While the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library continue to put everything back into storage following last week’s presentation of the 49th Book Sale (see related story), readers are reminded that the annual donations pause is still underway. The volunteers who presented last week’s big fundraiser will be happy to see books, jigsaw puzzles, media, etc again. They just ask everyone to wait a few more days — until Monday, July 21 — before dropping anything at the library. Anything left at the library before Monday morning will be discarded.

How can I not love a group called Back Yard Beekeepers, especially when its mission is to provide education about the wonderful and remarkable world of the honeybee? Colony Collapse Disorder was a big thing in the news a few years ago, and it hasn’t gone away. Honeybee die-off in this country hit record highs again earlier this year, so this is a continuing concern. The good news is, The Guardian reported earlier this year that there is an “all-time high number of honeybee colonies in the US — 3.8 million, around 1 million more than five years previously.”

It’s a mixed bag, of course, but if you’d like to learn more, the Beekeepers will be hosting Georgia Beekeepers Association President Julia Mahood during its next meeting. Julia is an authority on honeybee drones, hard working little things she calls “the Rodney Dangerfields of the bee world — they get no respect!” If you’d like to learn more, the program is planned for Tuesday, July 22, 7 pm (for socializing, 7:30 for the program), at Norfield Congregational Church. There is no charge to attend but registration is requested and available, along with additional information, at backyardbeekeepers.com.

When you hear handbells around town next Friday and Saturday it won’t be the heat getting to you. The Salvation Army Newtown-Bethel chapter is bringing back its Christmas in July Bell Ringing Campaign. Donations made Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, will help local families purchase school supplies for the approaching academic year.

Volunteers will be at Newtown General Store and Bagel Delight Friday and Saturday from 8 am until 1 pm. Volunteers on Saturday will also be outside Dunkin Donuts until noon, Stop & Shop (both entrances) from 9 am until 4 pm, and Bottle Stop and Yankee Wine & Liquor from noon until 5 pm.

Looking even further ahead on the calendar, the 2025-26 academic year is just over the horizon. Newtown Public Schools faculty will report in for the 2025-26 academic year and begin their annual professional development on August 20. Students have their first day of school less than a week later, on August 25. Back-To-School sales and planning those first day outfits began weeks ago, and we’d love to see what everyone looks like on August 25. Students, parents, grandparents, et al, we’d love First Day of School photos for our annual roundup. Please send photos — keeping them as large as possible, so they print well in the paper — to Education Reporter Jenna Visca at jenna@thebee.com. We’ll need those photos right away if they’re going to be included in the print edition of August 29, so send them almost as soon as you take them, please. They’re due in Jenna’s hands by 8 am Tuesday, August 26.

Jim Wright shared a great photo this week. Jim lives near the Upper Paugussett State Forest near what he jokingly calls a “bear thoroughfare.” Bears regularly leave the state forest, across a nearby hill and into his yard, through a nearby pond and marsh area, almost reaching the Housatonic River without being out from under cover, he shared. Of course the bears are occasionally distracted by bird feeders and/or birdhouses on the Wright property, but last week Jim was pleasantly surprised to watch this bear check out but ultimately ignore an occupied wren house.

The younger bear he photographed last week checked out the wren house, another birdhouse and even another feeder before moving on without damaging anything. Jim has seen plenty of bear damage in his yard before, so the visit last week was particularly enjoyable for him.

It seems someone on the Labor Day Parade Committee has a silly sense of humor. The committee’s Facebook moderator shared a great joke this week that sings right to my heart: What do you call a parade full of cats, dogs and birds? A purrade! Ha! Very fitting too, considering this year’s parade theme is “Pets on Parade.” Organizers of one of our hometown’s largest annual events have openings for participants and sponsors ahead of Monday, September 1. Retired Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason has been tapped as this year’s Grand Marshal, and I can’t wait to see what everyone does to celebrate her, this year’s theme, and the end of summer celebration that’s been happening almost every year since 1962. If you’d like to have a part in the parade, visit newtownlabordayparade.org to learn how.

Speaking of help, Newtown Historical Society is looking for some. Organizers of the society’s History Camp, which returns the mornings of August 18-22, need a hand-crank ice cream maker. After more than a decade of fun — as well as several repairs and restoration efforts — the society’s 6-quart White Mountain ice cream maker is in need of total replacement. Old-fashioned ice cream makers can be difficult to find, but if you have one you can part with I know where it would be very much appreciated. Contact Abby Simes (abigail.m.simes@gmail.com) if you can help. I know of at least 12 young adults and a few camp counselors who would be very grateful for the gift.

Meanwhile, if you need help properly disposing of expired and/or unused medications, C.H. Booth Library has another new offering. The institution at 25 Main Street is now a designated location for free medication disposal bags. As those who attended a recent Lunch & Learn program were reminded, prescription medicines should never be flushed or put down a drain. They also should not just be thrown into the trash. Special bags have been created that will dilute and dissolve many medications. The bags — with the medications sealed inside — can then be put into the trash. The library is now one of the local places people can pick up one or two such bags, free of charge and no questions asked. The bags are in a basket near the front entrance of the library. Newtown Senior Center and Newtown Parent Connection also have additional medication disposal bags, according to the program presented last month at the senior center.

Fortunately I haven’t needed any medicine for any of my nine lives, although The Bee’s new puppy got herself into some trouble this week. Banks Baggett created a Code Brown in one of the hallways at the office. No gold stars for her that day.

I’m going to gather my wits and start planning next week’s visit for readers who enjoy good news. You just need to remember to come back here and … read me again.