Approximately 100 Connecticut National Guard members of the Connecticut Air National Guard's 103rd Airlift Wing returned to Bradley Air National Guard from deployment in Southwest Asia and other support operations, on July 4. Many thanks to these folks who are dedicated to serving our country, and welcome back to the USA!boothbooksale.org for more details about the five-day sale or see the related story in this week's Bee.ctwaterbirds@gmail.com.

There was no doubt it was the Fourth of July if you happened to be in the Taunton Lane area on Tuesday night. Fireworks lit the sky for anyone in the neighborhood to enjoy, with Hawleyville Fire Company in attendance for safety's sake. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed a happy Fourth, with the weather serving up some of the nicest for that day in years.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo celebrated its new Canada lynx kittens born in April with a "gender announcement" on Thursday, June 29, and now it's official: Zoo Director Gregg Dancho announced that the two kittens are both girls. The kittens also have names: Penny and Ruby. The kittens are officially on exhibit, so cat lovers will want to schedule a trip to the Bridgeport zoo at 1875 Noble Avenue. The Beardsley Zoo is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Adult admission (ages 12 and older) is $15, children (ages 3-11) is $12, senior admission (62 and older) is just $11, and children under 3 years old are free. Zoo members also are admitted free. Parking at the zoo is also free of charge, so why not visit these little kitties - and all the other wonderful creatures there?

Congratulations to James L. Accomando of Fairfield, who has been installed as president of National PTA, through 2019. Jim previously served as president of Connecticut PTSA and was instrumental in the Snow Flakes for Sandy Hook Elementary School Healing Initiative after 12/14.

It looks like Kelsie Ryan Hutchison has already determined she will follow in the footsteps of her dad, Bee Sports Editor Andy Hutchison. Kelsie made her first visit to The Bee office last week, and settled right into the role.

There's something really new in Newtown - Newtown Salt Spa has opened at 43 Main Street, and provides a unique relaxation experience. I think I just may curl up on one of the chairs and do a little deep breathing of the minerals exuded by the Himalayan pink salt walls and floor.

We are so pleased to hear that the Hearts of Hope program, which creates and randomly distributes beautiful hand painted ceramic hearts, has reached a great milestone. "Hearts of Hope has now reached 80,000 individuals and groups with messages of love, support, and hope," we are told. The first distribution of the hearts took place in New York, right after 9/11, and since then, volunteer artists have provided these lovely hearts to thousands more across the country in need of an uplifting message, including Newtown/Sandy Hook. Local painters also regularly meet to paint hearts.

I've got my book list, but I know there will be plenty of informed volunteers on hand to help me out at the annual Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale, starting this Saturday. There is a Saturday only entrance fee of $5, and numbered admission tickets go on sale at 7 am. Doors burst open at 9 am and its every book lover for him or herself! Not to worry, though - there are more than 120,000 books, CDs, DVDs, LPs, and more at the sale, held at Reed Intermediate School. Check out

(Speaking of the library, remember that summer hours are in effect. The C.H. Booth Library is closed on Sundays until September 10.)

The beach beckons with summer underway, and the Audubon Society has some tips for being bird-friendly when you are at the shore: Keep your distance from shore bird habitats; keep pets leashed; carry out your trash; get rid of fishing line in a monofilament recycling container; don't feed the wildlife; be quiet near nesting areas - and, feel free to volunteer to be a beach steward. Contact Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds at

No need for me to be quiet, nor would I want you to stop feeding me the exciting tidbits of news that make you want to... Read me again.