I’m pleased to see that the generously provided drive-in movie screen behind Edmond Town Hall from Ingersoll Auto, damaged by Tropical Storm Isaias last week, has been replaced. Thanks go to DNR Laboratories, I hear. Time to go to the movies! Check out the schedule at edmondtownhall.org.

I was saddened to hear not only that families in Newtown suffered human losses because of the storm, but also that one family’s unsuspecting canine friend, “Buddy,” was a victim of live wires this past weekend, in an area no longer marked as dangerous by utility workers.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, all of the roads are reopened and everyone is powered up again; but if you come across a road with yellow warning tape still up, please do not take it down. The reason for it being there may not be obvious, but chances are, it is there for your safety.

We will recover from this storm, and start anew, though — something our townspeople have become experts at doing over the past years.

A reminder this week that the 2020 Census is still underway. This year’s is the 24th time the country’s population has been fully calculated since 1790. We heard of a particularly upsetting incident that happened last weekend, where one Census worker was bullied when they showed up at a Newtown residence. Please remember that these folks are only collecting information that will be used to provide services, products, and support to communities. The Census is done once a decade, and it is an important project. It counts every person living in this country and five US territories. Each updated Census is used to determine everything from federal funding for hospitals and fire departments to the number of seats each state receives in the US House of Representatives. If a Census taker knocks on your door, they will be clearly identified with a photo ID and wearing a face mask — all Census takers have been fully trained in social distancing practices. If you are concerned when someone arrives at your home, regional Census Bureau staff can help verify identities. Connecticut is served by the New York Regional Census Center, which can be contacted at 212-882-7100. If you are not home when they visit, they will leave a notice of their visit with a reminder that online, phone and mail-in responses are still being collected. Be nice to these folks. They’re just doing their job, which will benefit everyone in the end.

While we won’t see our Annual Labor Day Parade on the streets of Newtown come September, we know that generations of residents have special memories from the past five-plus decades of parades. Won’t you share your favorite Labor Day Parade memory with us? Contact shannon@thebee.com by August 21 at noon, please, with a short writeup of your memory of parades gone by. You can send your note to our office by USPS, if you prefer: The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, attn: Shannon Hicks. Be sure to give us your daytime contact information. Include a photo if that helps you share your story! We’ll put them all together for your enjoyment in the issue of September 4.

Newtown Youth and Family Services will present the 35th Annual Holiday Festival virtually this year, December 6-12 — but they need some volunteers to help them pull it off. If you have theater background or just love to act, NYFS is seeking volunteers “to interact with participants virtually as an elf.” Older high school age students or adults are encouraged to take part. Or maybe singing is your thing. Carolers are needed for small groups — adult chaperones required for younger singers. Are you a good writer? NYFS needs some letter writers for this event! Again, older high schoolers or adults, please. If you are interested in any of these volunteer positions, pleas contact Susan Smith at 203-270-4335 or e-mail ssmith@newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org. Remember, it takes a village...

A relatively new 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Elinor’s House of Newtown, is seeking help to purchase a house to be provided when a Newtown family is in need of emergency housing. The goal of this organization is to buy such a house, fix it, and maintain it as needed, and be a source for an affordable living space — one family at a time. They currently have an opportunity to purchase a house, according to information I’ve received from Elinor’s House President Carol Gaulin-Mckenzie, but need a lot of financial help. If you would like to find out more about Elinor’s House of Newtown and donate to the cause, visit https://sites.google.com/view/ehnewtown/home.

Someone thought ahead to making a tiny piece of town more beautiful. Sunflower seeds planted this spring on a strip of property where Head Of Meadow Road and Sugar Lane part ways on Route 302 are now blooming and nodding their sunny heads at passersby. It’s a great improvement on what was formerly a weedy patch and is sure to bring a smile to the faces of those driving — or walking or biking — past. Seems like a great opportunity to bestow a Good Egg Award!

Here is a chance for a little celebration after a very challenging week-plus of storm aftermath. Old Glory Days, a socialization space and day care for senior citizens, is celebrating five years in business. The public is invited to an outdoor free lunch at the 107 Church Hill Road business (Betts Square), from noon to 1:30 pm on Sunday, August 16. There will be live entertainment, too. Be sure to wear a mask and plan to practice social distancing. Call 203-491-2922 or 203-648-5983 for more information.

So many local retail and restaurant businesses continue to offer curbside and delivery services, as well as online ordering, even while they look forward to greeting customers in person. I hope we can all support them in any manner. The survival of small businesses is essential to our eventual recovery. Did I mention that your hometown newspaper is one of those businesses that appreciates your support? If you are not yet a subscriber, visit https://classadz.vdata.com/legacy/newtownbee/circulation/subscriber or call 203-426-3141. Our website, newtownbee.com, gives you the news you need, but you are truly missing out if you never pick up a copy of the actual paper, spread it out wide, and find out so much more information!

Personally, I am looking forward to peace and quiet during my long naps when my people are solidly back to their (out of the house) work spaces. Not to mention, my sitting on the keyboard has been less than appreciated, for no reason I can comprehend. Some of my canine friends, however (okay, and a few cats) are not as happy that their people are going back to the office, and leaving them alone. They have been thrilled to have access to unlimited pats on the head and extra playtime while their owners attempted to complete work. I poked around and have found a few tips for those stressful days of loneliness. Pet owners can try leaving the house — alone — for a period of time, increasing that time daily, before returning to the work world. Why not get out of your sweats and pj’s and put on office clothes and work shoes at home? It will give your pet the heads up that the times, they are a-changin’. This is especially useful if anxious behaviors like drooling, whining, or destructive behavior occur when those items are seen. Go back to the regular feeding/walking schedules that were pre-coronavirus lockdown, and if your dog was previously crated while you were at work, pop them into the crate at naptime to get them used to not being inches away from you, 24/7. Dogs may enjoy being left with a challenging chew/food toy, or hidden treats. Cats might open an eye to swat a new fuzzy toy... Be calm and positive as you leave and as you return home. If behavior seems particularly concerning, contact your veterinarian for advice.

No whining on my part, though, especially if you promise to... Read me again.