There is really a reason so many do not have to go to work or attend school this coming Monday, May 27... It’s Memorial Day, and it is intended as a day to remember service men and women who have died in the line of duty. So, before you fire up the grill and get out the lawn games on Monday, take a bit of time to attend the VFW Memorial Day Ceremony at the VFW Club, 18 Tinkerfield Road, at 11 am. A solemn but lovely ceremony honors those who gave their all so that you are free to celebrate with whomever you want, wherever you want, every single day.

Memorial Day weekend means the Lions Club is underway with its annual Duck Race. Join the fun in Sandy Hook Center this Saturday, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. From the Methodist Church parking lot to the park on Glen Road behind the Foundry, there will be entertainment, tag sales, vendors, and more — plus you can still get your ticket for the pièce de résistance of the day: the dump of thousands of rubber duckies into the Pootatuck for the race to the finish line and a chance to win first prize of $2,000. The big moment is scheduled for 2:30 pm, so don’t miss out!

Hazardous Waste Disposal Day looked like it was a hit this past Saturday. Vehicles loaded up with items for Public Works staff members to safely unload formed a line early on in the day from the Turkey Hill Road Public Works driveway to South Main Street and up Peck’s Lane. The very well-organized event seemed to have attracted plenty of area people anxious to get rid of toxic items in a manner that is safe to the environment. Thanks to all who made the day a success.

Who doesn’t want to spend less time mowing? The Garden Club of Newtown will host “Five Ways to Cover Ground and Give the Lawnmower a Rest” on Tuesday, May 28, at 1 pm, in the meeting room of the C.H. Booth Library. The free public presentation will feature NOFA-accredited organic lawn care specialist Kathy Connolly. Find out which groundcovers (including ornamental grasses and mosses) might work for you.

All the world’s a stage, according to Shakespeare, and a new Play Reading-Discussion Group will give participants the chance to read plays aloud. The group will convene next Friday, May 31, for its first meeting at 2 pm in the Gathering Room of C.H. Booth Library. Copies of An American Daughter, the first play to be read and discussed, are available at the library for reading ahead of time — and not to worry; you don’t have to be an actor to take part. Register at chboothlibrary.org.

You don’t have to be mad or even have to have a hat, but join in the C.H. Booth Library’s Second Annual Mad Hatter Party on May 31, at Michael’s at the Grove in Bethel, from 6:30 to 10 pm. Tickets are $100 for this fundraiser to support the library. Cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner and a live auction by Monsignor Weiss. Find out more at chboothlibrary.org/madhatters.

There is still time to sign up for the June 17 Newtown Scholarship Association’s 27th Annual Jack Friel Memorial Golf Scramble. Only 15 foursomes each at Newtown Country Club or Rock Ridge Country Club will be accepted, so don’t dilly-dally any longer. The entry fee of $225 per golfer includes a donation to the NSA scholarship, and lunch and dinner, as well. Not a golfer? You can choose to attend just the reception and dinner at Rock Ridge for $65. Find out more and register online at newtownscholarship.org. (See related story in this week’s paper for more details.)

Maybe you were one of the lucky recipients recently when Church Hill Village, the assisted living facility soon to open on The Boulevard, turned the tables on a “Welcome to Newtown!” by giving back to the community first. The Church Hill Village team paid for lunches for the first customers on May 10, up to $100, at The General Store. “As we know, everyone loves a good deli sandwich,” said sales counselor Taylor Shortt. (Yes, related to Jim Shortt of Shortt’s Farm!)

According to the United Nations, and I’m not about to argue, this past Monday, May 20, was World Bee Day. The day was designated, the UN website notes, to “raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development. 20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th Century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard while needing so little attention.” Of course, if you ask me, every day should be Bee Day.

Talk of pollinators leads me to remind you of the Pollinator Pathway initiative in town. Hopefully you have followed the stories in recent issues of the paper; and if you want to find out more about pollinator friendly gardens, visit the Protect Our Pollinators website, propollinators.org.

Love space travel? It’s not that far to Hartford, where Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11: First Steps Edition opened at the Connecticut Science Center’s Maximillian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Science Theater, 250 Columbus Boulevard, on May 17. Apollo 11: First Steps Edition is a special giant screen version, made exclusively for science centers and museum theaters. The documentary is timed to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission — the first to put men on the Moon. The film includes a trove of never-before-seen 70mm footage and uncatalogued audio recordings, and shows through September 22. Apollo 11: First Steps Edition is a family-friendly film and runs 47 minutes. For information visit ctsciencecenter.org.

The Fifth Annual Catherine’s Butterfly Party, presented by the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in honor of the first grader who was a victim of 12/14, takes place from noon to 4 pm, Saturday, June 8, at Fairfield Hills. Not only does this free family festival include a stupendous pet adoption event, activities, music, nature exhibits, and food trucks, but this year, they welcome Lee Asher of The Asher House, from 1 to 3 pm. The Asher House, a traveling RV show that encourages animal adoption, was recently featured on The Ellen Show. Meet and greet with Lee Asher and his canine companions on June 8 as they spread the love. Find out more about Catherine’s Butterfly Party at cvhfoundation.org.

Here is something to add to your summer “to do” calendar. Girl Scouts of Connecticut, in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA, is announcing their first-ever Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend on July 13-14. Girl Scouts of Connecticut is hosting its event on July 13 at Peoples State Forest in Barkhamsted, from 10 am to 4 pm. Everyone in the state is invited — not just Girl Scouts and their family and friends. If you want to attend, visit gsofct.org or contact mmason@gsofct.org. Expect a day filled with outdoor adventure and activities.

Maybe you picked up this issue of The Newtown Bee because someone you know is featured or you know some pretty comprehensive coverage of sports and schools is always included, but if you don’t have a subscription to get the print edition every week, you are missing out on the full news of Newtown. Our website, newtownbee.com, provides you with highlights from the week, but only our subscribers earn a complete look at the news. Visit newtownbee.com, Subscribe tab. Six-month to five-year subscriptions are available.

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I’m game for just about any news that comes this way. Be sure next week to... Read me again.