It looks to me like someone wanted a closeup of the northbound black and yellow striped warning sign attached to the flagpole, and may have even tried to take it on a ride. The bent sign hints that a bumper or car door somewhere may be wearing a bit of yellow and black paint. Is flagpole custodian Dave Lydem going to have to get out his repair kit again?

Even though I'm not accepting friends on my Facebook page right now, I do check in on the Bee Facebook page regularly. I was pretty disturbed to find out that a recent poll there has our readers saying they prefer dogs over cats! After the poll had been up for just 24 hours, dogs were leading, with 40 votes to less than 20 votes for cats. Me-ouch! Isn't it common knowledge that cats are purr-fect?

Newtown's Joseph Engelberger got his photo on the obituary page of The New York Times this past Tuesday, but, luckily, not for the reason most people's smiling faces end up there. Mr Engelberger is pictured with George C. Devol, who passed away last week. Mr Engelberger adapted the concept of a programmed robotic arm patented by Mr Devol in 1961, and designed the Unimate, a mechanical arm that was the prototype for auto assembly line robots. Mr Engelberger is recognized worldwide for his innovations in robotics (indeed, he is even known as 'The Father of Robotics'), and is the founder of Unimation, Inc, in Danbury, which led the way in automation through the early 1980s.

The parade committee is drumming up a great parade for the 50th celebration of the Labor Day event, what with the Nation's Flags, vintage airplanes flying overhead, and fabulous bands and floats. Just a reminder, though, that the flag unfurlings (9:30 am at the flagpole and 9:50 am at the Queen Street grandstand) mean that this year Main Street, Glover Avenue, Queen Street, and Church Hill Road will be closed by 9:15 am. Please take a walk over to one of these locations, though, before the 10 am start of the parade for photo ops and just general ogling of these huge and beautiful American flags. That stroll to one of the flag ceremonies will help you work off the pancake breakfast served up at the Newtown Congregational Church, too. You were planning to park in the generously sized parking lot of the church at 14 West Street, weren't you, and fuel up on delicious pancakes? Parking and Pancakes are offered by NCC for just $6 per person, or $20 for a family, from 7:30 to 9:30 am, Monday, September 5, in the Great Room of the church.

Coming up on the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City, D.C., and Pennsylvania, former Wall Street trader Howard Lasher invites the public to attend a memorial service, Sunday, September 11, at 8:15 am, on his Route 302 property. You will recognize the spot by the stand of maples painted to represent the American flag, which is visible from the road.

Come celebrate the contributions of Earl J. Smith, Jr, at the Newtown Democratic Town Council JJB dinner on September 8. A dedicated and lifelong Democrat, known in Newtown and throughout the State of Connecticut, Earl joined the Newtown DTC and served as president from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1995 to 2008. Earl's political activities were wide ranging and included three terms on the Newtown Legislative Council and membership on the steering committees of several statewide candidates. He was one of the first state advocates for increasing the strength of teacher labor unions. He crisscrossed the state tirelessly to help teachers organize local unions. For 32 years Earl was an educator at Newtown High School, first as an English and Latin teacher, and then as assistant principal. In retirement, Earl continued his advocacy as president of the Connecticut Association of Retired Teachers working to correct the unfunded liability regarding the teachers' pension plan.

The dinner will be held on Thursday, September 8, at The Villa Restaurant at 4 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, beginning at 6 pm, and will be attended by our statewide elected officials, and many candidates for state and local office. If you are interested in attending the dinner, please contact James Juliano, chairman of the Newtown Democratic Town Committee, at 203-426-0065 to make a reservation. Tickets are $60 per person.

Now here's something I can sink my pointy little teeth into: Beginning September 6, local Newtown restaurants and eateries will offer diners one of the broadest reaching, most price-conscious dining promotions of its kind with the debut of Newtown Restaurant Week. The 11-day dining celebration will take place September 6'"16, at an expanding roster of more than a dozen area restaurants offering prix-fix meal deals and Buy One-Get One offers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A dedicated website is available to view information about participating restaurants and the special menus offered during the 11-day event. In addition, a program booklet including restaurant profiles will be distributed at the Labor Day Parade. For more information, visit www.newtownrestaurantweek.com.

Who doesn't love old cars and ice cream? You can fill up on both at the Antique Car Cruise at the new Ice Cream Heaven Olde Fashion Ice Cream Parlor on Glen Road, in Sandy Hook Center, Sunday, August 21 and 28, from 6 to 9 pm. A delicious way to spend a late summer evening, I say!

It's never fun to say goodbye, and I'm hoping I won't be waving my hankie as the horse trailers pull out of Trades Lane next week; but this week and weekend might be our last glimpse of horse guard activity in Fairfield Hills. With state budget cuts slicing into horse guard funding, among many other areas, Newtown is preparing itself for a loss, as plans will likely move ahead on August 22 to relocate a unit that has already packed its bags. While a number of horses are being adopted or awaiting new homes, approximately ten have been chosen to relocate to the state's only other horse guard facility, in Avon. Our horse guard is greatly loved in the annual parade and I think I speak for many when I say their presence will be heartily missed in the parade, around the town, and in the sprawling pastured bordering Wasserman Way.

I've always considered spring to be 'baby wildlife' season. But this past week I have received numerous reports of does and fawns on our local roadways. Please drive carefully. Cars are not a hunting tool.

I am a hunter of news, however, and will be back next week with more to amuse and amaze you, if you'¦ Read me again.