Apparently the notes and cards sent to Dr Richard Auerbach of Newtown Center Pediatrics, as he recovered from surgery earlier this spring, have worked their magic. Although Dr Auerbach’s recuperation from surgery has been prolonged, he is happy to tell me that he has recently returned to work part-time, and looks forward to a return to his normal schedule in coming weeks. That’s a relief to hear, as some rumors had surfaced hinting that the pediatrician would be out of the office for at least a year or was planning to move. Not so, and his partner Dr Laura Nowacki, who has expanded her schedule to help him out, is surely pleased to have Dr Auerbach back in the office — as are his patients. Continued good health to you, Dr Auerbach, from the Top of the Mountain!

I’m wiping the tears from my eyes and licking the cream from my whiskers at the same time. The many, many Newtown Bee birthday cake winners and all of us here at The Bee are grateful for the free cakes provided by baker Tony Posca of Andrea’s Bakery Shop, for several years. Tony is moving on to greener fields the end of this month, and we wish him much happiness in his new endeavors.

The Bee is pleased to announce that DOrazio Sisters Bakery, located in Plaza South, Route 25, just past Sand Hill Plaza, has agreed to provide the free birthday cakes to our winners, going forward. Weekly Newtown Bee cake winners will receive a free, 6-inch, double layer cake, vanilla or chocolate, from DOrazio Sisters Bakery. Thank you to Tony for his years of delicious cakes, and welcome to DOrazio Sisters!

I had my nose buried in some roses when I overheard Newtown Historical Society member Mary Thomas mention that the society is in need of docents to assist during the June 30 Newtown Historical Society House and Garden Tour. Volunteers will greet tourgoers at each of the homes that day, and by volunteering for one of the two-hour shifts, you can get a break on the ticket price and have fun the rest of the day visiting the other gardens. I raised my paw, but apparently they are not seeking those of the feline persuasion. If you can volunteer, give Mary a call at 203-426-9696.

Happy summer! It wasn’t your imagination if Wednesday seemed a mite longer than the other days. Summer Solstice occurred in our part of the hemisphere at 7:09 pm on Wednesday, the longest day of the year. Right on schedule, it ushered in some very summerlike heat, haze, and humidity, too. Looks like it’s time to roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

Young people looking for a way to fill up some of those lazy summer afternoons might want to check out the library’s website at www.chboothlibrary.org. Young adult librarian Margaret Brown has scheduled some fun workshops, from reading programs to duct tape craft. Registration information is at the website.

It’s not too late to donate your used books, CDs, DVDs, and LPs to the library. The volunteers are working overtime to prepare for the July 14 to July 18 Book Sale at Reed Intermediate School, but they welcome donations right up to the day of the sale. Pick up of large donations can be arranged. Call 203-426-4533. I hear they have some incredible offerings this year, including one signed book by a contemporary author that is sure to raise plenty of interest. Find out more about this year’s sale at www.boothbooksale.org.

You may have noticed some different by-lines in articles appearing in The Newtown Bee. Sarah Scinto of Monroe, a rising senior at King’s College in Pennsylvania, and Steve Bonanno of Newtown, a rising junior at Endicott College in Massachusetts, are interning in our office for the summer. Sarah is majoring in professional writing and communications, with a minor in light saber battles… Steve is majoring in creative writing, with a minor in communication. Just be warned: Steve often travels with his fishing rod at hand. He brakes for fish. We’re happy to welcome both to our beehive of activity. If you see either out and about town, smile for the camera!

My fur is puffed up with pride this week. So many graduates were recognized this week, like these Sandy Hook School kindergarteners who were recognized for their achievement by Sandy Hook School Assistant Principal Anthony Salvatore.  “We want to thank you parents for making them possible, for sharing them with us,” said Dr Salvatore at the Wednesday, June 20, event. I’d like to thank all of the Newtown parents, too, for sharing their children with us, and share special congratulations to the Newtown High School Class of 2012, which graduated Wednesday night.

Readers will hopefully remember David Plaue, the Newtown resident who began a campaign to provide a well, and ultimately, safe drinking water for residents of northern Ethiopia. We wrote about him in November and December, and David stopped by The Bee recently to let us know that thanks to donations for his Drink Water To Give Water Campaign, just under $7,000 (surpassing his goal of $6,000) was donated to Charity:Water at the beginning of the year. By March that money had already been combined with other fundraising efforts and two wells were drilled in Tingray, Ethiopia. David asked us to convey his thanks to any anonymous donors he hasn’t been able to thank in person or via e-mail. He also wanted to let us know that he has begun doing fundraising work full-time. Last month he signed on with DigDeepWater.org, a California-based human rights organization whose mission — like Charity:Water in New York — is to bring the basic human right to water to parts of the world where that need is not yet being met. David is serving as fundraising professional for Clean Water Initiatives, and would love to hear from anyone interested in helping or learning more. David can be reached at 203-744-9173 or 203-297-3870. Dig Deep info is available online.

I heard through the grape (pumpkin?) vine that the Lions Club is planning for its 2012 Great Pumpkin Race, which will return to Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, October 20. Before you scold me for planning too far ahead, Lion Gordon Williams mentioned last week that the Great Pumpkin Race committee is making some changes this year and they need to make sure at least one of those changes is mentioned as soon as possible. The event will no longer be hosting a baking contest. In its place, the Lions will have a Largest Pumpkin Contest, and that’s what they guys wanted to let gardeners of all ages know about right away. “It’s time to get those seeds in the ground if you want to be in contention for this,” says Gordon.

I’m all for planting pumpkins, but I’ll be planting my paws on the keyboard these next few days. Be sure to… Read me again.