CBS News out of Manitoba, Canada, reports that singer Harry Connick, Jr, has written a song especially for Ana Marquez-Greene. “Love Wins” is the song on Harry’s new CD, written in memory of 6-year-old Ana, who died 12/14. Ana’s dad, Jimmy, is a member of Connick’s band.

Cosmic Knittas, the local yarn storming group, decorated the town this past weekend. Unfortunately, a yarn tag dressing up a tree at Fairfield Hills and one on the signpost at the corner of Bennetts Bridge disappeared. Someone probably thought that the beautiful yarn scarves from all over the world were up for grabs, but unlike the Ben’s Bells and Hearts of Hopes that were hung about town in past months, yarn storming articles are intended to stay in place until the group takes them down and sends them on to add color to another town. If you have one of the yarn tags in your possession, you can return it to The Newtown Bee — no questions asked — and we will see that it is returned to Cosmic Knittas.

It’s a simple gesture, if you want to join others in honoring the memory of the 26 who died 12/14. “Porches and Prayers,” by Twenty-Six Seeds of Love For Newtown asks that you leave your porch light on all day and night, Friday, June 14. As night falls, recite a poem, say a few words, or offer a prayer of remembrance.

Calling book lovers named Sarah! You have a gift certificate waiting for you at the C.H. Booth Library — if you can correctly identify it. A couple of weeks ago, Marge Gingolaski, who coordinates The Little Book Store in the C.H. Booth Library, found a gift certificate in a donated book. Marge checked, and found that the gift certificate is valid and has the entire face value still on it to be used. The card says, “To Sarah from Veronica and Colleen.” If you believe the card is yours, call 203-270-4537 or 203-426-4533 and leave a phone number. If the correct amount and place of origin is identified, Sarah will get her certificate back.

Here’s a Tale of Two Kitties — or more — that are looking for homes. The Animal Center will hold a Cat and Kitten Adoption Event, Saturday, June 22, from noon to 4 pm, at Your Healthy Pet, 224 South Main Street. Cat related items may be donated to The Animal Center during the event, and are very much appreciated.

Ann Mazur might be the administrator for the town’s Land Use Agency, but it looks like she has some wildlife that has targeted her backyard for its own land use. Ann’s husband, Al, took this picture of a fisher cat fleeing across their Jeremiah Road backyard, this past Sunday. Fisher cats have a nasty attitude, so I recommend steering clear, especially if you happen to be a smallish cat or dog.

John DiCostanzo, one of four local friends who rushed to Oklahoma following the May 20 tornado, is planning a return trip. He is hoping to put gift cards and other items into the hands of those who can use them. As mentioned in last week’s Newtown Bee (“Love Out: From Sandy Hook To Moore”), there are Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, and Walmart stores in the Moore area. Hand tools and work gloves are also requested, as are American flags, said Howard Wood, who also went to Moore last month. Flags can be found at Newtown Hardware or stop in and order a flagpole set, so that each homeowner receives a gift from The Flagpole Town. Please write a message on the pole or attach a note letting the recipients know that someone else cares about them and their families. Newtown Hardware will take orders for the $15 flag kits from folks who live out of town (call 203-426-4076), and will put the names of the donors on the kits and get them to Howard and John before they leave on June 21. The Newtown Bee’s office at 5 Church Hill Road is accepting items for John and Howard. Stop in Monday through Friday, between 8 am and 6 pm.

VFW member Donna Randle is pleased with the response Post 308 has received to its request for gift cards and donations to help tornado victims in Oklahoma, but she is particularly impressed by the generosity of some of Newtown’s youngest citizens. One young man donated $47 he earned selling lemonade, and last week, D.J. and Jillian Bobowick stopped by the Tinkerfield Road Post with their mom, Tricia, to donate a pile of change. When Donna finished counting it up and rolling it, the change amounted to $122, the single largest donation the VFW Post received. Donna and the members of VFW Post 308 want to thank these youngsters for helping out in such a big way, and all of the other residents, as well, who have given to the gift card drive.

They have comforted thousands since 12/14, and never asked for anything in return. But on Saturday, June 22, more than 70 therapy dog teams will be honored at a Day of Thanks to the Newtown Therapy Dogs, from 10 am to noon, at Fairfield Hills. The event, sponsored by Newtown Veterinary Specialists, will be a chance to learn their stories, take some pictures and give back to the dogs and handlers the love they have given out these past six month. The Day of Thanks will take place, rain or shine, and it is requested that no outside dogs or pets attend the event.

There is a special police officer in town that is finding that times are “Ruff!” Baro, the 10-year-old Newtown K-9 officer, has retired and is undergoing medical treatment. To offset the costs, Adopt-A-Cop, which has supported our Newtown police officers in recent weeks through the sales of pins, bracelets, T-shirts, and car magnets, now is offering a special Baro T-shirt. The Adopt-A-Cop logo has been altered slightly to feature a paw print in the center of this T-shirt, available in either white or navy blue. To purchase a Baro T-shirt, go to www.adoptanewtowncop.com, and choose the “products” link. The T-shirts are $20 each, Officer Matt Hayes tells me, and all money goes to Newtown Veterinary Specialists, which is providing medical care to Baro.

I’m told that Judd Baggett and his friend Robert Butts of New Milford left June 8 to begin a journey on the Appalachian Trail. They’ve packed 20 pounds of food for the first 100 miles through the wilderness, from the top of Maine’s Katahdin Mountain. They have planned their AT adventure to take five or six months, hiking 2,200 miles altogether down the East Coast, and ending in Georgia. Anyone care to guess how many pairs of hiking boots that will take?

It’s hard to believe it, but the 38th Annual Friends of Booth Library Book Sale is four weeks away. This year’s event will run July 13–17 and will follow the sale’s traditional pattern, with doors opening on Saturday at 9 am for those who must have first dibs at the 120,000 books in 80 categories that are still being sorted. Admission that day is $5 per person, free for ages 18 and under, and numbered admission tickets will be available at 7 am. The sale will continue on Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 7 pm (with books half their marked prices on Monday, and then $5 per bag on Tuesday), and then 9 am to noon on Wednesday, when anything left over can be scooped up for free. The sale will be in the air-conditioned cafetorium at Reed Intermediate School.

In the meantime, you can find some of the best reading material around if you… Read me again.