I understand Newtown Board of Education Chair Keith Alexander, Vice Chair Laura Roche, member John Vouros, Sandy Hook School Principal Kathy Gombos, and Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, ventured across the town border Monday, May 18, to share their gratitude with the Monroe Board of Education during its meeting. As he said at the Newtown board meeting the following night, Mr Alexander said the group thanked the Monroe Board of Education for “lending us a school [and] for the town’s support.” If I had opposable thumbs, they would be up. Thank you Monroe, from this furry neighbor, as well.

Sandy Hook resident Sonya Stanczyk received the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Outstanding Young Alumni Award, May 4, at the organization’s 57th Anniversary Gala, held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. She attended the local HOBY State Leadership Seminar in Connecticut, and a HOBY Advanced Academy in 2013. HOBY CEO Javier La Fianza presented Sonya with her award. Sonya, who studies health sciences at Boston University, was selected out of 350 applicants for HOBY’s highest recognition for her idea that she turned into the nonprofit organization called Feeding the Need. Feeding the Need collaborates with the Connecticut Food Bank and the Newtown High School Culinary Department’s Advanced Culinary Students. The students prepare approximately 800 frozen meals each month, which are delivered to ten local homeless shelters, under the supervision of Chefs Brian Neumeyer and Lori Hoagland. The Outstanding Young Alumni Award honors HOBY alumni who stand out as leaders among peers, and in their communities.

Last weekend was a busy one, with Memorial Day, the Duck Race, the soccer tournament, and so much more. This weekend may be a little calmer, but you are going to have lots of choices to make on Saturday, June 6. From 10 am to 5 pm, the public is invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of EverWonder Children’s Museum, at its new 31 Pecks Lane location (the other side of the complex from its former site). Free admission is from 10 to 11 am, with half-price admission the rest of the day. Lots of science and art activities are scheduled in the expanded hands-on museum, as well as entertainment. For more information, visit everwondermuseum.org. Things will be hopping up at Fairfield Hills, too. Merryhill Child Care Center will host activities for kids and families inside NYA Sports & Fitness Center and in the back courtyard, from 11 am to 3 pm, with Touch-A-Truck and other fun things to do (and eat) located there. It’s all in celebration of the business’s 25 years of caring for and serving young children. Admission is $7 for children; $10 for adults; $25 for families up to six people. Call 203-426-9847, or e-mail merryhill49@hotmail.com for more information. Outside of NYA you’ll find more fun, with Catherine’s Butterfly Party underway from noon to 4 pm. This free public event is sponsored by the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, and features a pet adoption day, as well as art activities, music, and nature-related demonstrations — including information on butterflies, of course. Find out about the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, as well. Visit www.cvhfoundation.org for more information.

As if that’s not enough fun, on Sunday, June 7, Ben’s Bells Project will present a Celebration of Kindness — a free family event that will take place at Dickinson Park from noon until 4 pm. You’ll find kindness-based activities, a bouncy house, lots of food, and live music, and more here. For more info, e-mail newtown@bensbells.org.

Did Santa bring you a selfie stick last Christmas? Get ready to put it to good use. Ben’s Lighthouse is issuing this challenge: “Take a selfie with a lighthouse and post it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter #benslighthouse.” There’s no prize, in case you’re wondering. It’s just fun!

If it seems to you, one day next week, that orange is truly the new black, you could be right. Newtown Action Alliance invites all who believe more can be done to stop deaths from gun violence in our country to “Wear Orange,” Tuesday, June 2, “a campaign to amplify existing efforts to reduce gun violence in America.” The color orange reflects the pride in America’s hunting heritage and responsible gun ownership, as well as the value of human life, according to information from NAA.

Have there really been no Good Eggs in Newtown lately? If you know someone who goes about spreading goodness and kindness through words or actions, but is rarely recognized for his or her good deeds, feel free to nominate him/her for the Top of the Mountain “Good Egg Award.” Send the name and a brief write up of why you believe this person should get the Good Egg Award, and I will happily devote a paragraph — and the Good Egg logo — to the nominee. Send your suggestion for the Good Egg to nancy@thebee.com.

That reminds me: The Newtown Bee always welcomes photographs from days past in Newtown — scenery or people — for The Way We Were column. Maybe you have been cleaning out a dusty attic and come across a family album containing photographs from long ago events and places in town. Please consider sharing those pictures with Newtown Bee readers. Photographs, ideally identified by where or who is in the pictures (or at least a general idea), can be dropped off at the Bee office, 5 Church Hill Road, to be scanned and returned; or, a digital image can be e-mailed to nancy@thebee.com. It’s always fun to see how a street, field, building, or family has changed over the years.

House and garden lovers will be excited to know that the annual Newtown Historical House & Garden Tour is set for Sunday, June 28. As usual, a number of wonderful homes and lovely gardens located in various parts of Newtown and Sandy Hook are on the tour. Check the website www.newtownhistory.org for information on ticket sales ($25 in advance, $30 day of for adults; $10 in advance, $15 day of for children ages 8–12). I have already gotten a glimpse of some of this year’s gardens (one with lots of cat mint!) and you will not be disappointed. A bit sooner, I see that the garden of Jean and Lincoln Sander is one of two Fairfield County gardens featured for the Garden Conservancy Open Days, Sunday, June 7. Find out details at www.gardenconservancy.org.

I like nothing better than taking time to smell the roses this time of year, but I am often sidetracked by sniffing out the news. Find out what I find out, next week, when you… Read me again.