The Thursday before Memorial Day Weekend, Tom Johnson, owner of Lexington Gardens, was a very busy man trying to get everything in the greenhouse and the nursery display garden ready for the upcoming holiday. But Tom stopped everything to attend to one important task. A hummingbird had flown from the outside garden into the back greenhouse attached to the main greenhouse building, and it was trapped inside.

Undoubtedly, it had been attracted by the rows and rows of hanging plants and it flew in an open door to get at the snack-bar lineup of drooping red fuscia blossoms. Customers watched anxiously as the hummingbird zipped back and forth beneath the ceiling, visited a few flowers, and rested briefly on the overhead water pipes. After Tom opened the roof vent a few inches, the hummingbird made a quick, safe exit and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Whew! Back to work, back to shopping, back to finding more nectar-bearing flowers.

Now that Memorial Day is behind us, plans are taking shape for this year’s Labor Day Parade. Kym Stendahl, who has been leading the parade’s organizing committee for the past 15 years, says that because it is Newtown’s 300th birthday, Tony at Andrea’s Bakery is planning to make a ten-foot cake for everyone to enjoy. (I hear that Dr Henry Gellert is footing the bill.)

Pat Barkman invites anyone who is interested to visit her lakeside studio this weekend where she is having an art show and sale at 49 Taunton Lake Road. The show features many of Pat’s original watercolors and oil paintings of scenes along Al’s Trail captured during all seasons. The views include Upper Paugussett State Forest, walking trail in the snow, the Rocky Glen overlook, Lake Lillinonah launch site, and Fairfield Hills in winter. The show takes place Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, from 2 to 4 pm both days, and musical entertainment will be by Ian Tamblyn.

Some people may have noticed that the fountain in Hawley Pond has been going only intermittently. That’s because the algae in the pond have been clogging up the filter, which is ironic since the fountain was put there in the first place to help inhibit the growth of algae.

Canine Advocates is sponsoring a dog contest to raise money to help the dogs in the local pound. Photos of the dogs are going to be posted in the Edmond Town Hall lobby and anyone can vote. The winner will receive a oil painting of their dog by artist Beth Connolly.

If you’ve seen a large flash of yellow fluff around town, it’s the Chamber Rooster. The Newtown Chamber of Commerce has establishing a waddling, clucking mascot to help celebrate the tercentennial. The costume and its inhabitants tool around town showing up at various places to promote tercentennial events.

The Rocking Roosters Square Dancers enjoyed the Chamber Rooster at their shindig on May 21 — to the point where the band asked how a chicken got off the menu and onto the program. The following Monday, the Rooster passed out flyers at the Bethel and Newtown Chamber meeting at the Stony Hill Inn. Who’s in the outfit? At the square dance it was David Beardsley. At Stony Hill, it was Mike Nieman, your favorite carpenter. But you never know. Look sharply, however, when you go to the landfill in the next few weeks.

While I was at the police station this week, Henry Stormer dropped in for a visit. The ever-jovial Henry, who recently retired as a sergeant after almost 25 years of service as a police officer, was telling jokes to his old comrades. Henry, who has lost some weight and shaved off his mustache, looks rested. He explained that retirement is treating him well. Although no longer a policeman, Henry is working as a deputy fire marshal for the town.

The Survivor Committee of the Newtown Relay For Life issued a “last chance” call for pictures for the luminaria ceremony this week. The photos of cancer survivors and persons who lost their lives to cancer will be shown at the event that takes place at Newtown High School on June 11–12. Photos should be dropped off immediately to Alice Mascher at Caldwell Bankers/Bob Tendler Real Estate, 17 Church Hill Road. Include a name and address so the photos can be returned. Anyone who has questions can contact Alice at 426-5679.

The VNA Thrift Shop recently took possession of a 1938 board game called Uncle Jim’s Question Bee. No one is quite sure how to play it, but that didn’t stop Jill Collins from purchasing it. She has donated it to the Bee’s infinite collection of bee-related stuff.

Well, that’s the buzz for this week, but I’ll be back next week, so be sure to…

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