This weather has been making my paws shiver all over again, but here is some good news to thaw us out. Butcher's Best won in the meat category for its Jerky at the recent Connecticut Food Association specialty food competition. Butcher's Best earned first place for its Jalapeno Beef Jerk and second place for its Ginger Pork Jerky. Congratulations! (As Dave Ackert, "Chief Maple Maven" for Maple Craft Foods out of Sandy Hook, told me, Newtown food artisans held their own in the competition. The Maple Food Craft Foods Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup won first place in the syrup division and the organic maple-sweetened Fruple Ice Pops placed second in the frozen desserts category.)resiliencycenterofnewtown.org) as well as on the center's Facebook page. Camp Creativity will run two one-week sessions this summer: June 20-23 and June 27-30, with programs running 9 am to 3 pm. This is a trauma-informed camp that is offered to Sandy Hook and Newtown children entering grades 1-6, free of charge. Each week will include outdoor art, music, and other activities led by creative arts therapists and volunteers ready to model summer fun with children. Nut-free snacks and lunch are even provided. Camp is held at the Cullens Youth Association property here in town, and is limited to just 50 children each week. Last year camp was full within two hours of the link going live, so don't wait if you have any interest in getting your children in this year. Call RCN at 203-364-9750 for additional information.crowdrise.com/piefight4pi.The Bee's annual NCAA men's basketball March Madness tournament pool this week. Scudder not only picked the champion Villanova, but also correctly predicted that North Carolina would reach the championship game. I'm not sure if I want to congratulate him for his slam dunk or talk him into attending the Pie Fight for Pi event…

Speaking of warm weather and special events (sort of…), Newtown Lions Club members have begun selling tickets for this year's Great Pootatuck Duck Race. Tickets are still $5 each and this year's first place prize is $2,000. The big event will again fall on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, which is May 28. Lions Club members will be selling tickets at multiple locations around town leading up to that weekend. Tickets can also be purchased at many businesses in town, as well as from any club member.

C.H. Booth Library has scheduled a special program for older adults interested in anything "tech." The program is set for Wednesday, May 4, from 2 to 3 pm in the library's meeting room. It will teach attendees what is available at the library and online through its website, options for hands-on computer help and instruction. Attendees will also visit the "Technology Petting Zoo" to try out some tech devices. Refreshments will be served. No registration is necessary, but additional information is available by visiting chboothlibrary.org or calling the library's reference desk at 203-426-8552.

Registration for Camp Creativity, offered through the Resiliency Center of Newtown, officially opens on Friday, April 8, at 8 am. At that time a live link will be posted on RCN's website (

The party continues at EverWonder Museum! The second day of the museum's two-day anniversary celebration couldn't happen last week due to a power outage, so organizers have decided to resume the party this coming weekend. From 11 am to 5 pm Sunday, April 10, all museum guests will not only enjoy half-price admission ($3.50 per person) but also face painting, science demos, Eat A Bug (you'll have to stop by to find out what that is), The Decadent Dog Food Truck, and raffles. The museum, at 31 Pecks Lane, will also have deals on new memberships on Sunday.

In addition, congratulations to EverWonder for having signs announcing the museum appear recently on I-84 just prior to Exit 11 in both directions, as well as within town. Permanent directional signs were installed within the past week, letting all travelers know that they are very close to the children's museum.

I suggest driving down I-84 to Middlebury May 14. Newtown Kindness announced on its Facebook page this week that 2016 Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award Finalist Maddie Shaw of Team Zebra-Maddie's Herd - which works to raise awareness about primary immune deficiency disorder (PI) and funds for the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) - is looking for other "PI fighters" like herself, and she wants them to help her break a Guinness World Record for the largest ever shaving cream fight while raising funds. The goal is to gather more than 1,050 people at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury on May 14 for the "Pie Fight for Pi" event. Registration is $10 in advance, or $15 the day of the event. For more information, to preregister, or to donate to the cause go online to

Newtown Bee Publisher and Executive Editor R. Scudder Smith won

A delegation of visiting students and educators from I.E.S. Las Encinas School in Sevilla, Spain, are leaving the area Friday, April 8, to return home after visiting Newtown through the Newtown International Center for Education (NICE). The delegates arrived March 30 and stayed with host families throughout the visit. I wish them safe travels and hope they enjoyed their stay in Newtown.

I promise not to climb into some of their luggage if you promise next week to… Read me again.