The kids around town are probably not very concerned about the bus routes yet, but some parents are already eagerly awaiting the 2015-16 bus schedule. Don’t fret — the information is on its way, and will be found in the Back to School supplement to The Newtown Bee, later this month, if you haven’t seen it at the school website. There will be plenty of notice to make sure school kids are waiting at the right place, at the right time. So, relax, and enjoy the summer days still to come.

A staff member of The Bee printing facility, Eileen Hardiman, called to say that the weather in Rhode Island, where she and family vacationed last week, gave them a little excitement. Dining out at Georgie’s Seafood in Gailelee, R.I., “everyone’s cellphones started going off” says Eileen, with tornado warnings. While they didn’t see a tornado materialize, luckily, the weather was severe enough that Breaker Village, near Point Judith lighthouse, and where Eileen was staying, lost power for more than two hours. A lightning strike there, too, she said, actually had one man’s hair standing on end. “It made for a pretty interesting evening,” says Eileen. This sultry summer weather is nothing to take lightly, as this shows.

In case you missed a previous announcement, Department of Motor Vehicles offices will close — except for the licensing services — beginning next Tuesday, August 11, through Saturday, August 15, as the department implements customer service improvements, including new online services. The offices will reopen for all transactions on Tuesday, August 18. Expiration dates of all driver’s licenses, ID cards, or vehicle registrations that fall within those date will be extended through October 10, 2015, with no late fee applied to renewals. Information about the project can be found at www.ct.gov/dmv. Just a heads up, though: DMV officials expect that in the days just before and after the shutdown, longer than usual lines are anticipated at DMV offices. AAA offices offer license and ID renewals, so customers may want to consider that as an alternative. Unless, of course, you enjoy people watching; trust me, it’s not such a dull hobby.

Then next 12.14 Foundation production is ready to roar, or so I hear. Opening night for Disney’s The Lion King Jr is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, at 7 pm, with additional performances (featuring many of our talented Newtown students) on Friday, August 7, at 7 pm; Saturday, August 8, at 2 and 7 pm; and Sunday, August 9, at noon and 5 pm. Tickets for all performances are $15 to $25 each, at www.newartsct.org or by calling 352-639-2787. Proceeds benefit the 12.14 Foundation, providing personal coaching, arts education, and performances for area youth. All performances are at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road. That’s one big cat show I don’t want to miss, and I hope to see a full house.

If you are an early riser, you may have been up to Holcombe Hill expecting to see the usual deer, possums, raccoons, and birds greeting the sunrise. But I understand there has been some other “wildlife” at the top of the hill in recent days, as yogis under the instruction of Joanne Keane, of Blue Sky Farm & Studio, welcomed the day. Sunrise yoga has been a warm weather way to start the day for several area people, sending positive vibes near and far. What a great idea. If only sunrise was later in the day…

Organizers have announced that the 5th Annual Passport to Sandy Hook will be taking place on Saturday, October 10, from 11 am until 4 pm. Presented by Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP), the event will once again be focused on Sandy Hook Center. Guests will be invited to visit merchants, listen to bands, meet Sandy Hook firefighters, and collect stamps in their “passports.” Fully stamped passports will then be eligible for a prize package, which in the past have been three collections of items and gift cards from local businesses. Additional details will be announced soon.

Regular visitors to Newtown’s Starbucks may have noticed the disappearance of the donations basket for FAITH Food Pantry. Unfortunately, the basket had been empty or near empty for a few weeks. Corey Kondras, the Women Involved in Newtown member who launched the project in October 2013, said the removal is only temporary. The basket is expected to return to the Church Hill Road café on or around August 15, when Corey and everyone at WIN hopes the public will once again step up to help them help FAITH. Donations of everything from cereal, juice, peanut butter and jelly to canned goods, macaroni and cheese, toiletries, and pet supplies are appreciated. WIN members will resume visiting Starbucks a few times each week, moving everything from the café to the pantry so that it can be put into the hands of those who need them as soon as possible. The nonecumenical Sandy Hook food pantry, located in the basement of St John’s Episcopal Church, is open to anyone who lives in town and who needs a hand putting food on their table. Residents can visit FAITH on Tuesdays between 10 am and noon, and Thursdays between 6 and 7:30 pm. Bring two forms of ID, even a monthly bill with your home address on it, to prove residency. That’s all that volunteers will ask for from those who ask for help.

I don’t ask for much help, but I do appreciate knowing that next week, you will… Read me again.