Seems like so much is six degrees of separation from Newtown — or less. It turns out that Steve Small, of Yankee Wine and Spirits on Queen Street, is Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s second cousin. Steve and Elena share a set of great-grandparents. The family is quite proud of Elena; and of Steve, too, of course! I wonder if he’ll be supplying the champagne for the confirmation celebration?

All that glitters is not gold… but it might be rubies. Former Bee associate editor Kaaren Valenta was having a great time playing with her grandkids at Eichler’s Cove a couple of weeks ago, when she noticed that her ruby bracelet, a gift from hubby Jerry, was missing. “I wore it constantly because the double clasp was so tight,” Kaaren laments, adding, “I can’t get it off without Jerry’s help. I’ve been in the swimming pool with it hundreds of times, but wouldn’t you know that the one time I go in the lake, I’d lose it.” If you have an underwater metal detector and can run it over the shallow part of Eichler’s Cove, Kaaren would be most grateful. And if you come up with the gold and ruby bracelet, please give us a call at The Bee, 203-426-3141 and we’ll get in touch with Kaaren.

The Thunder, Newtown’s 10-year-old baseball team, continued its postseason success by following up a state championship with a New England Regional title in Londonderry, N.H., on July 29. The Thunder defeated Exeter, N.H., 15-8 in the pinnacle game to earn a berth in the Cal Ripken World Series in Ocala, Fla., beginning on August 13. In an effort to defray expenses for travel and accommodations, the team is holding fundraisers. On Saturday, August 7, the Thunder will hold a car wash at Berkshire Motors, across from Newtown High School, from 10 am to 2 pm. On Tuesday, August 10, My Place Restaurant, 8 Queen Street, will donate 20 percent of profits to the Thunder when customers mention the team when eating in or taking out orders on that day. Let’s all give the young ball players “thunderous” support at these two events!

Education reporter Eliza Hallabeck has been furiously typing this week, and so have Bee interns Anna Hodge and Dani Villa. They’ve got “Back To School” on the mind. With less than one month left before the 2010-2011 school year starts on September 1, the yearly supplement focusing on everything school related, including bus routes provided by the school district, will be available in the August 20 edition of The Bee.

A flood of books were read by teens participating in the summer reading program at C.H. Booth Library. If you visit the second floor young adult area, you will see the gigantic tidal wave created by local artist and NMS teacher Arlene Spoonfeather and the Young Adult Council members to display those efforts. The materials were donated by Rand-Whitney Container LLC of Newtown.

Tom Toal of Bark Busters, who has done some training of Newtown pups, is taking part in the partnership of Bark Busters with the SPCA to train a very special dog in New Fairfield. Oso came to America with soldier Steve Johnston, from Baghdad, as part of the SPCA International program Operation Baghdad Pups. This program allows dogs like Oso, befriended by service people, to come home with their soldier when the tour of duty is over. Bark Busters provides free training to these dogs as they adjust to life in a real home — a quite different environment than the war zone in which the dog grew up. Hopefully, Oso and other dogs like him can adapt to life here and become a well-behaved family member. Welcome to America, Oso, and thanks to Bark Busters and the SPCA for the support.

I’m always one for pussyfooting around, so I’m pleased to see the new Newtown Hikers’ schedule has been set for the upcoming year. The first hike takes place September 11, and like most of the hikes, “steps off” from the lower parking lot of the Edmond Town Hall at 9 am. Contact that hike’s leader, Louann Chevalier, at 203-426-2072 for more information.

It may not be too late to take part in the C.H. Booth Library “8 to 8 for Haiti” readathon, Sunday, August 8, from 8 am to 8 pm, if you are quick to contact librarian Kim Weber at 203-426-4533 for registration material and information. The money raised will contribute to a Haitian relief fund. Each participant is encouraged to find sponsors at work or through family and friends. Reading material can be brought from home or found at the library. Participants will read for an hour and a half, then gather to hear a 20-minute read aloud by a participant or professional storyteller. It sounds like a fun way to indulge in some good reading and support a good cause, so I’ll be there reading my favorite book, Why Cats Paint.

Actually, “Why Cats Write” might be more appropriate. You’ll find out next week if you… Read me again.