It looks like the Newtown Reads selection at C.H. Booth Library is a popular pick. Residents had snatched up all of the free copies of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by late last week. Not to worry. Our librarians were on top of it, and additional copies were ordered and ready for readers by midweek. Newtown Reads is a program encouraging all residents to read the same book, at the same time, by July 1. Lots of fun programs and activities related to the book are planned, so be sure to check the library’s website, www.chboothlibrary.org.

Best wishes to Zoe Lonsinger, a 10-year-old Sandy Hook violinist who has already performed at Carnegie Hall a number of times, as she prepares for a performance on Sunday in New Jersey. Zoe will be one of three musicians featured in “Rondo Tour Special Presentation.” The performance will be at Prospect Heights Care Center in Hackensack, N.J., and will also feature the pianists Jenni Li, a senior at Spence School in New York City, and Dimitri Galterio, who attends Trinity School. The musicians will individually be performing works of Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Wieniawski, and Tan Dun. All three earned the honor of performing this weekend after winning the top three positions of Rondo Young Artist, an international classical music competition that gives musicians ages 5–18 a taste of the professional musician’s life through recording and touring.

I understand congratulations are in order for Newtown resident Christopher Wermuth, currently serving as the assistant principal at Westport’s Long Lots Elementary School. Mr Wermuth was recently selected to be the new principal of Pomperaug Regional School District 15’s Long Meadow Elementary School. 

Congratulations, as well, to Newtown resident Nancy Kost, who was one of three employees to receive the Shining Star Associate Award from Meadow Ridge, a senior living community in Redding. Nominees “demonstrate the best of Meadow Ridge by expressing passion for what they do, as well as dedication and determination in delivering excellence in customer service and care,” according to the facility.  Nancy was nominated “because she is consistently positive and happy, bringing such a wonderful feeling to all of the residents in rehab and skilled nursing she serves.”

Among the more than 60 photographers in the upcoming community-based exhibition of cellphone photographs at the Gallery at Still River in Danbury is Newtown resident Andrea Zimmermann. The exhibit features more than 120 images taken in Connecticut, and is part of the State of Connecticut’s 11th Open House Day — a statewide celebration of culture, history, and art, Saturday, June 13. Join photographers and friends at the 128 East Liberty Street gallery for the opening of the exhibition, from noon to 5 pm that day. Refreshments will be served. From 1 to 4 pm, alternative process photos demonstrations are scheduled (cyanotype, Van Dyke brown, and digital hand-sanitizer transfer).

Have you ever had the feeling that someone is watching you? It was a sensation I just couldn’t shake while nosing about Reed Intermediate School last week; then I realized why. An incredible display of animal eyes created by RIS fifth grade art students was watching my every move.  According to the explanation posted nearby, students made these “artistic [studies] of simulated texture and composition with an interdisciplinary science connection to the study of the parts of the eye.” I did a little eyeballing of these eyes, and picked out a tiger’s eye, the eye of a parrot, owls’ eyes, and snake eyes — but not one cat eye. Maybe because a cat’s eyes are closed 17 hours of the day…

The next Friday Night Bingo event at St Rose will be this week, May 15. Games are played in Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall, adjacent to St Rose of Lima School, 40 Church Hill Road. All ages are welcome for a family-friendly night featuring Bingo fun and cash prizes. There will be a dinner concession, along with homemade dessert treats and complimentary coffee. The evening — which will be the finalé for the 2014-15 season — will also feature a complimentary raffle with exciting prizes. Doors will open at 5:45 pm, and games will run from 6:30 until approximately 9:30 pm. The per-person admission fee of $17 covers all regular games. For more information, contact the St Rose of Lima School administrative offices at 203-426-5102.

Happy Birthday to Jim Shpunt. While I won’t mention how old the Sandy Hook native will be on Friday, I will mention that he can begin collecting things now that he has reached this latest milestone… Social Security… retirement benefits… If you’d like to stop in and wish him a Happy Birthday, Jim can be found working at Newtown Hardware. If you really want to make him smile, buy a ticket or two for Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s LobsterFest while you’re at it. Jim, like all other members of the company, has tickets available for this year’s big event, which will return to the firehouse on Riverside Road, Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6. Tickets are $25 for a full steak or lobster dinner in advance, and $27 at the door. Hot dog or hamburger dinners are $5 each, in advance or at the door. Tickets are also available at the fire marshal’s office at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street; and the office of The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road. I’m dreaming about licking butter off my paws already.

Keep your eyes and ears open for information on the way about the Ben’s Bells “Celebration of Kindness” event, scheduled for June 7. Ben’s Bells studio at 17 Church Hill Road continues to create the special ceramic wind chimes, with clay crafters and painters of all ages gathering during open studio hours, Wednesday evenings, from 6 to 9 pm, or Saturdays, from 10 am to 3 pm. For information on how you can take part (no experience necessary!) go to www.bensbells.org/newtown.

Kids probably run around enough to stay in shape, but if not, there is time to prepare for the July Race4Chase, honoring the memory of Chase Kowalski, who died 12/14. The 2nd Annual Race4Chase Kids’ Triathlon Race will take place at Great Hollow Lake, Wolfe Park in Monroe, Sunday, July 12. The Race4Chase Kids Triathlon is open to any child ages 6–12 (age as of 12/31/14). Significant interest in participating is expected after the success of the 2014 race, so early sign up is urged. The field will be limited and filled on a first come, first served basis. This race is USAT sanctioned, which provides for the highest quality, safest event possible. For further information and registration, visit www.cmakfoundation.org/events.

I’ll be running — running around collecting the news you’ll enjoy if you… Read me again.