Last May, local hardcore mom/blogger/humorist Kate Mayer was invited to be a part of the New York City Listen To Your Mother program, a series of national readings celebrating mothers and Mother’s Day. In case you weren’t lucky enough to hear her in person, I was finally able to purr my way into her heart and get her to share the link to her reading on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWJhB_Aqflo&feature=plcp. Enjoy!

Kitten Associates’ founder Robin Olson shared some exciting news with me, as well. Jackson Galaxy, of the TV show on Animal Planet “My Cat From Hell,” has chosen her rescue operation as his Rescue of the Month for September. “This is an honor on a national level,” Robin says, “and I’m very excited and delighted.” Mr Galaxy will donate a portion of sales from his Spirit Essences company, a line of holistic animal remedies, to Kitten Associates. Because rescuing and caring for homeless cats can be an expensive proposition, Robin is particularly grateful to receive this attention. To find out more about Kitten Associates or to view photos of adoptable kitties, visit www.kittenassociates.org.

The residents of the dog pound moved to their spacious new quarters on Trades Lane, Wednesday, and there’s plenty of room for cats now, too. Along with a gorgeous view, felines housed at the new pound will enjoy a Cattery filled with sunshine, and lots of places to lounge and soak up the warmth.

I’m fired up for this weekend, when the Newtown Arts Festival takes over the fields at Fairfield Hills, from 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Here’s a chance to see artists in action, exhibits by painters, sculptors (including Ethan Currier, creator of the stone rooster centerpiece), jewelers, and woodblock artist Tracy Van Buskirk (who designed this year’s logo), crafters, musicians, writers, and even sky high (tethered) rides in the ReMax balloon. For details and a full schedule of the two-day art fest, visit www.newtownartscommission.org and click on the festival link.

It’s fair season in Connecticut, and while folks are celebrating the coming of fall and all the activities going on around the region, Newtown Health District officials want everyone to take a few minutes to give their own health a “fair” shake, according to Health District Director Donna Culbert. She and her fellow organizers want everyone to plan to stop in to the annual Newtown Health Fair planned for Saturday, September 29, from 9 am to 1 pm, at the Newtown Middle School. There will be plenty of fun, drawings, free gifts, and most importantly, advice, support, and screenings to keep you healthy this fall and winter. So save the date!

With the Health Fair putting a spring in your step, you’ll have plenty of energy for a nice autumnal drive to Cambridge, Mass., where Sandy Hook artist Liz Alpert-Fay and her daughter, Chelsea, are among the artists exhibiting in the Mobilia Gallery at 358 Huron Avenue. Liz and Chelsea are part of the “Teapot Redesigned 2012” show, which runs September 29 through November 15. The opening reception and artist talk for the sculptural and functional teapot art is Saturday, September 29, from 3 to 5 pm. For more information contact the gallery at 617-876-2109. Of course, I’m intrigued by Liz’s “Bees in the Trees” birchbark teapot!

Maybe you noticed Z Place For Fitness owner Tammy DeMarche and other Zumba enthusiasts aboard their float in the Labor Day Parade. If it looked like a lot of fun to you, there’s an opportunity for you to try it out or flaunt your form this coming Saturday, September 15, when the 266 South Main Street fitness facility hosts a Zumbathon, in support of the 2012 Fairfield County Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk, from noon to 1:30 pm. To reserve your spot, call Tammy at 203-304-9555.

The Newtown Choral Society, under the direction of Mary Andreotta, is looking forward to another year of bringing song to our town. The Choral Society welcomes anyone who loves to sing and learn about singing, and performs a winter and a spring concert each year. There are no auditions, but singers will be placed according to the choral director’s discretion. Rehearsals for the December 2 winter concert begin Wednesday, September 19, from 7 to 9 pm, in the chorus room of the Newtown Middle School. For more information, contact Laura Lerman at lel@se-ltd.com.

We all know that cats have nine lives, but not so with you less fortunate humans. So here’s an item of interest: the Newtown Bridle Lands Association (NBLA) will hold an open meeting, Tuesday, September 18, at 7:30 pm, at the Meeting House. The meeting will feature a presentation by attorney Rosanna Rogers on the subject of estate planning for pets (including horses). Attorney Rogers will also address related topics, such as the legal status of animals, selecting the proper caregiver, and determining the proper funding level for ensuring that a beloved pet will receive the attention and care desired when you are on to greener pastures. All are welcome, but non- NBLA members are asked for a $5 donation. Seems like money well spent, to me.

Looks like things worked out FORE-tunately for a certain fearsome FORE-some at the Monday, September 10, Rotary Golf Tournament. Golfers First Selectman Pat Llodra, Dr Bob Grossman, Gary Steele, and Tim Rice walked off the Tashua Knolls course in Trumbull with a respectable middle prize for best performance, Dr Bob tells me. Not only do they get bragging rights, but each one received a $25 gift certificate to the pro shop.

Being that we live in the Constitution State, it seems only right to remind you that September 17–23 is Constitution Week, in commemoration of the adoption of the 12 amendments (the Bill of Rights) of the Constitution of the United States of America, on September 25, 1789. I’m not sure how one celebrates that, but simple recognition of our many freedoms seems appropriate.

I know I appreciate the right to put my paws on these keys and spread the news, so be sure next week to... Read me again.