The Newtown Bee welcomes our newest reporter this week, Jim Taylor. You’ll be seeing him around town at various events and town meetings, so look for his byline in upcoming issues of the paper. Welcome to the staff, Jim! We’re glad you’re here!

If you heard a lot of buzzing in the center of town last Saturday afternoon and evening, it wasn’t murder hornets. It was just some Newtown Bees having fun. A beautiful wedding was celebrated at the home of Sherri and Scott Baggett, who hosted the ceremony and reception for friends Kristen Angell and Matt Iseppi. The Baggetts, of course, are part of the family that owns this newspaper, and the party included a few current and former Bee Publishing employees. Among those celebrating the nuptials of the Iseppis was John Voket, who also served as the couple’s DJ; Shannon Hicks, the couple’s official photographer; and Alissa Lyons and Lisa Salese, both former members of our production department. Congratulations to Kristen and Matt!

Speaking of former Bees, we were thrilled to open our e-mail Monday morning and find a photo waiting for us from former Newtown Bee Associate Editor Kaaren Valenta. Not only did she drop a note to say Hello, but she also shared a photo she had taken during Sunday afternoon’s program at The Matthew Curtiss House. Want to have a current Newtown Bee reporter-photographer stop by your public event? All you have to do is ask. Let us know when you’re planning a public event that is and we’ll run a preview announcement and calendar notice, and do our best to get someone out there to cover your event. There is no charge to run a press release or calendar announcement. Send details to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, at shannon@thebee.com. Requests for coverage should be sent to our new Editor, John Voket, at editor@thebee.com, at least a week before an event.

Talk about a cat on a hot tin roof! This week kicked off with a blazing reminder that it is, indeed, summer. I hope everyone found a spot to cool off (tin roofs not recommended) and prepared for the next heat wave, which we know summer has in the works for us, for sure.

Team 26 was beating the heat with a special ride this past Saturday. We hear from Monte Frank, one of the lead riders of the bicycle group formed after 12/14, that “In Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, members of Team 26 put on the Team 26 jerseys to ride in support of Congressman Mike Thompson’s annual Rock the Ride event on June 26. Congressman Thompson invited Team 26 to participate in California in 2019, but this year the event was virtual. Congressman Thompson is the chair of the Gun Violence Task Force in Congress. Team 26 has worked with Rep Thompson for years on efforts to reduce gun violence. Rep Thompson greeted Team 26 at the US Capitol during our rides from Newtown to Washington, DC. Rock the Ride was created as a way for the community to get involved by using their voice and feet to raise funds for local and national nonprofit organizations addressing critical issues on gun violence. One of the beneficiaries of funds is Alaina’s Voice Foundation. Alaina, a college student, was killed at Thousand Oaks. In Newtown, Team 26 members rode 50 miles through Newtown, Bridgewater, New Milford, Roxbury, Southbury, and Woodbury. Other members rode in other parts of Connecticut, in Morristown, N.J., and in Philadelphia.”

Are you and your fur friend wondering what to do to celebrate the Fourth of July? Take a ride up to Litchfield and join in the Litchfield Historical Society’s Annual July 4th Pet Parade and Turn-of-the-Century Fest, from 2:30 to 4 pm, in the Tapping Reeve Meadow (behind the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, at 82 South Street). All pets are invited, but must be registered at litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org/calendar (or call 860-567-4501) for judging, and either on a leash or in a cage. There will be fun for the furless friends, too, including sack races, tug-of-war contests, and a photo booth. Best of all, this event is free!

Can you donate at the July 6 Blood Drive at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street (Great Room, upper parking lot entrance), anytime between 8:30 and 6 pm? Contact redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767 to make an appointment. COVID protocols are followed and your participation will be greatly appreciated.

I hope kids are signing up at the library for the July 7 No Sew Cat Bed program, making cozy beds for shelter kitties. I put my pawprint of approval on this project! Register at chboothlibrary.org or call 203-426-4533 for more information.

What’s in the Grab and Go Bags on the patio table at C.H. Booth Library? You’ll never find out if you don’t stop by and grab one! It’s part of the Summer Reading for Adults program, so if you love to read — especially during the lazy, hazy days of summer — stop by the 25 Main Street building and be part of the fun. No peeking in the bag first — but also no due dates and no fines!

Our thanks to former Newtown resident Sarah Wislocki, who brought us a special “gift” this week: a copy of The Newtown Bee from 1886! Sarah says that another out of town friend was cleaning out a closet, came upon this antique paper, and knowing that Sarah had a connection to Newtown, passed it on to her. She realized that we might be thrilled to get this early edition of our paper, and dropped it off at the office on Tuesday. So, what was going on 135 years ago? Well, the front page was just about entirely devoted to a story about a recently passed resident: the kind of writing that people looked forward to in the days before radio, TV, computers, and any other devices. The news and advertising of Newtown and surrounding towns fill the remaining three pages. We read that in Bethel, “Hatting is good!” From Bridgewater we find that “The new matting for the chapel came Saturday and was put down Monday.” In Brookfield, “Mrs A.I. Shepard has purchased a new invalid chair for a crippled boy in her care.” “William Fisher has rented part of Mrs S. Northrop’s house and will soon move in,” is a piece of news from Hattertown. Sarah is right — we are excited to have this copy!

Which reminds me to lay to rest any rumors of The Bee’s demise! Apparently, our article noting the closure of our Commerce Road printing press has alarmed some residents, who think this means that the paper will no longer be printed at all. The print edition will continue to grace the community, although now printed through a partnership with Trumbull Printing, Inc, in Trumbull. As a matter of fact, if you are reading this in our print edition, you are laying eyes on our first edition coming off the Trumbull press. Enjoy! And be at ease: The Bee carries on, in print and online!

I just got a chance to lay eyes on a very nice write up in the Newtown High School’s April edition of the school paper, The Hawkeye, by Ally McCarthy. The feature highlighted The Bee’s very own sports editor, Andy Hutchison, and is a wonderful write up. How nice for the guy who is behind the scenes (and behind the camera) so much to get recognition for the effort he puts into covering the school’s many, many sports. Thank you, Ally! Well done!

Are you ready for the big Friends of the C.H. Booth Book Sale? Volunteers are already busy setting up the extremely well organized categories at Reed Intermediate School, so that they are all set for opening day, Friday, July 9. That’s right: there is a change to the days and times of the sale this year. The sale will run through Tuesday, July 13, rather than ending on a Wednesday. Find the details in this week’s article, or check out last week’s article on the specials collection. I’m already hoping to find a copy of Four Little Kittens, one of my favorite bedtime stories, or maybe a DVD of The Three Lives of Thomasina...

Have a happy Fourth of July — and don’t forget next week to... Read me again.