It is Nicer in Newtown! I’ve heard from a resident who wants to give a shout out to “the Sandy Hook Diner, and many thanks to the kind and generous couple (‘Cindy’ and a gentleman) who, upon leaving the restaurant on Saturday, August 4, paid for most of my daughter’s and her two friends’ (quite large!) breakfasts without even telling my daughter and her friends that they were doing so. Then, when the waitress (Jodi — ‘We loved her!’ said my daughter) heard it was one of the girl’s birthday, she brought her a piece of luscious cake — given to the restaurant and baked by Cindy. The girls came home very amazed and happy. ‘It made my birthday,’ said the birthday girl.”

This week’s edition of the paper includes our annual Back to School supplement. We would like to share a special thank you to Sandy Hook Elementary School Counselor Laurie Drum, Newtown Middle School Counselor Leanne Fuccillo, Head O’ Meadow Elementary School Counselor Lisa Kilcourse, and Reed Intermediate School writing teacher Sara Strait for submitting questions and answers for a “Making Friends At School” quiz. The quiz is just one of the features in this year’s Back to School supplement. There is a particularly handsome cat on a coloring page, page 16, in the supplement… We hope Newtown’s children enjoy looking through the supplement and that Newtown’s parents find the list of bus routes supplied by All-Star Transportation helpful ahead of the 2018-19 school year.

Speaking of the new school year, we hope parents of Newtown students will remember to submit photos of their child/children returning to school on August 27 for possible inclusion in the following edition of The Newtown Bee and/or for use online at newtownbee.com. Submit photos by e-mailing them with a description of each photo — including the first and last names of those pictured, what grade they are in, and which school they attend — to Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck at eliza@thebee.com, before 9 am on Tuesday, August 28.

Don’t forget: “Tax Free Week” is coming up, beginning Sunday, August 19, and ending Saturday, August 25. The one-week event does away with Connecticut’s 6.35 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear costing less than $100. You can find a list of the items exempt from tax at www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1477&q=509662.

If you missed last week’s Outdoor Movie & Family Fun Night at Fairfield Hills, here’s some good news: you didn’t really miss it! Due to the weather forecast, Newtown Parks & Recreation and Newtown Prevention Council decided last Friday afternoon to play things safe and postpone the event. So repack those picnic baskets, grab blankets and chairs for seating, and plan to head to Fairfield Hills this Friday night. Plans have changed just a bit: now there will be an inflatable obstacle course opening at 6:30 pm and a dance party with DJ Emil at 7:30 pm. A screening of the animated feature Coco will then start at dusk (around 8:30, organizers expect), and it’s all free of charge. Popcorn, candy, and water will be available for purchase.

We offer our thanks this week to a man named Gary, who stopped in our office early Tuesday morning with nourishment as our staff prepared for a day of covering primaries (and all the other news). In return, we offer a Good Egg Award to you, Gary. Thank you for your kind note, and the big smile, on that rainy Tuesday morning.

It’s National Senior Citizens Day next Tuesday, August 21, and what better way to celebrate than downing some delicious ice cream? Senior citizens are invited to an ice cream social at the C.H. Booth Library, from 2:30 to 4 pm, to enjoy some Ferris Acres Creamery ice cream — free. The social will take place outside on the patio of the library if weather allows, or gather in the meeting room if it is rainy. Call 203-426-4533 if you have any questions.

There aren’t too many independent book stores around anymore, and one of my favorites is Byrd’s Books in Bethel. Don’t panic if you stop by the 126 Greenwood Avenue store after September 1 and find the door closed. Byrd’s is just moving to new quarters up the street, to 178 Greenwood Avenue, taking space adjoining The Toy Room in the Opera House building across the street from the Bethel Public Library. Packing is already underway, but not to worry: Byrd’s Books at 126 Greenwood Avenue remains open this summer until the big opening day at the new space.

I would hope all are aware of this, but don’t forget that your hometown newspaper ( that would be The Newtown Bee!) will post your in-town event at no cost in our community calendar in print and in our online calendar. Press releases for in-town events also receive priority over out-of-town releases that we receive. Please send them to editor@thebee.com as far in advance as possible. Don’t shortchange yourself by posting just to personal or group social media sites; there is a whole bigger audience out there reading The Bee, and they want to know what is happening in town. Get your news about public events to shannon@thebee.com or editor@thebee.com no later than Tuesday at 3 pm (earlier is always better!) for publication in that week’s print edition of the paper. Your online calendar notice will go in as soon as it is edited. Be sure to include a daytime phone number or e-mail, just in case we have questions. (You’ll find tips on sending a press release at newtownbee.com.)

If you can’t wait for orchards closer to home to open for pick-your-own season, Lyman Orchards at 32 Reeds Gap Road in Middlefield has apples, peaches, and pears ready for you to fill your baskets, now through November. Call 860-349-1793, or visit www.lymanorchards.com for details.

The organizers of the Newtown Art Festival are getting excited about all the new activity tents that will be at the festival this year, to take place September 14-16. Not only will there be a tent bringing together science and art, but also a tent dedicated to The Art of Farming — that’s right: farming, not framing. Think cluck, cluck; oink, oink; moo, moo... The ever popular Make and Take Tent will be back, and coordinator Tracy Van Buskirk told us she is looking for one or two more leaders to share a favorite craft. If you would like to participate (and get free admission), call Tracy at 203-731-1809.

The UConn Extension Facebook page has recently posted a warning, cautioning that Saddleback caterpillars are being found in Connecticut. “Unfortunately, if a human touches one of their hairs, they receive an awful sting,” cautions the post. The strange looking little crawlers sport hairy protrusions at either end, with a bright green section with a brown “saddle” across the body, in the larval stage. They congregate on the back sides of leaves. Don’t touch, but if you accidentally end up with the venomous hairs in your finger, you can try stripping them out with tape. Wash the area well with soap and water, and applying a pack of ice and baking soda may relieve the painful sting.

You can take the sting out of any week, of course, if you... Read me again.