Paul Mangiafico took a break from leading Venture Crew 70 in rock climbing last weekend to capture this photo of Crew member Jordan Simmons mastering a climb. The Venture Crew 70 enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend October 2 and 3 by camping in Kent, on the Housatonic River, followed by a day of rock climbing at St Johns Ledges. Newtowner Paul, a certified climbing instructor, and two of his climbing friends, assisted eight Crew members.

The climbing routes were of varying difficulties and everyone was challenged. Venture Crew 70 is a coed outdoor organization that leads young adults, ages 14 to 18, on monthly high adventure trips. Peter and Tracy Van Buskirk are the fearless leaders, and can be reached at 203-426-3014, for anyone who wants to join in the fun.

Congratulations to PE teacher Kathy Davey of NHS, who on this past Sunday received a 2010 Upstander Award at the Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence from the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury for her efforts in linking the Women’s Center and the NHS health program.

Congratulations, too, to former Newtown resident Bernie Meehan, who has been involved in emergency services for more than 25 years. The Exchange Club of Danbury has named Bernie as its 2010 Firefighter of the Year. This is an honor given to a member of a local fire department annually by the service club, having been nominated by the honoree’s fire chief for his or her outstanding service to the community. The club was scheduled to honor Bernie on Thursday, October 7, after The Bee went to press this week, with a dinner that counted among its guests some of Bernie’s family (mom Dolores still lives in Newtown), friends, fellow firefighters, and Exchange Club members. Bernie, 48, has been a firefighter and/or an emergency medical technician since he was 16. He is a certified fire instructor, a hazardous materials technician, and a member of countless emergency and safety committees on the local, regional, and state levels, including The Connecticut Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) Team, which he helped found. While he now lives in Roxbury and has served as chief of Roxbury Ambulance Corps for 12 years and counting — in addition to being a captain with Danbury Fire Department since 2006 (having joined the company in 1985 and being promoted to lieutenant in 1999) — we’re still pretty proud of Bernie and his roots here in Newtown.

With Breast Cancer Awareness Month underway, I thought it would be interesting to share that Dr Nancy Cappello of Woodbury, who was featured in a past Bee health article, will be a featured speaker at a Community Forum this month sponsored by the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., to speak of her advanced stage cancer, which led to Connecticut’s landmark legislation to inform women of their breast density for the early detection of breast cancer. Connecticut is the first state in the nation to require insurance companies to cover whole breast ultrasound as a screening for women with dense breast tissue, and the first state to mandate the communication of breast density to the patient through the mammography report, according to a press release we received this week. Dr Cappello and women from five states have formed DENSE (Density Education National Survivors’ Effort — visit www.AreYouDdense.org). Its mission is to ensure that all women know about their breast density for the early detection of breast cancer. Texas, Florida, and New York have commitments from state legislators to introduce a bill, similar to Connecticut’s, to mandate communication of breast density to patients. Not such a bad thing to be DENSE, I guess.

I would certainly be dense if I did not announce loudly and proudly that this week is National Newspaper Week, an annual Newspaper Association of America recognition of the role newspapers play in communities. “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable.” So spoke Thomas Jefferson, our third president. Whether you are reading this in hard copy or online, thanks for receiving this paper; and if you’re not already a fan of The Newtown Bee on Facebook, take a moment to join up!

In case anyone is wondering what became of former Newtowner Brianna Limebrook and her Raiders of the Lost Tuk team members, who were part of the Rickshaw Run across India last month, the Raiders rolled into Jaislamer on September 24, number 26 out of 66 charity-supporting, adventurous teams that took on the 2,000-mile cross-continent road rally. Congratulations to Brianna, Kate, and Jim, and their wild support for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. To find out more about their Rickshaw Run adventures, or to support their cause, visit www.LostTuk.com.

In celebration of that first male explorer who would not stop to ask directions, Monday, October 11, is a holiday for many businesses, as a tip of the crowned hat to Christopher Columbus. I say it should be in celebration of the foliage, which despite the wind and rain, is bursting nicely into color this week.

There’s a holiday for everything: some of my upcoming favorites are National Cake Decorating Day, this coming Saturday; International Moment of Frustration Scream Day on October 12; followed immediately by International Top Spinning Day on October 13. Next Wednesday is also Emergency Nurses Day, according to www.BrownieLocks.com, so be sure to give your favorite ER nurse a big hug on the 13th.

I’m declaring next week, Read Top of the Mountain Week, so I hope you’ll heed my suggestion and… Read me again.