A reminder this week that Town Players of Newtown will be continuing their 2017 season with the opening on July 14 of The Veil. Conor McPherson's tale of suspense, directed by Ruth Anne Baumgartner, will open at 7:30 pm this Friday evening, and then continue weekends at The Little Theatre through August 5. Curtain times are 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 pm matinees on Sundays, July 23 and 30, and a special performance on Thursday, August 3, at 8 pm. Tickets are $22 for the evening shows, $18 for matinee performances. Reservations may be made by visiting newtownplayers.org or by calling the box office at 203-270-9144.newtown-ct.gov, Parks and Recreation tab. Camp Dagorhir runs each day from 10 am to 1 pm, and is for ages 8-14. There is a $160 fee. Megan Leavey movie at Edmond Town Hall? If a character looked familiar, maybe it's because a sergeant in that movie is played by 1990 NHS grad Mark Schardan (now a resident of Barcelona), his brother Matt tells us. Mark gets about 20 minutes of screen time in the movie, which is not too bad for someone who is not the star.beardsleyzoo.com.sciencedaily.com, confirmed that a daily intake of cocoa flavanols improves cognitive performance. This is particularly true for the aging individual. The down side? There is still that calorie issue with eating chocolate. Even so, really dark chocolate, low in sugar and other additives, is a boost worth thinking about.The Newtown Bee, or at The Perk in Sandy Hook.

REACH Newtown, an organization connecting kids and helping build relationships through positive mentoring programs and learning opportunities, will be the beneficiary of an event at Big Buddha Cigar Lounge, 27 Hawleyville Road, this Saturday, July 15. Local bands will play from 1 to 10 pm, there will be a food truck, as well as beer and beverages. Bring your beach chairs and blanket and REACH for some fun.

Parks & Rec Camp Dagorhir, focused on the fast-paced, sport-side of the combatlike game of Dagorhir, is ready for a new session, Monday through Friday, July 17 to 21. "Campers will experience no lack of foam fighting this week," P&R Director Amy Mangold assures me. "We will cycle many rounds of play, and every participant will have an opportunity to try out beautiful new armor." Campers need to bring lunch, water, and lots of enthusiasm. You can sign up for the Dickinson Park program at

Hey, grown-ups. Don't get left out of summer fun. The C.H. Booth Library has a summer reading program - with prizes - not only for kids, but for adults, as well. From the swarms of people filling RIS for the annual book sale these past several days, I'd say everyone should have plenty of reading material on hand. Check out the second floor display at the library for details on how you can make your summer reading more delightful than ever.

Did you do a double take about 20 minutes into the recent

Hearts of Hope volunteers are needed for Thursday, July 20, from noon until 2:30 pm and/or for Friday, July 21, from noon until 2:30 pm. Join in to paint, mod podge, decorate, and package the 2017 Newtown holiday ornament that has been created by Newtown artist Kathy Stone. The ornaments go on sale in early September, so participants will get a sneak peek. No artistic skill needed, and each volunteer receives one of these treasures as a thank you. There is no fee to attend this paint party. Check out the Facebook page for Hearts of Hope of Newtown for details.

Congratulations to CT DOT. They were among the winners in the northeast regional America's Transportation Awards competition. Sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and the US Chamber of Commerce, the competition recognizes transportation projects in three categories: Quality of Life/Community Development, Best Use of Technology and Innovation, and Operations Excellence. Connecticut DOT won in the large category (projects costing more than $200 million) for its I-95/I-91/Route 34 Interchange Reconstruction Project, in the Quality of Life/Community Development category.

This Wednesday, one of the muggiest days we've had this summer, the staff of Newtown Power on Mt Pleasant Road spent some time unloading a truckload of... snow blowers. I'm sad to report, though, that it did not make them feel any cooler.

What's Top of the Mountain without a little cat news? Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo has a new exhibit renovation this summer: the big viewing window and sheltered wooden platform allows watching the rarest of the big cats, the Amur leopard. According to the zoo, "Amur leopards are critically endangered, with fewer than 30 animals left in the wild (66 fewer than is needed to ensure the survival of the species) and only 176 in captivity worldwide. Connecticut's Only Zoo is constantly seeking to improve both the animals' living spaces and the human guest experience, prompting the addition of a large viewing window at the Amur Leopard exhibit." The zoo houses a pair of Amur leopards: a female, Freya, born in 2012, and a male Sochi, born in 2013. The Beardsley Zoo, in Bridgeport, is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 & older) is $15, children (ages 3 -11) is $12, and senior admission (62 and older) is $11. Children under 3 years old are free. Parking at the zoo is free of charge. For more information visit

Summer is fun time, but it's also storm time. With thunder and lightning storms in the forecast frequently, I am happy to share these tips from the National Fire Protection Association: If you are outside and a severe storm strikes, remember that if you hear thunder, there could be lightning. Go inside, or shelter within a hard-topped car. Do not go under tall trees. Stay away from windows and doors during a storm. "If you feel your hair stand on end, that means lightning is about to strike, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place you hands over your ears and your head between your knees." Making yourself as small as possible is important, as is reducing any contact with the earth. Inside the home, be sure to unplug electrical items and turn off the air conditioner. Stay off corded phones and computers, and away from water activities. (I feel safer already, having these tips at hand.)

But what is it about the hazy, lazy days of summer that make you want to pamper your palate?

It's the season to indulge in seasonal food, and the Farmers Market at Fairfield Hills has plenty of local food purveyors ready to help you do so. Area farmers have a great variety of produce and Connecticut-made products as the market kicks into high gear for its 15th season. Make time to visit, every Tuesday, from 2 to 6:30 pm.

Which reminds me: according to (who else) the International Dairy Foods Association, July is ice cream month. Between the Holy Cow Ice Cream Shop on Church Hill Road and the Creamery at Ferris Acres on Route 302, you don't have to look too far for delicious flavors and great service. Is there a better excuse for a creamy treat?

If you're feeling a little thirsty while passing through Southbury on July 22, pause to support a cause. Twelve-year-old Jamie Paige, of Woodbury, is hosting her 5th Annual Alex's Lemonade Stand on Saturday, July 22, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Denmo's Snack & Dairy Bar, 340 Main Street South. All of the proceeds support the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancers.

It's always good to hear that good news is still good news - and if the benefits of eating chocolate is good news to you, you won't be let down. Italian scientists have once again, according to news at

Not everyone can pamper the palate, and some struggle to just put food on the plate. The FAITH Food Pantry is there to help, but this summer, a time when donations are often slow, is a real problem. That's because the need is up this summer. If you can help, FAITH is most in need of pasta sauce, canned tomatoes, canned fruit, coffee, tea, pancake mix and syrup, ketchup and mayo, laundry detergent, peanut butter and jelly, rice products, and cat and dog food. You can drop off at FAITH on Peck's Lane, at the library, at Caraluzzi's, at

The only pampering I need, though, is your promise to... Read me again.