The violent rainstorms that have hit Newtown over the past few weeks have done more than knock down trees and leave many residents temporarily without power. Jim Crouch, head of the town’s 911 emergency dispatch center, discovered after one recent storm that it had knocked a bird’s nest out of a tree in his yard, killing three of the five baby birds occupying it. Jim took the two survivors inside his house and hand-fed them. He even wound up taking them to Sunday school to show the children. Finally he put them outside in a cage in the yard, leaving the door open. It wasn’t long before the parents reappeared and started bringing food to their fledglings. Jim says the babies thrived and have now left the nest. 

Elaine Breitling was wondering why the summer creative craft workshops she runs for children in grades 1-4 only had three kids registered this year. Usually sessions are booked solid.  Then she looked at the course listing in the Newtown Continuing Education handbook. In the description of her workshops, it listed a few of the many toy projects the children will make including – horrors – a Steady Hand Gun. “It’s a Steady Hand Game and has nothing to do with guns,” Elaine said. Elaine wants to assure parents that the children will be making items like kaleidoscopes, marionette puppets, kites, and checkerboards in the classes that are offered July 10 through 14 and July 17 through 21.

When the Newtown Historical Society holds its annual House and Garden Tour from 11 to 5 on July 8, included will be a display of the wood-fired ceramics of Jim Edelen at the home of his parents William and Cheryl Edelen on Echo Valley Road. A 1988 graduate of Newtown High School, Jim recently received his master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa and is planning to build a pottery in Newtown.

Newtown Youth Services is looking for people who are interested in mentoring. Call NYS at 270-4335 to sign up for various sessions that will be held this summer on how to become one.

Ruby Johnson and William Colbert of the group “Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown” were invited to appear on Gary Fetzer’s Dateline: Newtown program. The show was taped Tuesday night and will be aired on Channel 21 during the month of July.

Congratulations to Carol Mayhew, who has been hired to work in the town clerk’s office. She will take over for the departing Jean Salvatore. Carol had been an emergency dispatcher before taking a job in the highway department last summer.

 I ran into Newtown resident Patty Powers this week. The Weston teacher and local EMT is expecting a baby July 8, but, knowing Patty, she won’t let a little thing like that slow her down.

I also saw Sergeant John Cole this week and he told me the guys from the Danbury Police department had challenged our Newtown guys to a benefit basketball game. Word has it Danbury would have its hands full going up against the likes of Acting Chief Michael Kehoe, Sergeant Joe Rios, and Sergeant Cole.

Legislative Council member Melissa Pilchard had her fellow council members somewhat baffled Monday night as she sat in the audience during a joint meeting/forum of the council and Board of Selectmen. Mrs Pilchard, who sat next to her husband, Chuck, said she simply did not feel like sitting up front.

Wondering where the opera music is coming from at Canaan House these days? Check the office of Building Official Tom Paternoster. There you will find the answer.

 Congratulations to Newtown resident Russell Strasberger, who recently informed me that he had retired from the Redding/Easton school system. Mr Strasberger was a longtime elementary school teacher there.

Longtime Newtown School District Clerk Annette Levy was not the only person who retired this week after years of dedicated service. Pat Abrams, who as worked in the district’s payroll office for the past 15 years, also called it quits. Thanks, Pat, for all of your hard work and best of luck in the future.

We were saddened this week to hear of the death of Jimmy Gilpin, who was a well-known fiddle player in Western Connecticut for over 50 years.  He was also a house painter and worked in the Newtown area, but mostly he was known for his fiddling at local pubs, restaurants, and the Danbury State Fair. According to his daughter, Helen Bunker, who wrote from Maine about his passing, he had quite a following among local music lovers.  Ms Bunker noted that she grew up in Southbury and misses the movies at Edmond Town Hall.

Gordon Williams stopped by The Bee Monday and said the Treadwell Park Playground Committee is looking to expand. They are currently looking for people to go around town and talk up the project to area groups. The club is doing quite well with its fundraiser for their new park, having earned over $7,000 already. Still, they have a long way to go to meet their goal of $65,000 to $75,000 that they feel will be needed to cover the playground’s cost.

Dog Warden George Mattegat wants to remind residents that they are required to renew dog licenses by July 1. He has been directed by the state’s department of animal control to issue $60 fines after July 1 for any dogs that don’t have licenses, and he says he plans to fulfill his duty.

I plan to fulfill my duty by being here next week so you can…

Read me again.