In case you haven’t heard, there is a parade in town this coming Monday. The Annual Newtown Labor Day Parade takes place in the center of town, for the 51st year, but remember that this year you don’t have to wake up and smell the coffee in order to get a prime viewing spot. The parade does not start until noon, rather than its 10 am start time, as in previous years. (Last year was an exception, day, time, and month thanks to Tropical Storm Irene.)

If you find yourself arriving too early, not to worry. Beginning at 8 am, Ambassador Girl Scout Troop from Newtown is holding a tag sale on the Newtown Middle School grounds, on Queen Street. The Labor Day Fair, with food vendors and lots of craftspeople, begins at 9 am, on the front lawn of the middle school. Romy’s BBQ , featuring shish kebobs and funnel cakes, and Weenie Lynns, for hot dogs and fixings or a bacon and egg sandwich, are among the food vendors. Look for Pampered Chef, Stella, and Dot reps, in addition to the crafters and artists. Check out the Newtown Arts Festival booth and the EverWonder Children’s Museum booth to satisfy your curiosities about these two local efforts. Or stroll over after the parade, as the event is scheduled to run until 3 pm.

Two churches within walking distance of Monday’s parade route (one is on the route) will be hosting fundraisers while opening their parking lots to paradegoers. Trinity Episcopal will have parking available in its lot, accessible from Church Hill Road and Main Street, with donations being accepted for the church’s work camp program. Youth and adult volunteers will be at each entrance of the church, from 10 to 11:30 am, accepting those donations and coordinating the parking.

(Speaking of Trinity, Pastor Kathie Adams-Shepherd admits she is having a harder time than usual staying still lately, but these days she is under doctor’s orders. Best wishes to Pastor Kathie as she continues to heal and recover following her recent foot reconstruction surgery.)

Meanwhile over at 14 West Street, Newtown Congregational Church will be hosting its annual Pancakes & Parking. Members of the church will be serving pancake breakfast between from 9:30 to 11:30, and attendees are welcome to leave their cars at NCC and walk to Main Street for the parade. Requested donation is $6 per person, or $20 for families. Keep in mind that Newtown Police will be closing roads beginning at 11:15 am on September 3, and those roads will remain closed until after the parade.

While many groups will no doubt be throwing candy to those along the parade route on Monday, I want to remind you that two groups will be collecting items. The Lubinsky family is again spearheading the One Can Make(s) A Difference collection, and would love to fill a few pickup trucks with donations for Faith Food Pantry. They will again be wearing bright orange T-shirts and marching at the end of Division 1. The Lions Club, who are slated to be in Division 4, are also hoping to collect gently used eyeglasses, one of the many charitable things this group does. If you have eyeglasses tucked away in far corners of the drawers, tuck them into your pockets and bring them along on parade day.

Labor Day means fun, end of summer celebrations, but following right on its heels is the somber anniversary of 9/11. As we approach the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, former Wall Street trader Howard Lasher would like to let everyone know that he will again host his annual memorial service to honor those who were lost that awful morning. This year’s service will be Tuesday, September 11, at 8 am, on his Route 302 property. You will recognize the spot by the stand of maples painted to represent the American flag, which is visible from the road. Details are still be ironed out concerning who will be speaking this year, but Howard invites everyone who would like to attend to save the date.

I have not one, but two Good Eggs to award this week. I hear that the Mattegat family, Jay, Melanie, Lauren (Morehouse), and Jacey have been busy behind the scenes at Nunnawauk Meadows, where Jay serves on the board. The Mattegats recently hosted a summer dinner for more than 100 Nunnawauk Meadows residents, bearing most of the cost themselves to make a summer evening memorable for people living there. That would be wonderful enough, but apparently this is something the Mattegats take on every year. What a wonderful gesture, and so deserving of the Good Egg.

The White family received a note that would make most folks frown, but they were so flattered by the personal note from “Megan from the Tax Office” that they received after sending in personal property taxes, that they would like Megan and her co-workers to get the Good Egg Award. “This is just a friendly reminder that there is still a 3 dollar balance on the bill…” says the handwritten sticky note. It’s a reminder, said Susan White, of the old-fashioned goodness and friendliness that makes Newtown the great place to live that it is. Megan, here’s your very own Good Egg:

Not sure if the Peter Pan Tours of Distinction bus spotted in the parking lot of Ferris Acres’ Creamery last week means that it was just a random (but delicious) stop for the tour, or if the Tours of Distinction was seeking out ice creams of distinction around the region. Now there’s a tour bus I wouldn’t mind being aboard!

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking artists to design the next Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. The art contest, open to artists everywhere, of all ages and experience, runs through March 15, 1213. Artwork of waterfowl may be any full-color medium, including acrylic, oil, colored pencil, and watercolor. Images that include a Connecticut scene or landmark are preferred. Entries will be judges on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy, general rendering, and suitability for reproduction. Funds generated by sales of the duck stamps are used only for development, management, preservation, conservation, acquisition, purchase, and maintenance of waterfowl habitat and wetlands. The Connecticut program requires the purchase of a state Duck Stamp, along with a hunting license, to legally hunt waterfowl in the state. Details on the contest are available at www.ct.gov/deep/ctduckstamp. Get quacking!

When they put out a cat conservation stamp, I’ll get doodling. Meanwhile, I’ll be noodling and doodling the news about town, so be sure next week to… Read me again.