I simply cannot let this week go by without mentioning that it is the anniversary week of my favorite Broadway show of all times, Cats. The show, on stage for nearly 18 years, and running for nearly 7,500 performances, debuted October 7, 1982. The lyrics were based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (my favorite poet, thanks to this particular ode) and featured music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Sadly for all feline fanatics, the show closed September 10, 2000, leaving me with no other option but to wander around the office mindlessly humming the tune to Jellico Cats and Memories. It has been a long, eight years…

“A tireless supporter of DavidsonNews.net as well as ‘Davidson Reads,’ Cristina Shaul is leaving Davidson with her husband, Matt, and son, James,” reads a bit of online information from the service in Davidson, N.C., that an astute Bee reporter picked up on last week. “DavidsonNews.net will miss Cristina’s ready smile and marvelous organizational skills as its Marketing Director,” the release went on to say. I pricked up my ears, because the Shaul name rang a bell with me. Sure enough, the Shauls were residents of Newtown a few years back, took the opportunity to dwell in the warmth of North Carolina for a while, and are now headed back to Newtown where Matt will head up a division of Hewitt Associates in Norwalk. So while Davidson, N.C., is sadly waving goodbye, we hope that the Shauls know they have headed north to a very warm, “Welcome back!”

Ken and Maggie Mahony, Ben, and Molly, send greetings to their many Newtown friends, by the way. The Mahonys moved to southern California in August, where Ken is employed with Proactive Solution. Maggie also sends this very cute photo of their newest family member, Guinness, a Leonberger, just like their late, great Newtown canine buddy, Max.

Selma Kenter, who summers here in Newtown and winters in Turkey, reminds me this week that it is time again for the Festival of Trees to support Ann’s Place, a cancer support agency in Danbury. She and her other quilting friends are busy working on beautiful quilted blankets and wall hangings for the “Quilter’s Corner” of the festival, and she is hoping other hand crafters will contribute to enrich the corner and support cancer survivors and their families. If you would like to donate a handmade quilt or item, please contact Selma at arktekstil@arktekstil.com or Jean Conover at jconver6146@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about Ann’s Place, visit annsplace.org.

Have you made plans for Tuesday evening, October 14, yet? NHS junior Sam Kent is presenting the film Invisible Children: Rough Cut to the public at 7 pm in the high school auditorium. The film exposes the plight of children in Uganda and Sam is hoping to raise awareness and raise money for Newtown’s sister school in Uganda, the Atanga Secondary School. There is no charge for the film, but donations are welcome. By providing resources for a better environment to children and their families displaced by the Ugandan civil war, the sister school program Schools for Schools can give hope to young people in that country.

It’s a two-photo day here at the Top of the Mountain. How can I resist running this picture of Newtown’s popular musician and guitar instructor Peter Obre? Apparently Julie snagged this photo of her hubby from the “Way Back Machine” to remind him that he was rockin’ then and is “Still Rockin’ At 50!” Peter celebrated the half-century mark Thursday, October 9. Happy birthday, Peter!

While the formal reunion events for Newtown High School’s Class of 1988 are scheduled for the October 11 weekend, another event is starting to take shape for Saturday night. All members of the class of ’88 — and any alumni who want to socialize with fellow NHS grads, according to one organizer — are invited to an informal gathering that will begin around 6 o’clock at Proud Mary’s on Main Street. Wear your favorite blue and gold.

I’ve already come across a number of Newtowners laid low by the common cold, which gets me to thinking that flu season isn’t far off. Luckily, the flu clinics being offered this month and next by some of the town’s most health-conscious groups (the VNA, the Health District, the Senior Center, and even the Bethel and Danbury VNA units) are off to a galloping start. According to a little (red) bird, the first clinic last Saturday at the middle school was not scheduled to start until 10 am, but when she and other organizers arrived at the middle school an hour before the start time, four people were already lined up waiting for their flu shots! Not only that, but the clinic was so busy once it did open that the volunteers ran out of their vaccination supply. The good news is, there was already another flu shot clinic this past week, and six more are scheduled before the end of the month at various locations around town. The shots are covered by most insurance plans. Check the Community Calendar on page 2 this week and each week through the end of the month for information on all the remaining clinics. We’ll keep you in the know when it comes to flu prevention.

I’d like to keep you in the know next week, too, so don’t forget to…. Read me again.