June is National Adopt A Cat month, and I like #1 on the American Humane Society website: If you’re thinking about adopting a cat, consider taking home two.

If adopting a cat is out of the question, how about going to look at some big cats? Saturday, June 15, is Newtown Day at the Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport. Show your Newtown identification, and entry to the zoo is just $5, 10 am to 4 pm. Seems like it could be at grrr-eat outing.

The “Candy Man,” Reagin Gallagher, in Middle Gate Elementary School’s fourth grade Spring Concert, has earned an anonymous nomination for The Bee’s Good Egg Award for his outstanding performance during the song, “Candyman.” His performance, I hear, made students laugh and thoroughly enjoy themselves during the school’s assembly for the concert on Thursday, May 16. You are a Good Egg, Reagin, for spreading cheer.On Wednesday, “The Ducks of Sandy Hook Elementary” Facebook page posted that Hannah D’Avino, Rachel D’Avino’s sister, asked that a petition be shared and signed online to have Rachel, an educator who died at Sandy Hook School on 12/14, made a Jedi Knight by the Walt Disney Company. The petition, available at http://tinyurl.com/ppgkmh3, was started by Joshua Synovec of Clermont, Fla., because, he wrote, “I found out that she liked Star Wars and this struck a chord with me. I did not know her nor do I know her family. I am merely a Star Wars fan myself wishing to see another Star Wars fan who died horribly immortalized.” Some of the signatures on the petition already include people who say they knew Rachel. By Wednesday morning there were 281 signatures on the petition, and according to the Ducks of Sandy Hook Elementary Facebook page post, 371 signatures are needed. May the Force be with this petition.

Playing with clay is not just child’s play, as many adults learned last Thursday evening at HealingNewtown Arts Space. One of the final arts events at the Space’s Queen Street location drew a full house of grown-ups wanting to bury their troubles in clay. Under the guidance of local pottery artists Pam Church, Ros Liljengren, Karen Pinto, and Joan Zagrobelny, the two-hour class flew by, and many beautiful creations were crafted, free form and on the pottery wheel. I would say a pretty satisfied bunch left the class feeling renewed and reenergized by the positive vibes “thrown” about that evening. Thanks so much to Pam, Ros, Karen, and Joan!

A new byline in this week’s edition of The Bee won’t be seen again for a few weeks. New Bee intern Colleen Francke, a Southbury resident who attends Villanova University, is putting her internship on hold to venture to Rwanda for six weeks. Before heading out on Monday, her last day at The Bee until July, Colleen was all smiles, looking forward to her journey. Good luck adventuring, Colleen! We look forward to your safe return.

Are you going to skip the Newtown Bridle Lands Association’s fundraiser at McLaughlin Vineyards? I say, “Neigh!” The Wine Tasting and Silent Auction Fundraiser is planned for 6 to 9 pm, Friday, May 31. Enjoy wines made at McLaughlin Vineyards, as well as hors d’oeuvres, and plan to cast your bid in the silent auction. The winner of the Trail of Angels online raffle will be announced that evening, as well. The Wine Tasting is $35 per person and reservations may be made at newtownhorses@gmail.com or by sending a check to NBLA, PO Box 3083, Newtown CT 06470.

Just a reminder that the Newtown Chapter of Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut is seeking sponsors for tables at the annual breakfast fundraiser. The breakfast takes place this year from 8 to 9 am, at the Waterview in Monroe, Wednesday, June 12. The event honors volunteers and caregivers of Regional Hospice. Sponsors are invited to buy a table that seats seven guests and the host, for $100. Corporate sponsorships are also available, at $500 for a table for 12. Seats for “walk-ins” are always available, as well, at $12 per person. Tickets for the raffle of items donated by local merchants can be purchased at the entrance to the breakfast room, prior to the start of the breakfast. To sponsor a table, call Marg Studley at 203-426-3651.

If you like to be subtle in your Newtown pride, there are still a few long-sleeved, green T-shirts available at The Newtown Bee office. The shirts are printed with a white rooster on the front — and that’s all. But of course, what more needs to be said? Each shirt is $15. Inquire at the front desk.

Memorial Day is this coming Monday, and that means the official start of summer, and summer fun. For many families, it is the official start of the pool season. The Red Cross offers a number of safety suggestions for home pool owners, including making sure everyone in the family learns to swim; never leaving children unattended or in the care of other children around a pool; and establishing and enforcing family pool rules, such as limits based on swimming ability and not allowing play near drains or suction fittings. Self-closing, self-latching, outward opening pool gates, at least 4 feet high, should be part of the entire pool enclosure. For above ground pools, make sure to remove any ladders and secure the cover when the pool is not in use. And always, cautions the Red Cross, supervise children, even when a lifeguard is on duty. For complete pool safety suggestions, visit www.redcross.org. Make sure Memorial Day, and every day, ends as happily as it starts.

With all the grills that will be firing up this coming weekend, the air is sure to be filled with wonderful aromas. Mmmmm! Is that bacon I smell? Don’t be disappointed if your mouth is watering and there’s no bacon shakin’ in the pan or cooking on that grill. It might be wafting out the window from an unexpected source. I’m told that Yankee Candle has added two new candle scents to its Man Candle collection: MMM Bacon and buttered popcorn Movie Night. They join the popular Riding Mower, First Down, and Man Town scented candles, just in time for next month’s Father’s Day celebration. Looks like the ladies are going to have some competition in the romance and air freshener department.

My words might not be scented, but I’m told that they are often fresh. I hope that’s enough to entice you next week to… Read me again.