Dan Cruson shared some thoughts from his friend, Rog Downs, regarding the April 23 “Way We Were” column. Rog grew up at 329 Berkshire Road, just down the road from the Monroe line. “The last item under 1960 is about a truck-climbing lane on Route 34 from the Monroe line to Great Ring Road,” Rog wrote to Dan recently. “If you are half as observant as I think you are, you will notice the project never happened. The right-of-way marker was located about three feet from our front porch and if the lane had ever been built, it would have doomed our house. There was much speculation of whether the State would move our house or just buy it. There were some anxious months and each year my father would watch for the highway projects to be listed in the paper. Some of the improvements [to our home] he might have considered were probably not done because he did not think he would recover the cost. Such is Big Brother’s influence in our lives,” wrote Rog.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers celebrating their special day on Sunday, May 9. No doubt there are any number of wonderful moms around, but Katherine (KC) James sent me a note to tell me how much she appreciates her mom, Melissa Bizewski, who makes great sacrifices to benefit her children. “She is super special, because she puts everyone else ahead of herself,” says Katherine. “My mother is one of the strongest people I know. I think she is extraordinary. Actually,” stresses Katherine, “I think she’s more than extraordinary.” If you have a mom in your life, why not make sure to tell her this Sunday and every day, how much she means to you? I’ll bet sweet words will linger longer with her than any box of chocolates.

Congratulations to Scott Adelman who designed the winning logo for the Donate to Skate T-shirt Contest.  It won’t fit me, but I know the skaters in town can wear it and promote the skate park slated to go in at Dickinson Park. Excited by the news, Donate to Skate campaign chair Erin Heneghan reminds residents: watch for updates on leisure elements for sale for the park to help raise additional funds. Think benches, etc. As bids come in for the park, construction will soon be underway. “We’re rolling along smoothly!  It’s all very positive and super exciting!” she said. She will make another announcement when shirts go on sale.

There’s music in the air — or at least there soon will be. Take a “Sentimental Journey” with the Newtown Choral Society, Saturday evening, May 15, at 7 pm, at the Meeting House on Main Street. The spring concert will feature much-loved songs of individual choral members as well as favorites sung by the group in previous years. Tickets are just $10 at the door, or from a member of the Choral Society. But don’t be late — you’ll want to get a good seat.

You might remember seeing Melanie Beck in NHS drama productions and musicals while she was a student there. Ithaca College passes on this note to The Bee, about the 2006 NHS graduate:  “Melanie Beck, daughter of Newtown residents Donald and Rose Beck, performed the role of Nellie Collins in the recent Ithaca College Theatre production of Floyd Collins. Beck is a senior acting major in the college’s School of Humanities and Sciences. Based on a true story, Floyd Collins takes the audience to rural Kentucky in 1925, where a local cave explorer becomes trapped while trying to fulfill his dream of discovering a tourist attraction.” This photo shows Melanie with fellow actor Parker Pogue, who played Floyd. (Sheryl Sinkow photo.) This leaves me wondering, what next, Melanie? Hollywood?

I’ve already posted a reminder on my calendar that May 19 is the evening to dine at My Place Restaurant. My Place is generously donating 20 percent of any pretax bill on any meal ordered in or out from 4 pm to closing that Wednesday, to the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library. Just mention the library when you call for takeout, or tell your server when you are seated. The Friends support many programs at the library that benefit the whole community. It’s a delicious way to support a good cause.

Tony Posca of Andrea’s Pastry Shop provides the free cake and a taste of happiness each week to the Birthday Cake winner from The Bee “Just For Kids” page. Now Tony wants to put more smiles on the faces of birthday kids around town. If your picture appears in the Birthday Cake, bring in a copy of the column to the bakery and Tony will give you a coupon good for a tasty treat at the Queen Street bakery. I hear that Tony also is very welcoming to the slew of middle school students that descends on the center of town after school. I don’t know about you, but I think that Tony deserves the Good Egg Award for his generosity and support of Newtown’s kids.

Visitors to The Bee might have noticed that my friend Deeke, the chocolate Lab, has not been his usual tail-wagging self lately. I’m happy to report that Deeke is on the mend now after dealing with one of those nasty tick diseases. He’s not running a marathon yet, but I am hearing his tail bang against the floor more frequently this week.

I’ll be busy banging out a new column next week, so I hope you’ll…. Read me again.