October is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month and The Bee is making it easy for residents who want to help some local animals waiting for their forever homes. From October 10 until October 31, a drop-off box will be located in the front lobby of The Bee’s office, at 5 Church Hill Road, for Newtown Animal Shelter donations. The following items are needed: Nutro Max mini chunk dog food, Iams dry dog food, freeze-dried liver treats, toothpaste (poultry flavor), “pig’s ears,” large rubber Kong toys, Air Kong toys, large rope toys, Frisbees, squeak toys, tennis balls, choke chain collars, and sturdy slide leads. In addition, the shelter would also gladly accept pet store gift certificates and cleaning supplies such as bleach, ammonia, paper towels, laundry detergent. dryer sheets, towels and large black garbage bags. (A bag or two of cat food would not be out of line, might I add, as the occasional kitty ends up at the shelter.) The Bee office is open Monday through Friday between 7:45 am and at least 5 pm, other times by chance.

So maybe you don’t want to dump cat food in the doggie bag. Help feed a stray (cat) for a day, anyway. Caraluzzi’s Market, 5 Queen Street, will host The Animal Center’s Cat Food Drive, October 11 through October 25. Friskies or Purina brands, canned or dry, are preferred, but all donations are welcome. Donations bins will be set up inside Caraluzzi’s Market.

I understand that Newtown philanthropist Howard Lasher is feeling bit under the weather. One thing that has brightened his spirits, though, is the return of his cat. Georgio Katz recently went missing, and had Howard and Jeanette feeling pretty glum over his loss. But you know us cats — gone one day, back the next — or the next week. (I’m thinking Georgio was punishing Howard for getting him stuck in the Hav-A-Hart raccoon trap in August.)

A ride in Milton Adams’ pride and joy Corvette this past weekend turned into a hike for Ted Smith, visiting from California. Milton took Ted out for a ride to show off the Corvette. Somewhere on Mt Pleasant Road, though, the vehicle conked out. After a little coasting downhill, it became apparent they would need the services of Nick’s Service Station on South Main to flatbed it and haul it away for repairs. Ted got tired of waiting around, and walked back to his host’s home on Twist Lane. There’s nothing like some unexpected sightseeing in Newtown, I always say.

If you’re worried that the sale of the 17 Church Hill Road property is the tolling of the bell for Ben’s Bells Newtown, rest assured. The new landlord is allowing the studio to remain in place through the end of 2014. That said, a new studio that can accommodate the kiln, currently at a volunteer’s Redding home, is on the “to do” list. If you have a lead, feel free to give Jennifer Avari a call at 203-501-9999. In the meantime, the studio continues to offer a lot of great events in addition to its regular hours. Visit www.BensBellsNewtown.org or www.facebook.com/BensBellsNewtown to find out more.

Congratulations to New Hope Community Church Pastor Jim Solomon, who is again a published author. Pastor Solomon’s short story “Angelica” was selected to be included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel. The latest collection in the Chicken Soup series was published October 7, and includes 101 “miraculous stories of faith, divine intervention, and answered prayers,” according to a press release from the publisher. In addition to Pastor Solomon’s story about a trip he made to Mexico with his wife, and others, hosted by Mexican Medical Ministries, there is also a story by author and journalist Natasha Stoyoff, who had a number of divine connections with Sandy Hook resident Scarlett Lewis shortly after 12/14.

What kind of cat would I be if I didn’t know where the comfiest place to read in town is? The Young Adult department at C.H. Booth Library just got new Yogibo “chairs.” Don’t know what they are? Go ahead... take a look, get a book, and get ready to relax.

If you can pull yourself out of the Yogibo, make your way down to the first floor where children and grown-ups alike will enjoy the new exhibition. A Sandy Hook resident is sharing his very impressive collection of Pez candy dispensers, which includes “some real gems” says the collector. A few hundred of the fun collectibles are in the display case inside the Children’s Department, on the lower level of the library. They are scheduled to be on view until at least October 31.

When Ken Ayles passed away recently, Susan Smith, a longtime friend of the Ayles family here in town, turned to crowd fundraising to create a “bedroom oasis” for the woman he left behind, Jen Ayles. The result, thanks to the contributions of time and money, has resulted in a peaceful place for Jen. “Sweet Dreams for Jen” is a place of soft, serene colors and light, reflecting the love of Jen’s friends. What a lovely gesture of kindness.

What do Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, Splinter and freebies all have in common? They’ll all be at Edmond Town Hall this weekend. The four mutated dudes and their latest big screen enemy are featured in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — with Megan Fox, Will Arnett, and William Fichtner. It will run at ETH from Friday, October 10, until Thursday, October 16. The PG-13 feature is $2 for most shows, but all seven shows on Saturday and Sunday (1, 4, 7 and 9 pm screenings on Saturday, and 1, 4 and 7 pm shows Sunday) will be free of charge, thanks to the continued generosity of Newtown resident Todd Ingersoll, Ingersoll Auto of Danbury, providing Free Movie Saturdays since early last year.

The Newtown schools are bursting at the seams with kids, so I’m not sure why the Bee Birthday Album on our Kids’ Page has been so empty lately. I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t want the chance to win a free cake from DOrazio Sisters Bakery. Submit a digital JPEG photo to www.Nancy@thebee.com, along with the child’s name, age, birth date, and a daytime phone number, so that your child (through middle school age) is entered in the cake drawing. Deadline is Tuesday afternoon of each week. I’m hoping to see more smiling faces in our Birthday Album in the upcoming weeks.

You might see my smiling face around, or you might not. Am I taking notes? You’ll know for sure next week if you… Read me again.