The Bee offices were percolating this week with people interested in next week’s big vote on the Fairfield Hills master plan. Many were dropping off letters to the editor, but just as many just dropped by to talk about the vote and speculate how it was going to go. It’s kind of nice to have a little excitement like this in the middle of summer.

Among the kibitzers was Julia Wasserman, who got so engrossed in her discussion of Fairfield Hills that she was a half-hour late for her hair appointment. And then she returned, much beautified, after the appointment to continue the conversation. Interestingly, on her return trip, she came bearing two peacock feathers. I thought for a moment that they were somehow related to her beauty regimen, but she said she had picked them up in Boston. I know there is a Hancock Building in Boston, but I guess there must be a Peacock Building as well. Anyway, thanks for the feathers, Julia. I’m tickled.

There was a party in the tax assessor’s office this week to celebrate the birthdays of three staff members: Sharon Bowman and Penny Talarino, who share an August 11 birthday, and Lena Sampiano, whose birthday is on August 18. All three women received new garden clogs, waterproof gardening shoes that tax assessor Denise Hames says are perfect for this summer’s weather. By the way, the brightly colored clogs are on sale at Lexington Gardens this week.

Leo McIlrath hasn’t found it difficult to keep busy since he retired recently after 25 years as director of the City of Danbury’s Department of Elderly Services. Leo is still co-chair of the Newtown Commission on Aging, serves as a chaplain for Regional Hospice, and as a pastoral counselor with a protestant church in Danbury. As an independent married Catholic priest, he leads a statewide faith-based community called Corpus Christi. And if that isn’t enough, he is scheduled to teach both psychology and Latin as an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University this fall.

Laura Hickey’s mother says the 1996 Newtown High School graduate will be coming home this weekend after serving 27 months in Zambia with the Peace Corps, teaching AIDS awareness in the countryside. She will be home for four weeks, then will return to Zambia but this time she will be doing a public health internship in the city of Luska for a year.

Newtown hikers won’t be seeing Tom Coryat on local trails anytime soon. That’s because Tom has taken off in his pickup truck and trailer for a three-month trip west to see all the national parks and national forests. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” Tom said last week, as he was just about to leave. He expects to go all the way to California. Don’t forget to turn around and come home, Tom.

Kudos to the Lion’s Club because several members have answered Joanne Zang’s call for Monday evening help with the Booth Library Labor Day Book Sale. Friends of the Library volunteer Mary Maki reports they showed up August 4 to help set up the tables, and she hopes they come back Monday night, August 18, and bring their friends, because that is when the second batch of tables is due to arrive at Bridgeport Hall. “Of course, we are hoping that some of the Lions will actually work on the sale,” added Mary, who has already roped Paul Arneth and Ken Hostetler into service.

Before making a presentation to the Board of Selectmen Monday night regarding an opportunity for cost savings in the future in regard to debt service, Financial Director Ben Spragg asked, “Did you see the rainbow tonight? This is the pot of gold.”

Members of the Board of Selectmen have changed the seating arrangements for their meetings in the community room of the C.H. Booth Library. They now sit in the alcove that overlooks the rear parking lot. Why? Because there’s a table there already, and no one has to move any tables to set up for the meeting. Just a few chairs have to be moved for the audience. An easy fix.

Bugged? I’ve heard about a nifty way to get rid of mosquitoes that is much quieter than bug zappers, and more environmentally safe than spraying. Put some water on a white dinner plate and add a few drops of Lemon Fresh Joy. Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area and watch the mosquitoes come in for a landing. Supposedly, it’s a one-way trip because most of them die shortly after drinking the mixture –– usually within ten feet of the plate. Let us know if this works. And keep all thirsty cats inside.

Speaking of thirsty cats, I think taking a lemonade break would be much more gratifying than spinning out more gossip in this column –– more gratifying for you and me both. But I’ll be back, so be sure to…

Read me again.