Managing Editor Shannon Hicks received quite the email on Monday. “I was just home, having been away for the weekend, doing those post-travel chores — laundry, dinner prep, the usual,” she shared. “Then I turned on a rebroadcast of the National Memorial Day Concert — which was wonderful, by the way — and started checking work email. A few minutes into that, a note arrived from a woman named Renee, who told me she’d had a POW bracelet when she was much younger. The name on Renee’s POW bracelet was William Metzger — as in the man we just featured in a story about a copper POW bracelet that belonged to Paul Arneth, and now his son Gavin!” Renee shared that she found herself thinking about her bracelet on Memorial Day, and the man behind that name. She had written to Bill years ago, soon after his release in March 1973, and heard back from him, she said. Her hope was to contact him once more, and to thank him again for his service. When she Googled his name Monday afternoon, hoping to find an address for him, she tripped upon our story. So Renee reached out to Shannon to see if she could put Renee in touch with Bill again after all these years, and also shared a photo of her bracelet. Within 24 hours, Shannon had heard back from Bill, who said he would be pleased to hear from Renee again, so his email address was on its way to Renee. The magic of the Internet!

A reminder this week that presale tickets are still available for the 2023 Sandy Hook LobsterFest, which returns to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s main station on Friday and Saturday, June 9-10. Hours are 5-9 on Friday, and 4-9 on Saturday. Steak or lobster dinners are $33 in advance, and hamburger or hot dog dinners are $10 (advance and at the door). Those advance prices are good until noon Friday, and you can purchase tickets from most company members, at my office at 5 Church Hill Road; and at the Office of the Town Clerk and Office of the Fire Marshal, both within Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street. Live music will begin each night with sets by my Editor, John Voket, who will be returning to the dinner tent for early sets. He’ll be followed on Friday by The Dirt Road Pickers, and on Saturday by ReBoot. It’s an all ages event, but not a pet-friendly one. Service animals will be the only ones allowed inside the gate. For additional details, visit SandyHookFire.com or visit the company’s Facebook page.

Speaking of Sandy Hook VFR, we heard from the granddaughter of a former typesetter over the weekend. Ali Richardson Slater, firstborn granddaughter of Judi Richardson, spent many hours of her youth visiting 5 Church Hill Road to see her grandmother. Even after Judi retired, we saw Ali — and then younger sisters Briana and Kari — when they came in for regular visits with Judi, who was also a longtime member of SHVFR’s Ladies Auxiliary. We lost Judi a few years ago, but her family remains in touch through multiple friendships. Imagine my joy last weekend to find this photo of Casey Slater waiting for me. Casey — second child of Ali and husband Andrew — would have been Judi’s great-grandson. That onesie is the bee’s knees! I have no doubt Judi would approve.

Congratulations Peggy Postero, who came up with the winning name of the recent Newtown Senior Center Name Our Garden Contest hosted by Newtown Senior Center. Peggy’s suggestion of Blooming Buckets was the top pick when senior center members were invited to rename the 8 Simpson Street garden, which is set up within buckets on sturdy racks. Seems perfectly fitting to this cat.

Father’s Day is fast approaching and I’m still seeking Bad Dad Jokes. Not jokes about bad fathers, of course. I’m looking for the silly little jokes that dads tell repeatedly, make most people groan at the punchlines, but Dad will laugh at repeatedly. Send your favorite(s) to Managing Editor Shannon Hicks at shannon@thebee.com. She’ll share the best of the worst in a few weeks.

We’re also collecting donations for FAITH Food Pantry for another week. Thank you to the readers who have already responded to the notice in last week’s paper, requesting nonperishable food, beverages, pet food and supplies, and personal hygiene necessities. We had a few people stop in Tuesday morning, the first morning of the collection, in honor of all service men and women. The donations box is just inside our front door at 5 Church Hill Road. The special collection continues to Friday, June 9.

Also in line with reminders this week, a reminder that EverWonder Children’s Museum has closed its Peck’s Lane location, ahead of a move into its forever home at 11 Mile Hill Road. The museum will be expanding from 6,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet. Staff is hoping to open the new doors on or before June 23. In a recent email blast the museum offered best wishes to its supporters and visitors. “While we will miss seeing your faces during our brief closure, we look forward to opening our doors again in a newer, bigger, brighter EverWonder. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy all those end-of-school activities & find some STEAM fun at home. Thank you for your understanding while we move and adjust to EverWonder 2.0,” the cheery note concluded.

Late word arrived last week about something particularly interesting happening at Westport Country Playhouse this weekend: the presentation of a new musical adventure, The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. We’re tickled about this show because it’s of course based on the book of the same name released 30+ (!!!) years ago by our friends Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Joanna crafted the stories in that series, and Bruce illustrated them. While most authors and illustrators never meet, these two not only met — both lived in town for many years — but also became good friends. Joanna died in 2020, and Bruce honored her and their successful collaboration with the release last year of the final book in the Magic School Bus series. The Westport event is produced by TheaterWorksUSA and as mentioned, harkens back to one of the early MSB titles complete with silly Ms Frizzle and her students. Music and lyrics for the new show are by Matthew Lee Robinson, with book by Marshall Pailet, original direction and choreography by Connor Gallagher, scenic design by Jason Sherwood, and costume design by Sarah Cubbage. Performances are planned for Sunday, June 4, at 1 and 4 pm. Each is approximately 60 minutes long and appropriate for grades K-5. Tickets are $25 each and available, along with additional information, at westportplayhouse.org.

The Ingersoll Auto of Danbury free movie titles have been announced for the next two months. Edmond Town Hall has screenings planned June 9-11 of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, and then The Super Mario Bros movie will be offered July 14-16. For those who didn’t already see the connection (like me…), it might be neat to note that Chris Pratt is the featured actor for both films. Tickets are free, and can be reserved in advance. See our Community Calendar, in print and online, for additional details.

I’m going to curl up and contemplate Chris Pratt and crustaceans, two of my favorite things. I hope I’m among your favorites, and that you’ll remember to ... read me again.