Ahead of rains that were predicted for last Thursday evening, two outdoor events planned at Dickinson Park were postponed early that afternoon. A Luau Party being co-hosted by Newtown Parks & Recreation and Newtown Community Center has been rescheduled to Monday, August 15, still from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Contact the community center at 203-270-4349 or Parks & Rec at 203-270-4340 for details on that event, which was going to include arts and crafts, a dance party, games, and snacks. Registration is required. Meanwhile, the new date for Jake Kulak & The Lowdown, who was set to perform the July 28 Thursday Summer Concert Series show, was not immediately announced. Watch our calendars, in print and online, for updates.

If you have not tried setting up a projector for an outdoor movie night, trust me, it is worth it. And C.H. Booth Library has a way to try it without purchasing a projector. Library patrons can use their library card to check out an Epson LCD projector. “Perfect for outdoor movies, gaming, or business presentation,” an announcement reads. “It is easy to use and free to check out with your library card. The C.H. Booth Library offers a variety of items to check out besides books and movies.” A full listing of items that can be checked out from C.H. Booth Library is available at drive.google.com/file/d/1WJgEPdOi8s-Tj1-FKH3uvQkuep4bENMy/view.

Newtown Hook & Ladder is getting ready to present its second annual Bounce House Bonanza, a family event to again be presented at 12 Church Hill Road. This Saturday (August 6), company members will have bounce houses, tie-dye stations, a dunk tank, and a Paw Patrol special guest all waiting for their guests between 11 am-4 pm. Cost is $25 per family, $15 for two guests, payable at the door. The event will be presented rain or shine. Pizza from My Place Restaurant will be available for purchase by the slice, and free popcorn and sno-cones will be available. Proceeds will benefit Newtown Hook & Ladder, the town’s oldest fire company.

We heard from the West Coast last week. Beverly Dachenhausen wrote after reading the July 22, 2022 The Way We Were. She was intrigued, she said, with the postcard offered as that week’s illustration, and the note written to Norman Conner from someone who just signed as Ray. With a little bit of online sleuthing via Ancestry.com, Beverly found that Norman and Ray were brothers. It looks like there were four Conner brothers, in fact, all born to Isabell (or Isabelle) and William, with Ray the youngest of the boys. All lived on Harrison Street in September 1905, when Ray sent his postcard from Sandy Hook. Thank you very much Beverly, for taking the time to bring a little more history to life for all of us.

I spotted this familiar face on EverWonder Children’s Museum’s Twitter feed, @everwonderCM. It seems Superintendent of Schools Chris Melillo has been very busy visiting with Newtown residents, both human and animal, like Cassini, the snake at EverWonder Children’s Museum. The museum tweeted the photo on July 31 with the description, “Cassini met the new school district superintendent for Newtown. It’s fun to meet local educators as they explore the museum.” The new superintendent is on Twitter too, @SuperNewtown. More information about EverWonder Children’s Museum is available on its website everwondermuseum.org.

The 8U Hawks hosted the New England Regional Baseball Tournament this summer and had quite a run. Read about these hard-hitters in this week’s Sports section.

Is your child set to celebrate a birthday? Why not announce the happy news in The Newtown Bee’s Birthday Wishes, located in the Education section? Parents can send a head and shoulders photo of their child, with their first and last name, age, and date of birth to Education Editor eliza@thebee.com for publication in “Birthday Wishes.” Be sure and include a daytime phone number in case we have questions, as well as your address. All children submitted for birthday announcements are entered into a chance to win a free ice cream cake from Ferris Acres Creamery. It’s the perfect birthday cake year-round, and it can’t be beat in the summer months!

Here’s a reminder: Ahead of the Democratic and Republican primaries on August 9, all Registrars of Voters offices in Connecticut will hold a statewide voter registration session on Monday, August 8. For Newtown and Sandy Hook residents, located within Newtown Municipal Center at 3 Primrose Street, the Newtown Registrar of Voters office can be reached at 203-270-4250 or registrar.of.voters@newtown-ct.gov. Additional information is also available at newtown-ct.gov/registrar-voters. For those who turned 18, became a US citizen, or moved to Connecticut since August 4 of this year registration is from 9 am to noon. The day will continue until 5 pm and is also for members of the Armed Forces and former Armed Forces members who have been discharged within the calendar year.

Edmond Town Hall announced on its Facebook page, that it has sponsorship opportunities available for its Fall 2022 Music Series. “If you or somebody you know has a business who wants to get their name out there all while supporting a local venue consider becoming a sponsor for our Fall 2022 Music Series!” the announcement reads. “Different sponsorship levels are available. For more info on becoming a sponsor e-mail finance@edmondtownhall.org or call the main line at 203-270-4285.” I’m tempted to offer to sing my cat-heart out in support, but I suspect more people would pay to see me not sing than sing.

Local volunteer Stephen Bennett reached out to The Newtown Bee this week in part to thank the paper for the front page coverage of the one-day Salvation Army summer bell ringing campaign that helped raise over $1,000 to help residents and especially parents challenged to provide the necessary school supplies to get their children off on the right foot for school this fall. Steve noted that this coverage marked the first time the Salvation Army’s red kettles were seen in their actual bright red color as part of our long-standing practice of promoting the Newtown Salvation Army service unit.

Congratulations to Anthony Capozziello, who has been elected the new chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company following a special election that was required by the company’s bylaws following the death last month of longtime Chief Bill Halstead. We know this is a well-deserved honor for Capozziello, and we know the community is in good hands. Congratulations also to those elected to new positions in the company at the same meeting. For the full story see Managing Editor Shannon Hicks’s story in this week’s paper and online at newtownbee.com/08012022/anthony-capozziello-elected-chief-of-sandy-hook-volunteer-fire-rescue.

September may seem far away, but I’m already licking my lips knowing that a popular Newtown Labor Day tradition is returning to Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St. The Pancakes And Parking event, 8-9:30am, will be held in The Great Room, September 5. “Park in our West St lot and head inside to start your day with a delicious pancake breakfast! ($6 per person, $20 per family), then leave your car to head up to the flagpole to watch the Labor Day Parade!” a description reads.

I can practically hear the parade drums beating now. No. Wait. That’s my heart hoping that you will promise next week to ... Read me again.