Caraluzzi’s Market, at 5 Queen Street, is hosting The Animal Center’s cat and kitten food drive through June 21. The Animal Center is requesting Friskies and Purina brand wet and dry food, but all donations are greatly appreciated as it heads into its busiest time of year. Donation bins are located at the store entranceways.

Here’s evidence of the busy kitten season: Robin Olson, founder of Kitten Associates cat rescue in Sandy Hook, tells me that a few days ago, she got a call from the Danbury Fire Department. There was a kitten trapped inside the wall of a home in Danbury. The firefighters had rescued the kitten, but couldn’t find the feral mother or any siblings. Worst of all, they weren’t sure how to care for the tiny, tiny kitten that was clearly too young to survive on its own. “We dropped what we were doing,” says Robin, “and raced over to Danbury Fire Department. The kitten is a tiny, skinny little tabby we named Wallace — of course, because he was found in a wall!” Wallace is doing very well in the Kitten Associate foster program, but as a result of the rescue, Robin has realized it might be worthwhile to put together a “kit” with instructions on how to care for rescued kittens. “Ideally, we’d like to provide this to the Danbury and Newtown fire departments,” Robin says. Sounds like a good plan to me. Call 203-744-9228 or visit www.kittenassociates.org if you want to find out more about Kitten Associates — or just check on Wallace.

I see from ABC News that the recently named Guinness Book of World Records’ oldest cat has passed on to the great mousing field in the sky. Poppy, of Bournemouth, England, was 24 years old. It is the tried and true method of diet and exercise, with a little bit of kebab meat thrown in, say Poppy’s owners, that contributed to the long, fine feline life. Personally, I have known cats that have lived beyond 24 years, but apparently the lazy owners never registered them with Guinness Books. Oh well. You snooze (as cats will), you lose.

When members of the NHS Class of 2014 finished their last day of school on Wednesday, some of them showed they already know how to make good choices. After leaving school grounds, at least one group of seniors headed to Ferris Acres Creamery and feasted on ice cream. Some of the students even went down the creative road with their toppings, having Creamery employees put blue sprinkles on one side of their frozen treats and yellow sprinkles on the other side. Way to show school spirit, Nighthawks-alumni-to-be!

There’s some fun in store at the NHS Blue & Gold Stadium this Friday evening. The Annual Blue & Gold Game, an intrasquad Newtown High School football scrimmage, will take place at 6 pm. Fans will get a chance for a glimpse of next year’s Nighthawks. Bonus — it’s a free event.

Congratulations to Newtown Congregational Church’s youth and acting assistant minister Allysa De Wolf on her ordination into the United Church of Christ ministry, this past Sunday. Allysa (now known as Rev De Wolf) has been in the care of the NCC congregation for three years, and she will soon be headed on to her assignment as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Santa Barbara, in California.

Instagram user @ndjen04 snapped the picture at right of a deer while walking at Fairfield Hills — and while deer are not so novel in Newtown, I love that it was shared on our own #viewfromnewtown.  She shared the photo to The Newtown Bee’s Instagram photos at www.newtownbee.com. Images appear on The Bee’s website between five minutes and half-an-hour after uploading. Thank you for sharing @ndjen04! I’ll continue to follow the #viewfromnewtown, so keep sharing those photos.

Get out your Stars and Stripes. Saturday, June 14, is Flag Day! Why do we celebrate Flag Day? Wikipedia tells me (and I’m sure it wouldn’t lie, being on the Internet and all) that June 14 commemorates “the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.” June 14 is also the US Army birthday, Congress having adopted the American Continental Army on June 14, 1775. Flag Day was not officially established until 1916, though, and it was not until 1949 that an Act of Congress determined June 14 as National Flag Day — but not a national holiday. Locally, members of VFW Post 308 will be hosting a flag retirement ceremony at noon on Saturday. The public is invited to observe the solemn event.

Got documents? Jean Leonard Wealth Management will host a paper-shredding event next weekend. Residents are invited to bring up to five boxes of documents that they would like to have shredded to the Burgerittoville parking lot, at 57 Church Hill Road, on Saturday, June 21, between 9 am and noon. There is no charge for this service, which will be done by professionals, but donations will be accepted and then forwarded to Newtown’s recently opened Park and Bark. Light refreshments will also be served. No appointment is necessary. Information is available by calling 203-426-8294.

Newtown artist Robert Cottingham’s work will be featured in “Scents & Soles,” an exhibition opening in Westport this weekend, that will also present works by Nina Bentley, and curated by Helen Klisser During. The show includes 230 watercolor paintings by Newtown’s renowned photorealist painter, and 23 “witty shoe sculptures” by Ms Bentley. The collection will be on view at Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Avenue, June 13 to September 7. If you can zip down to Westport this Friday night, the opening reception is runs 6 to 8 pm. If you can’t make it for that, a series of special events related to the artists and the exhibition are also planned during the show. Summer gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday; 10 am to 2 pm each Friday; and noon to 4 pm each Saturday. Visit www.WestportArtsCenter.org for additional information.

St Rose of Lima Parish will host its annual carnival on the parish grounds, on Church Hill Road, beginning Tuesday evening, June 24, and running through Saturday, June 28. The popular area carnival will feature rides and games by Stewart Amusement, from 6 to 10:30 pm each evening, as well as a Fun Tent with spin art, face painting, and games. Live entertainment and plentiful food options add to the fun. Ride bracelets will be available for $25 per night. Proceeds from this carnival support parish needs. For more information, contact the St Rose of Lima Parish Office at 203-426-1014.

My head might be spinning from the carnival rides, but I won’t be so dizzy that I can’t keep my ear to the ground. Be sure next week to… Read me again.