I was saddened to hear of the death last week of Team 26 Captain David Hoyle, who passed away on April 1. An avid cyclist to say the least, he had been riding since college, was a member of many award-winning teams and programs, and was the executive director of Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program. David reportedly reached out via e-mail on April 1 to his Team 26 teammates to say that Saturday, April 6, looked like it would be a great day to go for a ride. This past weekend, the team honored their friend by doing just that, taking advantage of one of the best days of the year so far and going for a ride in their captain’s honor. The ride culminated in ice cream — which apparently was one of David’s favorite ways to end a ride. We thank David and his teammates for their annual rides to Washington, DC, honoring the memories of those killed on 12/14 by raising awareness of gun violence and advocating for what they called reasonable legislation.

A little visitor (too shy to share her name) to our office this week caught my eye as she was dropping off her submission for the “Draw Your Mom” publication, set to print on May 3. She was dressed up as a cat — ears, tail, and even mitten “paws” with claws — for no reason other than that when you are 5 years old, you can! How could I not love that?

Was Patrick Dempsey in Newtown this week? Newtown Bee Associate Editor Shannon Hicks saw someone pulled over by a Newtown Police officer Tuesday morning, opposite The Bee’s office, and thought it was McDreamy himself having the bad day. Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck was called in for a second opinion, and she wondered what Shannon had in her coffee cup. She just didn’t see it...

Huge congratulations this week to Grace Family Church. The congregation had a grand celebration Sunday night, formally dedicating its new home at 13 Covered Bridge Road. We understand there was a great reception with live music and catered refreshments, followed by a very emotional dedication service. Shannon Hicks was there, and will have full coverage in next week’s paper.

There’s a new listing in our support group column this week, and it may be very helpful. St Rose parishioner Michael Guido is starting a support group for family members and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s, the first Wednesday of each month, in the Holy Innocents Building on the St Rose campus, at 6 pm. Michael has dealt with the disease firsthand, as his father was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s, and he has experiences to share. I like that his website, [naviga:u]dontforgettolaughalz.com[/naviga:u], reminds all that you can “Keep your sense of humor and your ability to find humor and gratitude in even the worst of circumstances.”

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue will be introducing its newest fundraiser this weekend. Food Truck Frenzy is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 11 am to 5 pm, at the company’s main station. At least half a dozen food trucks will be parked behind the firehouse, two bounce houses will be set up, and a beer garden will be created under the pavilion. Covered seating will be provided, so the event is rain or shine. There will also be an ATM on site, so if you forget to stop at the bank on your way to the firehouse, you’ll still be OK (although many food truck vendors are able to accept debit and credit cards). Admission is $2 per person, with proceeds to benefit the company.

The Battle of the Books returns to the C.H. Booth Library this Saturday, with teams of young people challenging each others’ knowledge about four special books. This year, the youth will have to answer questions about the books Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi, Loot: How To Steal a Fortune by Jude Watson, Ms Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson, and Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey. Stop by for the program, beginning at 11 am, and see how well-versed the teams are as they face off to win the battle.

You can hop on over to Everwonder Children’s Museum on Pecks Lane on Saturday, where an egg hunt has multiple start times for kids 4 and under and 5 and over, at 10 and 11 am and at noon. (A rain date of April 20 is scheduled, should weather be uncooperative this weekend.) The egg hunt is free with admission. Registration is requested at [naviga:u]everwondermuseum.org[/naviga:u] or by calling 203-364-4009.

Free movies will be offered at Edmond Town Hall again this weekend. Ingersoll Auto of Danbury is picking up the tab for all screenings this weekend, not just the Saturday evening early show. Not only that, but moviegoers can enjoy two different films between Friday and Sunday, April 12-14, if they choose to do so. The town hall will be hosting screenings of A Dog’s Way Home and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse through April 18, in fact. Beginning on Monday, tickets will be $3 for the remainder of the run.

Mark your calendar now, and dig out all those hazardous household items you want to get rid of. The Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off date in Newtown is Saturday, May 18, from 9 am to 2 pm. Bring your items to Newtown Public Works at 4 Turkey Hill Road. Load up your vehicle and then stay in it while Public Works staff empties it all for you. For a list of items that will be accepted, visit [naviga:u]hrra.org[/naviga:u]. Call 203-775-4539 with any questions, or e-mail [naviga:u]info@hrra.org[/naviga:u].

Coming up is another Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation Sunday at the Sanctuary, Sunday, April 28, from noon to 3 pm, Old Farm Road. The free workshop is “Water, Water Everywhere!” Discover Deep Brook and explore the stream’s native trout, invertebrates, and creatures that call it home; join experts from Norwalk Maritime Aquarium and their ocean animal touch tank; learn how to keep water clean with rain barrels, rain gardens, and native plants; and more. Register at cvhfoundation.org (click “events”)

We send our thanks this week to longtime Newtown Bee reader Joan Kleinknecht, who lives in lower Fairfield County now but continues to drive to town every week for a standing hair appointment and to pick up a copy of the paper. When she reached out last week looking for information about a recent story, Joan also shared some very kind words with us. The retired school teacher commended The Newtown Bee for its continued coverage of all things Newtown. She told us she appreciates, among other things, that we continue to list AA meetings. “More people should do that,” said Joan, who also mentioned she’s a big fan of the Snapshot column. “I can’t wait to open the second page of the paper each week to read about those people. Keep up the good work, all of you.”

Our sister publication, Antiques & The Arts Weekly, got a nice shout-out this week, too. Barb, an A&A staff member, took a call from a reader “who called only to say how thankful she was for our paper.” The caller said, “In today’s world, all the newspapers and magazines are going downhill, Antiques & The Arts Weekly continues to have integrity, and I couldn’t live without it. Thank you for all you do.”

Can I hope that Joan makes Top Of The Mountain a top read, too? I’m inviting Joan and everyone out there (including A&A readers) to make time next week to... Read me again.