Happy Birthday Dr Bob!

This handsome man celebrated his 97th birthday this week, completing his latest trip around the sun on Thursday, September 11. Robert Grossman is such a legendary figure in and around Newtown, I had to take a moment to say Hello. Generations of family and friends know him through years as a surgeon, first with an office in Newtown and then through Danbury Hospital. He’s had long stints with the former Fairfield Hills State Hospital, the state’s Medical Examiner’s Office, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association (including one of those instrumental in getting the corps’s new building constructed in 2013-14), Newtown Health District, and among many many other things, used to visit my office each autumn to administer flu shots to employees here. Dr Bob has also long been involved with Newtown Rotary Club and is a Corporator Emeritus of Newtown Savings Bank Company. Heck, he was even celebrated as the 2016 Newtown Labor Day Parade Grand Marshal. So when I heard he was having a birthday, I had to take a moment to think about my dear friend. I hope you’re having a good birthday season, Dr Bob. I love you!

Fresh off her stint co-organizing the second annual Friends of Newtown Seniors Summer Soiree, Bev Bennett-Schaedler this week let me know she’s already looking toward FONS Oktoberfest. Additional details will be forthcoming, but Bev says readers can definitely mark their calendars for Tuesday, October 21, and a return to NewSylum Brewing Company. Sounds like it’s time to shake out my lederhosen.

Two Guys and a Pint co-hosts Gavin Arneth and Brian Hartgraves are heading into election season by looking toward the top of local leadership. Current First Selectman Jeff Capeci and running mate Charles Gardner and challenger Bruce Walczak and his running mate Paul Lundquist will be hosted at The Black Beard this month. Jeff, Bruce, et al will record separate episodes of the Newtown-centric podcast. Each set of candidates will be asked the same questions concerning their visions for the town, and that’s where you come in, my friends. The guys said this week they’d love to get as many questions as possible from a diverse mix of residents. If you’d like to participate, send a note to 2guysandapint@gmail.com or direct message the 2GAAP team through Facebook or Instagram. Deadline for questions is September 22. The respective episodes are planned for an early October release, well ahead of elections on November 4.

Last weekend’s Protect Our Pollinators Native Plant Sale was “very, very successful,” according to a friend who sent me a quick note Sunday night. The sale’s entire 400-plant inventory sold out, which means hundreds of plants will be appearing soon in gardens and landscapes all around us.

The Hidalgo family plans to close Mexicali Rose, the restaurant that’s been serving up Mexican food with Oaxacan influences for just shy of three decades. Located in Ricky’s Plaza on South Main Street, the restaurant was already in recent news after an elderly driver crashed through the restaurant’s west wall. The driver was transported to a hospital for minor injuries, no one was inside the restaurant at the time of the August 26 crash so there were no injuries there, and the Hidalgos were able to reopen four days later.

This week, however, we heard from a family member sharing the news that was also posted on social media: Sunday, September 21, will be the final day of business for the family-owned eatery. The crash was one thing, but it’s still family first and Minerva Hidalgo, “the heart and soul of Mexicali Rose,” according to the September 7 post, “has been dealing with health challenges.” My best wishes to the entire Hidalgo family. Thank you for sharing your recipes and talent with us for so long. Friends and customers are invited to visit before next Sunday afternoon, “not to say goodbye, but to share memories and maybe one last plate of your favorite dish,” also according to the Facebook post. As I mentioned last week, I’ll happily take care of any fish tacos left unattended.

The recent concert by Panacea was another success, judging by our photos and notes as well as many found on social media following the August 31 performance. Band member and event organizer Leslie Ballard raised funds for FAITH Food Pantry this year by raffling a Newtown Bee one-year subscription or renewal and Maryann Federko’s ticket was pulled for that special prize. Congratulations! Leslie said Maryann was thrilled with the win. We are equally thrilled with the new name on our list of subscribers.

As highlighted in this week’s print edition, a new fundraiser is heading to town. Designer Bag Bingo is well into planning and preparation stages and organizers have already taken care of many details. They’re going to need additional volunteers for the event, however, and have asked me if I know anyone would like to volunteer. Help will be needed on both Friday and Saturday, October 10-11, before, during and after the fundrasier for Friends of the Newtown Community Center. If you’d like to learn more, call 914-656-4119 or send a quick note to designerbagbingo.ncc@newtown-ct.gov or just visit the Sign Up Genius page for the current list of openings.

Congratulations to Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Sandy Hook, which picked up a few national awards in the inaugural National Small Producer Wine Invitational. A new event hosted by Libation Wine, Beer and Spirits Awards, the event is reportedly the only wine competition exclusively for the small producer wine industry (under 5,000 cases annually). The Pole Bridge Road vineyard has been named the National Small Producer of the Year, a title supported by LWBSA awards for Double Gold Medal Winner for Native American and Hybrid Wines for its Gaea Estate White; Gold Medals for its Princess of Troy Merlot, Siren Moscato, Callisto Cayuga and its Gaea Estate White; and a Silver Medal for its Zana e Malit Riesling.

Coincidentally, Aquila's Nest Co-Owner Neviana Zhgaba sat down for a quick Snapshot interview a few weeks ago and hers is this week’s column. See page A-2 or check online Wednesday, September 17 to read that. If you’d like to be featured in Snapshot or have a suggestion for that longstanding column, we always appreciate referrals. Snapshot highlights people who aren’t written about regularly. Beyond that, they just need to live or work in town. Send a note to editor@thebee.com if you have an idea for us.

Continued thanks to my friends Isaiah and Rob Morris, who visited on Monday with cookies for me and my fellow Bees. I was fresh out of jokes to share with Isaiah, but Rob told me a good one he’d heard just the day before from a parishioner: Why were crowbars invented? So crows didn’t have to drink at home.

If you have a good joke handy, please share it with me so I can then forward it to Isaiah. He’s always ready for a good laugh. I can be reached at mountain@thebee.com or through my Facebook profile (@TopOfTheMountainCat).

Be kind, laugh easily, and please remember you can come right back here next week, when it will be time to … read me again.