Here at 5 Church Hill Road, we have no idea what the proper gift is for a 142nd anniversary, but we’d be willing to accept it should one come our way. 142 years ago this week, the first issue of The Newtown Bee — then titled simply The Bee — was published. A framed copy of Volume 1 No 1, dated June 28, 1877, is among the prized treasures that hang on the walls of our main office. That paper rolled off the presses, which at the time were on Main Street, under the guidance of John Pearce. Mr Pearce is credited with launching your hometown paper that year, although groups of Scouts and students who visit the paper for tours are also told that while he may have the honor of being the first publisher of this newspaper, his heart wasn’t fully into the self-appointed task. While Mr Pearce was reportedly known as having a nose for news, he was also called a bit eccentric. He would sometimes suspend an issue when he felt there wasn’t enough new to report, or when he himself just didn’t have the interest. We are proud to say that since the paper was purchased by Reuben Hazen Smith in 1881, there has been a Newtown Bee published every week.

The paper has been in the Smith family since that time as well. Three generations of the Smith family currently work for this company, in fact. In recent years, the staff has been known to work out of someone’s home (and even a camper), after power was knocked out of the center of town following a storm, but the paper was nevertheless published that week. Just like the town we proudly call home, this newspaper’s office has seen 14-plus decades of good news and bad, laughter, tears, celebrations, funerals, engagements, weddings, and plenty of birthdays (and cake!). If you don’t mind, we’re going to hold our heads just a little higher on Friday while quietly observing our 142nd birthday. Thank you, Newtown.

A reminder this week that FAITH Food Pantry will be closed next Thursday due to Independence Day. Clients should plan accordingly and visit Tuesday morning, July 2, if their schedule permits. Those who are new to the pantry are reminded that just a photo ID and a piece of mail are all that is required to prove your Newtown residency; no financial information is required. Visit newtownfoodpantry.org or call 203-837-0816 for additional information. The pantry’s volunteers plan to be back at 46 Church Hill Road the following week, on Tuesday, July 9.

Want to be part of local theater history? The Town Players of Newtown are planning to stage a musical for the first time in the community theater’s 79-year history, and auditions are this weekend. Director Brian DeToma has all roles available for Is There Life After High School? which is described as “a memory musical.” Actors will play various characters who recall the joy, laughter, and pain of what it was like to go through high school. The cast calls for five men and four women ranging from age 20 to 45. Auditions are scheduled for Sunday and Monday, June 30 to July 1, 7 to 9 pm each night, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Road. The production is slated for weekends, September 27 to October 19. Additional details were printed in last week’s Newtown Bee (“Auditions Planned For First Town Players Musical”) and also posted on our website.

Meanwhile, if you want to be in the know about what’s coming next to the stage at 18 Orchard Hill Road, be sure to read the Enjoy pages this week. We have a preview of the next production being worked by on Town Players, scheduled to open July 19.

The double features at Edmond Town Hall will continue for another week! The theater within 45 Main Street will continue with two movie offerings, June 28 to July 3, with screenings each day at 1 and 7 pm of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, and screenings at 4 and 9 pm of The Mustang. Tickets are $3 for all shows, although senior citizens can enjoy a discount at the Tuesday matinees. Their tickets each Tuesday afternoon are $2.

I can’t wait to dance my way through July and August. Coming up, starting in early July, are the Newtown Parks and Recreation Summer Outdoor Concert Series and Summer Jam Concert Series, both bringing music and entertainment to the bandshell at Dickinson Park. The Summer Jam Concert Series will be on Tuesday evenings, 6 to 7 pm, with musical acts selected for children and their parents/guardians; and the Summer Concert Series is scheduled for Thursday evenings, 6:30 to 8 pm, for the whole family. Peek through The Newtown Bee calendar for upcoming dates and details. Also getting me in the dancing mood are the generous sponsors, especially Claris Construction. In the past, several sponsors supported the Summer Jam series, with Claris as the Title Sponsor. What the recreation staff think is “really nice this year” is that Phil Clark of Claris “offered to be the sole outside sponsor for the family series, as well!” According to the recreation department, he said that he loves sponsoring these events for the people of Newtown and feels the free summer concerts are a great way to give back. The staff “are so appreciative — and because of this, we were able to get a few bands that had not played here before, so it should be exciting.”

Newtown Parks and Recreation is also set to host a movie night on Tuesday, August 13, the conclusion of the Summer Jam Concert Series at Dickinson Park bandshell. In addition to the regular sponsors, Newtown Youth and Family Services have contributed to making Movie Night a reality. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

I read sad news last week. As reported by the Associated Press on June 19, “Winter hit US honeybees hard with the highest loss rate yet, an annual survey of beekeepers showed. The annual nationwide survey by the Bee Informed Partnership found 37.7 percent of honeybee colonies died this past winter, nearly 9 percentage points higher than the average winter loss. The survey of nearly 4,700 beekeepers managing more than 300,000 colonies goes back 13 years and is conducted by bee experts at the University of Maryland, Auburn University, and several other colleges.”

I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Independence Day this July 4, humans and bees alike.

I will be bursting with joy, like fireworks, next week if you promise to... Read me again.