Pam McLaughlin and the coordinators of Newtown’s first Soles4Souls collection have been busy these past few weeks. Pam has emptied The Bee’s Soles4Souls collection bin regularly, and this cat hopes the other collection points around town are keeping her equally busy. Soles4Souls seeks gently used shoes for men, women, and children, of all types, which will be donated to victims of natural disasters as well as those living in extreme poverty in the US and abroad. The collection continues until May 1. More than 3,000 pairs of shoes have been collected so far. Drop your shoes off at The Newtown Bee, Hawley, Head O’ Meadow, Reed, Middle Gate, or Sandy Hook Schools, Newtown Middle School, Masonicare at Newtown, or Newtown Youth Academy. Pam and Carol Zimmerman will arrange for pickup if you have a large donation of shoes. Contact Pam at 203-364-0615 or pammac2324@aol.com or Carol at 203-220-8573 or the5zs@aol.com.

By the way, we have a set of keys here at 5 Church Hill Road that was found inside our S4S box. We would like to put them back into your paws if they belong to you. Stop in during any weekday or call Shannon Hicks (203-426-3141) if you think you may have accidentally dropped your keys in with your shoe donation.

Mmmm-mmm! BYO container and visit The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard at 4 Wildlife Drive (off Trades Lane near Reed Intermediate School) on Saturdays, April 7, 14, and 21, from 9 am until noon. A spring fundraiser for the next three weekends will give Newtown gardeners access to well-cured horse manure. There is no charge, but donations will be gratefully accepted. Call 203-426-9046 or visit TheHorseGuard.org for more information. Shovels will be provided.

It’s not just the Easter Bunny that is up and about now that spring is in the air. The Ashbolt family on Overlook Drive had a visitor to their backyard last week.

This rather hungry looking coyote (my own observation, as a member of one of this kind’s favorite snack foods) wandered through, pausing long enough for Mark to take his picture. So be sure to keep an eye on smaller pets and even the larger, more adventurous ones.

Who has the most special town in the country? Reader’s Digest wants to know. Now until May 31, log on to www.readersdigest.com/america to share personal experiences that illustrates what makes your town special. The author of the winning story will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and his or her town will be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of the Digest. Additionally, each week a new American town will be named America’s Most Interesting Town and featured on their website and a future issue. Because I am a Purrlitzer Prize-winning columnist, I am not eligible to share my story with Reader’s Digest, but I’m betting there are more than a few Newtowners who have something to share about, say, our flagpole in the middle of the road? I say, go for it!

Proud dad John Beardsworth, a former Newtowner now living in Tennessee, congratulates his daughter, Lindsay Beardsworth Meyer, and so do we. Lindsay has recently been named a co-managing partner of law firm Venable LLP in Washington, D.C. Lindsay attended Hawley and Newtown High Schools, once upon a time, and also worked for Parks and Rec as head life guard, under former Parks head Barbara Kasbarian. We wish the best to Lindsay!

A note from St Rose of Lima Home School Association member Michelle Whitlock last week confirmed that there will be another Friday Night Bingo at St Rose on May 25, and there may even be another date added in June. Doors open at 5:45, games begin at 6:30, and it’s a $17 per person charge for all regular games. There are a few special games with higher jackpots for another $1 each, and there are plenty of refreshments. Call 203-426-5102 if you have any questions.

Want to feel good about yourself inside and out? Stylists Ashley Carfo, Tina Castagna, Cindy Degirolamo, Gina Dorn, Brittany Fracassini, Susie Funk, Leah Roberto, Melissa Roy, and Nikki Walser, and Ricci’s Salon owner Dan Riccio, will donate time and talents to conduct a four-hour cut-a-thon on Monday, April 9, to benefit a family whose 5-month-old daughter is fighting a rare form of cancer. The child, known only as Baby Alexa, was diagnosed with rhabdoid cancer two months ago, and she is currently receiving treatments at Smilow Cancer Center Hospital at Yale-New Haven. Haircuts at the at 99 South Main Street salon, $25 each, can be scheduled between 4 and 8 pm. All proceeds go to The Baby Alexa Fund. Appointments can be made by calling 203-426-1611.

You won’t want to miss “Rx for Fashion: Maximum Strength,” a fundraiser by the Fiore Family for the Western Connecticut Health Network that will leave you looking at your physicians and nurses, as well as friends and associates of WCHN, in a whole new light. Among this year’s models are Ana Cristina Herrick and Dr Chuck Herrick of Sandy Hook, and Dr Jose Mendez and Ralph McIntosh of Newtown. The event is Friday, April 13, at the O’Neill Center at Western Connecticut State University. Tickets are $175 per person, which includes dinner by Bernard’s, dancing, and the fashion show. The evening will also include a silent auction with everything from tickets to a real runway show to the chance for tickets for the Red Sox-Yankees/hotel accommodations for the July 8 game at Fenway Park. Proceeds will benefit patient programs and services provided at Danbury and New Milford Hospitals. To request an invitation, contact Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation offices at 203-739-8072 or 860-210-5270 or visit www.DanburyHospital.org/rxforfashion or www.NewMilfordHospital.org/rxforfashion.

It’s good to know what’s in fashion, but if you really want to be in the know, be sure to… Read me again.