You’ve got to be pretty brave to read a column written by a black cat on a Friday the 13th. I admire that. And to reward you, I’ll start with some good news.

Socko’s Haunted Yard is making its return this Halloween season after taking a few years off. Everyone I know is looking forward to the thrills and chills Socko always serves up. I ran into Rick “Socko” Mariani this week while he was busy preparing his Haunted Yard for next week’s opening night. “Socko” is remaining tight-lipped about what his gang of ghouls and goblins have in store. All he said was that Newtown residents, particularly high school students, should expect the unexpected.

“Socko’s Haunted Yard” kicks off its frightful run next Thursday night in the woods behind the United Fire Company of Botsford.

Bernie Reidy’s commute to work is a little longer these days now that he is working in New York City as the bishop’s delegate for administration and finance working under Archbishop Edward Michael Egan of the Catholic Church. “I’ll be up earlier and home later at night,” he joked this week. Bernie has spent the past 32 years as chief financial officer of the Archdiocese of Bridgeport.

It was good to hear that longtime Newtown resident Don Jackson was back playing tennis this week after being sidelined for several months with a handful of ailments. Don has been down before, but always manages to bounce right back, never losing his grip.

It was also good to learn that Newtown Band Parents Association stalwart Brenda Locke was released from the hospital after her recent bout with Lyme disease. Brenda, may the only ticks in your future come from the Newtown High School Band’s metronome.

Several Newtown fire companies were called out of their homes last Saturday night for what was reported as a possible structure fire on Clearview Drive off Toddy Hill Road. However, Newtown Police, who were the first to respond to the scene, discovered it was just a bonfire.

Milton Adams, who with his wife, Mariann, is tending the Ram Pasture these days, cleared out all the brush from the south side of the bridge at Hawley Pond last week. Now you can see all the graceful lines of the well-wrought bridge. Good job, Milt!

The weekly ad from the Cornerstone Thrift Shop usually gets pushed through the mail slot in our front door sometime in the evening hours, when our offices are closed. This week, the ad sailed well into the front lobby thanks to whoever folded it into a paper airplane.

 Bee photographer Steve Bigham got a little too close to the action while taking pictures at last week’s Newtown versus Notre Dame soccer match in Fairfield. Steve was focusing in on the game when the ball was kicked out of bounds. Unaware that the ball was zooming toward his head, Steve kept right on shooting. Then it happened: ball and noggin collided, creating a huge red mark on the side of Steve’s face. Several of the Newtown players were seen laughing, but Steve isn’t sure whether they were laughing at him or with him.

When Louise Tambascio, owner of My Place restaurant, celebrated her 38th wedding anniversary last week, she decided to have dinner where she knows the quality of the service and the food – My Place Restaurant. So she and her husband, Adrian, were at a quiet corner table and their son, John, did the waiting honors.

When Elizabeth Heetmann was married last Saturday at St Rose Church, with her reception at The Heritage Inn in Southbury, it looked as if the whole town of Southbury was rejoicing with fireworks that night. Actually, the fireworks were part of the townwide Southbury celebration.

Brian White rode to a Blue Ribbon on his son’s horse Exodus in the Lewisboro Hunter Pace. Surprised by his finish, Brian brought home a trophy cup and blue ribbon. Brian’s friend and riding partner, Joel Malin, was to participate in the Pace, but fell off his horse, named Franklin, the day before on a practice run. He stood in as the team physician.

The Health District is sponsoring a free townwide flu clinic next Wednesday, October 18, at the senior center from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Despite all the news about the flu vaccine being in short supply, Mark Cooper says the health district received an ample supply.

Last week’s Newtown Bee featured a story on Newtown resident Brendan Carson, who was trying to return to his hometown from Alaska for a Saturday book signing. It turns out he did finally make it, despite having to spend several days in Vermont waiting for his car to be repaired. I ran into Brendan Friday night and he told me he made it all the way to Newtown, where his car conked out again, this time on the exit 10 ramp.

This column is about to conk out again, but I should have it up and running again by this time next week, so be sure to…

Read me again.