Paul Sarnik is very happy with the service he has received from Jim and Dan at Berkshire Auto. “I bought an Ebike from them that got stolen. Then I read Andy’s article [Andy Hutchison, “Electric Bikes Give Riders The Power To Pedal Or Not”] in the September 4 Bee, and went back and bought another. They took off $200,” Paul shares with us. That’s a pretty generous thing to do. I guess these guys are Good Eggs! INSERT GOOD EGG GRAPHIC

The Good Egg must be shared with George and Robert at Blue Colony Diner! This week we heard from Arlene Davis of Middletown, R.I. “Sunday, 09/20 I drove into the Blue Colony Diner with my horse trailer. I have stopped there many times. Their parking lot is nice and big for the 50’ truck and trailer to get in and out. I ordered a sandwich and drink to go...,” she e-mailed us. “Somewhere between receiving my order and returning to the truck, I dropped my wallet. Hours later, already back in Rhode Island, I discovered it gone. One phone call to Blue Colony Diner, and George promised to mail it the next day. I received it Tuesday, 09/22. Robert has worked at the Blue Colony for 20+ years. He is a busboy there. He found the wallet and gave it to George. I asked George to take a $100 bill from the wallet for Robert. George refused to take one for himself. He also refused to take money to mail it. He overnighted it at his own expense!” How nice to have such a happy ending to what can be a problematic loss.

Vicki and John Boccuzzi were both surprised on their shared birthday a few weeks ago. The patriarch and matriarch of the Boccuzzi family celebrate their birthdays on September 11; they were born one year apart from each other. INSERT BOCCUZZI PHOTO John had a milestone birthday this year, and while the family couldn’t do a big party to celebrate that, Vicki reached out to family and friends and asked them to consider doing a birthday parade for her husband. “We have a circular driveway, so I don’t expect any traffic jams,” Vicki said in notes that were sent far and wide. Little did Vicki know, however, that while she was arranging for this surprise for her husband, her children were crafting a surprise of their own for her! John Boccuzzi, Jr, reached out over the weekend to update what we already knew: in addition to Vicki arranging for the surprise for her husband, John Jr and family arranged for an oversize Winnie the Pooh sign to be set up in front of the home of their parents, as well. “Happy Birthday Geo & Gammy” read a notice attached to the sign, which was indeed a surprise for both Boccuzzis. “They had a wonderful time and over 50 cars participated in the parade,” John Jr said. “My dad and my mom have a lot of amazing friends in town.”

Looking for a good deal? The Newtown VNA is holding a Bag Sale this Saturday, September 26, from 9 am to 1 pm, outside of their thrift shop located in the lower level (back parking lot) of Edmond Town Hall. $5 a bag will get you some great bargains! Shoppers, be sure to wear a mask.

Leslie Silverman shares with me that Newtown’s Real Food Share is among the community gardens and farmers market featured this Saturday, September 26, in a documentary from CPTV. View it at 7 pm, or stream it at cptv.org. (You’ll find out about the Barn Quilt Trail in our state, too.)

If you feel comfortable, the public is invited to the Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main Street, this Sunday for an open house. Guided tours are available, as well as an outdoor demonstration by blacksmith Josh Reynolds. Stop by between noon and 4 pm, but don’t forget to wear your mask.

Speaking of which, it is now a finable offense if you do not wear your mask (properly placed over mouth and nose) when in a public space that does not permit proper social distancing — indoors or outdoors. It has become clear that wearing masks will protect those around you from not only the novel coronavirus, but from exposure to flu and the endless colds that are the norm in New England winters. This is not about you. This is about caring about those you encounter, who may not be as able to withstand illnesses. Furthermore, don’t forget to do a good job washing your paws... hands... multiple times a day. I’m social distancing by keeping to myself on my cushion, six feet away from any of my canine, feline, or human friends. Maybe that’s easier for a cat...?

It’s getting to that season when the rakes come out and work begins. The National Wildlife Federation says, “Put down the rake!” It turns out that “leafing” leaves in your garden is a good thing. Here are some reasons, according to NWF:

*Provide habitat for wildlife: Frogs, turtles, and salamanders rely on fallen leaves to provide cover and hibernation places; many moth and butterfly caterpillars overwinter in fallen leaves before emerging in spring.

*Provide food for wildlife: Creatures like earthworms and millipedes reside in and decompose leaf litter, and also are themselves a source of food for bigger wildlife like birds and toads.

*Increase fertility of your soil: As the leaves decompose, nutrients are added to your soil; also allows for greater water retention.

You have two opportunities locally coming up to have papers confidentially shredded. For $10 per file box (increasing $5 by box size), on Saturday, October 3, the Ladies Auxiliary of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company will be at the fire company’s station, 18-20 Riverside Road, from 9 am until noon. (There is also a gently used clothing collection going on there the same time.)

Then on Saturday, October 17, also from 9 am until noon, FONS volunteers will be at the Plaza South branch of Newtown Savings Bank, 266 South Main Street for a shredding event. That cost is $10 per box, $5 for senior citizens.

As we look toward October, The Newtown Bee will again be hosting an Adopt A Shelter Dog collection for Newtown Animal Shelter. A collection box will be set up all month in our front lobby — just inside the front door of 5 Church Hill Road — for anyone who would like to donate for the local shelter. The following items are on this year’s request list: Nutro Max Mini Chunk Dog Food, Iams Dry Dog Food, freeze dried liver treats, canine toothpaste (poultry flavor), pig’s ears, large Kong toys, Air Kongs, large rope toys, Frisbees, squeak toys, tennis balls, choke chain collars, and sturdy slide leads. The shelter also gladly accepts pet store gift certificates and cleaning supplies including bleach, ammonia, paper towels, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, towels, and large black garbage bags. Our office is open weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm. If you want to donate, but don’t want to come inside the building, leave your donation at the front door and call the front desk (203-426-3141); someone will step outside to collect it for you.

“Old Mother Hubbard, went to the cupboard to get her poor doggie a bone; but when she got there, the cupboard was bare and so her poor doggie got none.” Let’s not forget all of the people, though, who are also challenged right now to put meals on the table. Please donate to FAITH Food Pantry, 46 Church Hill Road to keep their cupboards filled. You can find a list of the greatest needs at newtownfoodpantry.org. The food pantry is open by appointment only, and donations drop-offs must also be scheduled by calling 203-837-0816 or 203-426-5604. There is also a collection box in the lobby of The Newtown Bee, as well as at Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market.

Upcoming holidays are going to present a challenge this fall, thanks to COVID-19 concerns, starting with Halloween. I see that Hershey’s has launched a website that includes a way to look up the health risk in your area, and with lots of ideas for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween. Visit https://www.halloween2020.org/ for some fun ideas if you go out — or not — this October 31. (You’ll want to check out The Bee’s Better Health pages on October 16, to find out what our local officials suggest! We all know that Main Street can get a little crazy...) And here’s a scary thought: October 31 is also the second full moon that month, the so-called “blue” moon. Believe in werewolves?

There’s little in this column that is scary, so... Read me again.