Newtown’s VFW Post 308 and Auxiliaries are partnering with an Oklahoma VFW and its Auxiliaries to assist residents in Moore, Okla., and other towns affected by the recent devastating tornadoes there. The Oklahoma VFW has requested gift card donations to Walmart, Target, Home Depot, or Lowe’s. Gift cards will give people the opportunity to purchase items they need, specifically. Cash, or checks made out to Newtown VFW 308, with a memo line of “Oklahoma” will be accepted, and turned into gift cards. Gift cards, cash, and checks can be dropped off or mailed to the VFW Post 308, 18 Tinkerfield Road, Newtown. If you have questions, contact Donna Randle at ndrandle@charter.net or 203-577-9568, or Post Commander James Rebman at comm222@aol.com or 203-482-0431.

Newtown resident Kim Calbo has another good suggestion for truly helping Oklahomans in their time of need. She remembers how nice it was after 12/14 to walk into a local café and find out that some stranger, somewhere, had paid for everyone’s purchases that day. Read  which offers a list of the restaurants you can contact in Moore if you want to return the good deed.“One Good Turn Deserves Another,”

There’s an SOS out from SHOP (Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity)! The chilly, wet weather last Saturday put a damper on The 13th Annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race, and on the business shops and restaurants in Sandy Hook were counting on, too. SHOP was all set to sell T-shirts and tickets to its Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, to take place Saturday, June 15, but ticket sales were rained out, too. The ship has sailed again, though: SHOP will be selling tickets and T-shirts in front of Sandy Hook Deli, from 8 am until 2 pm, Saturday, June 1, and from 9 am to noon, Sunday, June 2, in front of Bagel Delight. This is SHOP’s only fundraiser of the year and supports their commitments to Newtown Scholarship Association and FAITH Food Pantry, as well as other expenses. The Second Annual SHOP Wine Tasting & Silent Auction will take place June 15, at 7 pm, at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue main station, 18-20 Riverside Road. Tickets are $30.

Only half of your voice has been heard, so if you’re a registered Newtown voter (and I hope you are) take note that the next town referendum, to vote only on the education budget, will take place Tuesday, June 4, from 6 am to 8 pm, in the Newtown Middle School gymnasium. Absentee ballots can be returned in person to the town clerk by 4:30 pm, Monday, June 3, or by mail or designee before the closing of the polls on referendum day. For more information, call 203-270-4210.

There are wildlife babies on the scene these days, so drive carefully. These little turkey chicks, fawns, fox kits, raccoon cubs, and bunnies — not to mention the stray dog and cat — have not yet developed road savvy, so please keep an eye out for them.

Friends and members of the Newtown Congregational Church will gather Saturday, June 1, for a special get-together to honor Assistant Minister Janice Touloukian, who is retiring. Rev Janice has been a source of comfort and good will to many parishioners and their families over the many years she has been with NCC. The congregation will miss her wit, humor, and many kindnesses. Who better to get the Good Egg Award than Rev Janice?  With the summer breezes in the air, I have no doubt that she will be ministering to the sails of her boat for the next several weeks, at least. I join her church family in wishing her a happy retirement!

Newtown Action Alliance has plans for a Ribbon of Remembrance and letter delivery to members of Congress regarding gun violence, in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the six-month anniversary of 12/14. The events take place Thursday, June 13. For more information, including transportation, visit www.newtownaction.org and select Events.

If “Challenge” is your middle name and you don’t mind getting a little (or a lot) messy, you don’t want to miss out on the NYA/Newtown Parks & Rec “Mad Dash” race, next Saturday, June 8. Team registration closes Monday, June 3, so get your gang together, and climb, crawl, run, or jump to the P&R office to register, if you haven’t already. Complete information is found at NYA's website. Parks and Rec can answer questions, at 203-270-4340.

I would get a team together, but I didn’t see a section of the race called “catnapping.” In between those lazy snoozes, you can bet I’ll be on the prowl. So set aside some time next week to… Read me again.