The cancellation news of the 2022 Panacea & Friends concert found its way to us last weekend, but organizers are still hopeful that the second mission of this year’s event will still be a success. While the Sunday, September 4, concert has been called off for multiple reasons, Leslie Ballard and a few others are still hoping to collect donations for the 2nd Annual Bridget Seaman Food Pantry Drive on Monday. On Labor Day, a table will be set up at 9 Glover Avenue to collect donations for FAITH Food Pantry, a place that was dear to our late friend’s heart.

FAITH Food Pantry volunteers will also be marching in the parade, so please consider dropping off an item or financial donation one way or the other. If you have a spare plastic bag with a handle — or better, a reusable shopping bag — those are always helpful for the pantry and its clients. When volunteers are trying to quickly collect donations during the parade, those bags are especially helpful! Need some ideas on what to put inside them on Monday? The current wish list from the pantry includes cereal (healthy and kid friendly), coffee, cookies, crackers, deodorants, mac and cheese, oatmeal, pasta, shampoo, snacks, taco kits, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

The tavern’s significant importance to early Connecticut life will be highlighted at the next Newtown Historical Society program, next weekend at C.H. Booth Library. The public is invited to join historical society members when they welcome Natalie Belanger, adult programs manager at Connecticut Historical Society, to 25 Main Street at 2 pm Sunday, September 11. Natalie will present “Tapping Into The Past: Tavern Life in Early Connecticut.” All are welcome. Reservations are requested and can be made by sending Gordon Williams a note, at gmwllw@charter.net.

Here’s something to cheers to: This plump red raspberry that could be seen peeking through the leaves in a Sandy Hook resident’s garden on August 22. Raspberries are a great source of antioxidants and are high in fiber — on top of being delicious! September may mark the end of raspberry season, but autumn is the perfect time for apple and pumpkin picking. Be sure to visit local farms and find out what is ready to be picked.

Farms like Castle Hill Farm, 1 Sugar Lane, which announced this week that its farm stand will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm weekends through October for farm fresh produce. Recent offerings included sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, pink bumblebee cherry tomatoes, eggplant, rainbow bell peppers, free range eggs, local honey, custom farm mugs, fresh flower bouquets, and more.

And don’t forget the Newtown Farmers Market is open Tuesdays from 2 to 6:30 pm at Fairfield Hills through October 25. More information about the Newtown Farmers Market is available on its “newtown_ct_farmers_market” Instagram account, Facebook page (facebook.com/farmersmarketatfairfieldhills), and website (newtownctfarmersmarket.com).

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters is looking for ambassadors for all of the state’s 169 cities and towns to help communication and participate in environmental action. Those who are interested in being a community ambassador for CTLCV can e-mail ctlcv@ctlcv.org, and Julianna Larue, the group’s newly appointed Climate Policy and Outreach Program Coordinator, will reach out to connect.

I learned of an update from the nonprofit organization Ecology Project International (EPI) that Newtown High School junior Puma Marx is working hard on illustrating that children’s book, a project that EPI is funding. As covered in the April 2022 “NHS Sophomore Puma Marx Earns EPI Award To Illustrate Children’s Book” article in The Newtown Bee, Puma is illustrating the next book in her mother’s (Dori Marx) Wonder World Kids book series. As announced by EPI, “Puma is illustrating a children’s book about the importance of the gray wolf as a keystone species in the Yellowstone ecosystem, with hopes of reducing negative connotations about the vulnerable animal. ‘I believe that stories have a ripple effect; a few words and images can change someone’s world, and that person can then go out to change everyone else’s worlds,’” Puma said in the announcement. Good luck with the continued efforts Puma! We can’t wait to read the next book and view your artistry.

If you bump into our First Selectman on the date of this week’s newspaper, he would not be taken aback if you tell him he’s looking pretty nifty. Or thrifty. Depending on his musical tastes, he may even laugh at being called a Swifty. He may take offense, though, at being told he looks shifty. OK, this cat’s done with the Dr Seuss routine, but hopefully you pick up what I’m laying down here: Dan Rosenthal is celebrating a big birthday on September 2. If it was a wedding anniversary, he’d be golden.

Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) members were at Newtown Community Center last Friday afternoon, putting the pieces together to complete this summer’s Back-To-School Backpack Collection. Colette Ercole, Barbara Frey, Mandy Monaco, and Kinga Walsh took over one of the meeting rooms on August 26, when they filled 50 backpacks with supplies that will go to 30 local families. Mandy said WIN worked with Human Services (formerly Social Services) again this year, and were told their efforts will benefit at least 30 families.

The effort was just in time for students to return to school for the 2022-23 school year on August 29. I’m sure many local parents celebrated the day, and I’m equally sure none celebrated quite like local mother Kelly Cintron (pictured right). Cintron surprised her sixth grade Reed Intermediate School daughter Savannah (pictured left) when taking early morning first day of school photos. Cintron shared, “Every year I have her hold a sign on her first day of school. This year, I wanted to surprise her by holding a sign that read, Mom’s first day of freedom! She was definitely surprised to read my sign.” The full sign reads, “Mom’s first day of freedom! August 29, 2022. I am: The cook, the driver, the maid. I have: been mommin’ for 23 years. Things I love: My family, having lunch with friends, hugs, coffee, and teachers. Most excited for: My Netflix & chill time, no fighting, not sharing my food, house to myself. My best memory of summer is: Today! When I grow up I want to be a supermom. Oh wait. I already am. My hero is: My mom.”

I’ll steal a bit from the sign here: Things I love include cream, writing, belly scratches, and hearing that next week you will promise to ... Read me again.