Last week was not such a great week for politicians and sea creatures. First, Governor Dannel Malloy and Mystic Aquarium and Sea Research Foundation President and CEO Stephan Coan were photobombed by the beluga whale at Mystic Aquarium. The governor was visiting the aquarium to speak about summer tourism, and it’s hard to tell if the beluga whale, Juno, was that interested in what these guys had to say, or just wanted to get in on the photo opportunity. The same day, President Obama had a salmon spawn on his shoes while visiting Alaska. Yup. Laid a bunch of salmon eggs on his footwear. That was probably not the reception he was hoping for…

On a happier note, I see that Japan has created a Google Street Maps for cats. That’s right — Google Maps, from a cat’s point of view, lets you see what us felines see from ground level. So, are there little tiny cars with little tiny cameras on top doing the mapping for cats? I can’t wait to see one in Newtown.

I hope you didn’t miss the Labor Day Parade this past Monday. It was quite impressive in length and diversity of entertainment. The Newtown Arts Festival had a pretty sweet float, and there on top of it, I spotted this year’s Arts Festival logo design winner, Tracy Van Buskirk. But wait — was that a cast on her leg? Apparently she’ll go to any length to provide friends with something they can draw on. Looks like all she’ll be doing at next week’s Rooster Ball is the Bunny Hop. (I was equally impressed by the number of people who did not let the blazing hot sun wilt spirits up and down the parade route.) Check out the photos in this week’s paper, in case you were out of town: the only real excuse for not being there.

Congratulations to NMS student Cooper McLaughlin. Cooper, who has been a camper at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., performed at theater night there this past summer. Last month, he got a call saying that he had been seen onstage that night and was selected, along with 11 other campers from New England and New York, to take part in the Fandango Benefit Gala, the camp’s largest fundraiser. Hundreds of other young people were considered for this gala production, so it is quite an honor for Cooper. His mom, Lorraine (you might have her for a bus driver here in town), tells me that Cooper takes voice, and has appeared in both 12.14 Foundation shows. Cooper will head out for rehearsals next Wednesday, and under the direction of Tony Award winner James Naughton, will work with the other kids — and actor Alex Baldwin and Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax — to prepare for the show on September 19, at the Ashford camp. Way to go, Cooper! We’ll be anxious to hear all about it!

Newtown seems to birth plenty of talent. I understand that NHS graduate Matt Madden was cast in several plays this summer at New London (N.H.) Barn Playhouse. Matt is a May 2015 musical theater graduate of Ithaca College, and I’m told that he sang at the Ithaca commencement.

Rocking Roosters will host two Fun Nights — Tuesdays, September 15 and 22 — to introduce folks to the celebrated art of square dancing. All ages are welcome, and no experience is required. The events will be at the Masonic Hall, 3 Washington Avenue, 7:45 to 9:15 pm each week. Call Martha or Marty at 203-426-4817 or Carol or Dave at 203-264-9300 for details, or just show up.

The two-day celebration of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins Sunday, September 13, at sundown. This also begins the period of ten days of repentance, leading up to Yom Kippur, on September 23, for those who celebrate the Jewish religion. One custom of Rosh Hashanah is the trumpeting of the shofar, a ram’s horn. Eating apples dipped in honey, for a “sweet” new year, is another tradition.

Native Newtowner Karyl Evans is pleased to announce the New Haven premiere of her documentary about the creation of an oratorio, written by sisters Sarah Meneely-Kyder and Nancy Meneely, about their father, Dr John Meneely, Jr. Dr Meneely served as a medic in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II, and struggled after the war with what is now known as PTSD. Letter from Italy, 1944: A New American Oratorio premieres Monday, September 21, at Yale’s Whitney Humanities Center, at 4 pm. A panel discussion with the two sisters, veterans, and PTSD experts will follow the screening. Details on the New Haven event can be found at http://calendar.yale.edu/cal/whc/month/20150901/Films.

Car seats for children have come a long way, so if you have an old car seat lingering in your attic or garage, AAA would like to help you out. Through September 19, the public is encouraged to turn in expired, damaged, or recalled car seats, as part of “AAA Northeast’s Great Car Seat Roundup.” Donors can collect $5 per seat turned in, or opt to donate that $5 to the local SafeKids Coalition that uses funds to purchase new car seats for infants and children in need. Winter Bros Waste Systems of Danbury and Seymour is helping AAA to dispose of the unsafe car seats. Turn in these dangerous car seats at AAA offices located at 93 Lake Avenue, Danbury; or in Norwalk, Branford, Hamden, Fairfield, Milford, Stamford, or Waterbury. Remove padding, covers, straps, and buckles before turning them in. For more information on how to identify expired, recalled, or damaged seats, visit www.AAA.com/safeseats.

I always hum that little ditty from the 1960s Buckle Up For Safety campaign before buckling myself safely into a car seat — not such an easy task without an opposable thumb, let me tell you. Nonetheless, I want to be safe (and have a song stuck in my head) while zipping about town looking for news. I’ll share that news with you next week if you… Read me again.