shredded is $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens. Cognizant of the fact that Yom Kippur will be ending that day, FONS Chore Services Coordinator Beverly Bennett-Schaedler says anyone in town who will be observing that holiday, and unable to take advantage of the event, is invited to contact her. Bev will pick up boxes and payment (checks payable to FONS) on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8 and 9, for those who wish to take advantage of that offer. She’s asking to hear from people by October 8; call 203-430-0633.

There’s a warm sunny spot on the front office carpet just calling my name. I’m going to take advantage of that now that I’ve shared everything I have for another week. I hope you’ll keep track of the time and remember to check in with me this time next week, when you can … read me again.