When three Newtown High School teenagers were killed in a car crash back in 1985, a tree was planted by family members at the school as a living memorial. But an extended family member called me this week to say that with all of the construction at the school this year, the tree has “disappeared.” Steve is wondering if anyone else in town is willing to help him with replacing that tree, once construction is done. “I could use help from someone who has equipment to dig the hole, maybe someone with a bobcat,” Steve has requested. “I’ll do it myself, if I have no support, but it would be nice to have help,” he added. “I think it’s important to the family.” If you can assist Steve in any way, please call him at 203-426-3933.

The banner strung across Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook center is thanks to Mike Porco, said Laurie McCollum, who welcomed home her Marine Corps son, Lance Corporal Rylan McCollum, on August 3 — just in time to celebrate his birthday on August 9.  Rylan returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, his second, and will be on leave until August 18. Welcome home, Rylan — as the banner says.

Olive Ratcliffe celebrated another birthday this year, and while it wasn’t as monumental as her 90th, in which she climbed into a cherry picker, it was still neat to note that when Olive turned 93 earlier this week her numerical birthday was written 8-9-10. Happy belated birthday, Olive! Can’t wait to see how you celebrate next year’s birthday.

Newtown artist and author Mark Aldrich is working on transforming one of his books into a DVD slide show and is looking for help both financially and creatively, too. Mark has been working on a series of illustrated novels called The Shards of Time, which follow The SPOOL (Sisters for the Preservation Of Old Landmarks) Society and the adventures of the architectural preservationists who are characterized as animals that work to save world treasures from the sabotage and mayhem of terrorists. “They uncover diabolical plots that threaten to destroy old buildings, and their mission is to preserve beautiful things. Part of that mission must be to teach the rising generation about the importance of historic and artistic preservation,” Mark said this week. Mark and friend Peggy Jepsen will have an event at Peggy’s house on Tuesday, August 24, starting at 6 pm, where the public is invited to view some of Mark’s work from The Poison Swamp, the first book in his series, meet Mark, and see what can be done to make his dream come to fruition. He has already enlisted 12 actors to bring the DVD project to life, and is hoping to find high school student artists who can help with some aspects of the project. Interested in learning more? Contact Mark at MAldrich53@gmail.com or Peggy at JepsenPeggy@att.net. Reservations for the August 24 gathering would be appreciated.

There is a very patient dog in Newtown who loves to hear stories. Trixie, owned by Frank Spera, is taking part in the C.H. Booth Library “Children Reading To Dogs,” a Therapy Dogs International, Inc program. Children can sign up to read to Trixie for 15-minute increments, between 11 am and noon, on Saturdays, August 14 and August 21. Trixie, a trained therapy dog, is a rescue Australian shepherd mix, and visited the library for the first time last Saturday morning. The program promotes a relaxed atmosphere that builds up a child’s confidence level as he or she shares time with man’s (and woman’s) best friend. I know that all of the worker Bees here do a lot of reading, so I just want to know, when is it going to be Reading To Cats Day?

Many members of the Newtown High School Class of 1968 are facing a milestone birthday this year, and Lisa Holmes is planning a celebration around that theme. If you are a member of that class, save Saturday, October 16, and give Lisa or Mike Holmes a call, 203-426-9942, to find out all the details.

A reminder to Newtown residents that the town’s transfer station is now closed on Mondays. The new operating hours went into effect in July, but a drive past the landfill this past Monday showed that a regular stream of visitors was still being caught off guard. The dump is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 7 am until 3 pm. The gate at the top of the hill (opposite the Good Will trailer) is open just enough to allow commercial vehicles into and out of the area, as well as to allow dog pound employees and volunteers access to that area. The rest of us just have to hang on to our stinky trash and recyclables one extra day.

My caterwauling has been on hold all summer, but Newtown Choral Society president Laura Lerman tells me it’s time to get my vocal chords back in shape. Rehearsals for the Winter Concert begin Wednesday, September 15, at 7 pm, in the choral room of Newtown Middle School. This year’s winter concert, to be performed at 7:30 pm, Saturday, December 11, will present Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas In Wales,” set to music by composer Matthew Harris, as well as holiday favorites. The choral society, once again under the direction of Mary Andreotta, is open to all who enjoy singing and who are willing to learn. Newcomers are welcome, and old-timers are welcomed back!

The Bee was a slightly sad place on Wednesday. Bee interns Anna Hodge and Dani Villa wrapped up one excellent summer of work here at our office. I know I’ll be missing them, and I’m certain the rest of the staff will miss their smiles, too. Both high school students have been wonderful additions to the staff, and we wish them both luck in their future endeavors. Look for their bylines in Newtown High School’s newspaper, The Hawkeye, this academic year.

You can look for my byline (that’s my smiling face) next week, when you… Read me again.