A (cat owning) friend shared this bit of info with me: A study by researchers at the University of Minnesota found that feline-less people were 30 to 40 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with cats. Dog owners had the same rate as non-owners. Dr Adnan Querishi, a stroke expert at the university, and his team analyzed 4,500 people regarding pet ownership and risk factors and concluded, “We don’t understand this completely, but it’s probably not a coincidence.” All the more reason to fill your home with cats, I say.

The Animal Center has a very special cat up for adoption, if you need to improve your heart health. Marty had a badly injured leg when he was rescued, but thanks to donations and the skill of Dr Steinmetz at Mill Plain Veterinary Clinic in Danbury, Marty can strut his stuff pretty nicely now. Check out the video of his progress at http://youtu.be/QGgMNzGyj_o. And while you’re at it, visit www.kittenassociates.org to find out about Bobette. This cat is also a leg injury patient looking for a forever home. Bobette had successful surgery for a luxated patella, provided by Dr Mixon of Newtown Veterinary Center Now here are a couple of doctors that deserve my Good Egg Award.

I’ve nominated my Good Egg this week; won’t you do the same for someone else, next week? If you know a Newtowner who works quietly behind the scenes to better someone’s life or environment, let me know. He or she deserves a little good press. E-mail Nancy@thebee.com, subject line: Good Egg, and I will see that they receive my coveted Good Egg Award.

The NHS girls’ lacrosse, baseball, and boys’ and girls’ soccer teams are planning fundraisers in honor of NHS English teacher and lacrosse coach Marc Kenney’s son, Ryan. Ryan was born prematurely on December 8, and weighed just two pounds. I’m happy to report that Ryan went home a hefty eight pounds on March 29. The NHS soccer teams will host two one-day soccer clinics at Newtown Youth Academy, 4 Primrose Street. From 9 to 11 am, Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, boys and girls ages 6–12 will have a chance to improve their soccer skills with high school varsity players. For additional information, call 203-770-8875 or send e-mail to NewtownHSGirlsSoccer@gmail.com. The baseball team will charge $3 for admission, as part of its fund raising efforts, to its game against Joel Barlow of Redding on Friday, April 27, at 6:15 pm, at Fairfield Hills Baseball Field. The Newtown High School girls’ lacrosse team is sponsoring a March of Dimes team for Ryan. Donations to Ryan’s Lions, which go directly to the March of Dimes, may be made at the girls’ lacrosse team’s game against Weston, May 8, at 7 pm, at the Blue & Gold Stadium. Donations are also accepted www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1865092.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of the 2012 Old Farmer’s Almanac yet, don’t feel like it’s too late. The articles are still pertinent, and it is chock full of great gardening tips. With visions of a plentiful harvest in mind, this is the ideal time to revisit some old hints and discover some new ones for a healthy garden. For instance, how about using eggshell halves to sprout seeds? When it’s time, you can just plant the whole thing. (And perhaps there are a few spare eggshells around post-Easter.) How about a re-created soda bottle to trap slugs, or a special recipe to deter squash vine borers? Those Old Farmer’s have plenty of tricks up their sleeves, so be sure to check them out.

Sally Kuka was at a special anniversary party last week when her sister, Jeanne Shakir and husband Jack celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary at the Cascades Assisted Living in Bethel. Sally introduced the pair way back when and they married April 3, 1948, at City Hall in New York. There was no money for cake or champagne then, but 64 years later, they made up for that by sharing some of their first-ever wedding cake and a champagne toast.  The secret to a long marriage? Jack says it is “saying ‘Yes dear.’” Jeanne admits to “saying it more than Jack, and then quietly doing what I wanted.” Congratulations, Jack and Jeanne!

If you are feeling a little batty, I have just the remedy. Dave LaMarche, 2005 NHS grad, is presenting “The Secret Life of Vampire Bats,” Wednesday, April 18, at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, as part of the zoo’s evening lecture series. Dave conducted research on the zoo’s colony of entirely male vampire bats last year, looking at the food sharing behavior. The presentation “highlights these fascinating and social animals, provides a background on their unique behaviors, and describes my research,” says info we received this week from Dave. The program begins at 7 pm, in the zoo’s Hanson building, 1875 Noble Avenue. A $5 suggested donation will get you in on the secrets. Visit www.beardsleyzoo.org for more information.

I can barely keep my paws out of The New York Times, when I’m not reading The Bee. What a nice surprise, last Friday, to recognize a byline in the SchoolBook section of The Times, online. Eddie Small is a 2006 graduate of NHS, and currently enrolled at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in the City. In “The Art of Slipping In Some Learning,” Eddie takes a look at one teacher’s methods of painlessly overlapping subjects. Here’s the link, in case you missed it: http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/04/06/the-art-of-slipping-in-some-learning/?scp=1&sq=Eddie%20Small&st=cse. Who knows? If Eddie’s articles keep getting accepted at The NY Times, maybe he’ll be ready to be my co-columnist in Top of the Mountain one day. I hope he aspires so highly…

I, for one, am happy to read of the demise of the AT&T Yellow Pages directories, those cumbersome unsolicited tomes that seem to rot at the end of everyone’s driveways these days. AT&T has sold the YP unit to Cerebrus Capitol Management, it seems, which in turn plans to turn the information pages into a digital business. Although I have to add that I will miss curling up for a nap on top of a thick directory in the recycling bin. The magazines just aren’t cushy enough.

Some believe that the return of robins is the harbinger of spring, others believe it is the blooming of the daffodils. I know that spring is underway when, one after another, the ice cream shops in town re-open. Holy Cow Ice Cream on Church Hill Road has been fulfilling our dessert fantasies for a couple of weeks already, this Tuesday was opening day at The Creamery on Route 302, and Ice Cream Heaven on Glen Road in Sandy Hook should be welcoming patrons by the time you read this. Not to mention, frozen yogurt lovers have the new Peachwave on Route 25 for icy delights. Ah, so much delicious creamy food, and so few meals (and snacks) in a day. I’ll do my part, you can count on that.

Here’s the other thing to count on — I’ll be back next week with more of the newsiest of news, so be sure to… Read me again.