There is nothing that says “summertime” to me more than a good book (and lots of time to read it), so I’m “purr-ty” excited about the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library 35th Annual Book Sale that starts on Saturday. Numbered admission tickets go on sale at the Reed Intermediate School on Trades Lane, bright and early, July 10, at 7 am. Regular admission begins at 9 am, and Saturday is the only day there is an admission fee, of $5. Thousands of fabulous fiction and nonfiction books, rare and collectible books, CDs, DVDs, games, and VHS tapes will be on sale, so it’s going to be a challenge to pick just a few of the bargain-priced items. The sale runs until 5 pm on Saturday; Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm; Monday, which is half-price day, and Tuesday, which is $5/bag day, from 9 am to 7 pm; and the final day, Wednesday, July 14, from 9 am to noon. Wednesday is also FREE day, so there’s no excuse for not finding a book in your price range. See you there!

Shannon Hicks continued her vacation adventures last week, moving from chasing squirrels with her sister along Connecticut’s shoreline (I refer you to my column of last week for details on that little escapade) to New Hampshire, where she found herself at a (gasp!) book sale presented by another library! No worries, however. Shannon — who is now safely back in the air-conditioned, deadline-driven world of The Bee — says that while the Josiah Bartlett Library’s book sale was charming, it has nothing on Newtown’s grand event. “Seven card tables, a handful of boxes, and a table of refreshments,” she reports. “It was lovely. Totally small town, coming at the conclusion of their Fourth of July parade that included their Methodist pastor driving one of the fire engines. The book sale was a fundraiser for that library and I even found a handful of new books. But I’m counting that book sale as a warm-up for this weekend’s big visit to Reed School.”

Curiosity may have killed the cat (ugh — what an awful expression!) but the reporters at The Bee are still curious what you think. Check out the weekly survey posted on the Newtown Bee Facebook page each Wednesday to put in your two cents worth. What? You’re not a fan of The Bee yet? Go to Facebook.com and sign up!

The Organic Farmers’ Market is back in business, in case you haven’t noticed. Look for lots of vendors of fresh, fresh produce and handcrafted items on the Fairfield Hills campus, off Wasserman Way, each Tuesday, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Market Master Mary Fellows reports this week that while it was sweltering on Tuesday, she nevertheless welcomed a half dozen vendors and a small but eager crowd ready for some fresh produce. “Temps reached 102 degrees, but it was shady and breezy under the maple canopy on top of the hill at the new home near the old Fairfield Hills entrance,” she reported on Wednesday. “As the gates opened for the first time in like 20 years for the farmers to load in [Tuesday morning], pedestrian cars tried to pull through, thinking the old pass-through was once again open.

“We are so happy to finally have a central location, but it was bittersweet to leave St John’s and The Villa Restaurant, our home for the last seven years,” she continued. “Without them we would have never gotten the market off the ground.”

Kevin’s Community Center will try something new later this month to raise funds for the South Main Street clinic and its free medical services. On Saturday, July 17, A Day of Summer Fun will be presented at The Ehden Lebanese American Club, 3 Garthwait Road in Wolcott. From 2 to 8 pm, families of all ages are invited to drop in for Lebanese and American food, cash bar, magician, games, clown, moon bounce and a DJ. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for children, and can be purchased before Saturday at the community center (153 Main Street South) or at the door on Saturday. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit KCC and its free medical services.

Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue is not only celebrating the debut of its brand-new rescue vehicle, Engine 441, going into full service this week, members of the department are planning the company’s next fundraiser. A golf tournament will be hosted by the department on Monday, July 19, with breakfast served at the Riverside Road main station, 18 holes of golf over at Whitney Farms in Monroe, followed by early dinner back at the station. Cost is $125 per golfer. Contact Kevin Stoyak or Ken Carlson at 203-270-4392 for additional information.

Carey Schierloh shared a great photo of her husband with us this week. Ed Schierloh is home from Iraq and Kuwait, having served a 12-month tour with NMCB 22 (Navy Mobile Construction Battalion), June 2009 until just last month. We’re so glad he has returned home safely, and more than a little bit proud to see that while overseas Ed kept up with his hometown’s news via The Newtown Bee.

Another resident named Ed had a great Independence Day. I received a note this week from my feline friend who covers the news along Parmalee Hill Road:

“Ed Kelleher, Newtown attorney and community volunteer, triumphed on the Fourth of July over a field of competitors hailing from as far away as Westchester and New York City in the Seventh Annual Parmalee Hill Croquet Tournament. It was Attorney Kelleher’s second seizure of the Silver Mallet Cup in a row, having last year displaced former champion Tom Johnson, seen to be trailing so far back at Sunday’s event that observers assumed he was being charitable. Dave Lydem, the bettors’ favorite, came in third far behind his wife Emy. Ms Sydney Eddison, long reigning former champion, coached and refereed.

“Warm wishes,

“Lucky, Queen Cat of Parmalee Hill Swamp”

With that, I count myself among those lucky enough to be able to, whether home or abroad, online or in print, read The Bee every week. I hope you’ll do the same next week when you return next week to …read me again.