We all love Newtown for many different reasons, but I think almost everyone agrees that there are times when our town seems like the most beautiful place on earth. In the days just before Isabel came to blows with the Atlantic coast, the weather here in town seemed almost perfect –– the calm before the storm, I guess. I keeping thinking about the fact that this is the last full week of summer, and I can’t decide how to spend it. Should I go fishing in Deep Brook, stroll across the Ram Pasture, or take a sunbath on the back porch. Might as well stay outside as long as possible before the temperature drops and the long nights close in.

Sharonann Smith has been spending a fair amount of time outside enjoying the last days of summer. She moved to Alpine Drive about a year ago, and has enjoyed life in Newtown, with the possible exception of one misadventure last week. I’ll let Sharonann tell the story herself. This is what she wrote of me this week:

I moved to Newtown last year because I wanted to get away from the traffic of lower Fairfield County. While I still have the noise from I-84, I don’t have the traffic. In fact, I have a lovely road lined with trees that brings me to my property in Sandy Hook. Being the nature lover that I am, on a beautiful morning last week I decided to ride my bike down that beautiful road (Pole Bridge). As I was riding I was kind of singing, smiling, and having a good old time, when in the distance, across an open field I saw a rather strange looking bird. It was a large black duck with a complete red head. I admired it and called to it, “Hello, Mr Duck!” Well, wasn’t I surprised when the thing started to waddle towards me at a fast pace. Wasn’t this pleasant, the duck was like a dog. I continued to talk to it, asking it “What is your name big guy.” It kept coming and as I bent down to admire it –– it walked right up to me and bit me! I screamed, “No biting,” and walked around on the other side of my bike. It waddled around also and took another nip. With that next bite, I jumped on my bike and peddled away as fast as my little legs would carry me. Wow, I thought to myself, this really is the country!

Sharonann, the ducks of Newtown always seem nice until they present you with their bill.

Joseph Grasso and Sherry Paisley have been appointed to the Ad Hoc Cultural Arts Study Committee by the Board of Selectmen. Sherry has also been appointed by the selectmen as a representative to the newly organized Northwest Connecticut Regional Tourism District. Perhaps with the right kind of publicity we can turn the cranky Pole Bridge Black Duck into a tourist attraction.

On a sunny Tuesday morning this week, Sandy Hook resident Rose Sasanoff knew exactly where she was headed after exercise class at the senior center –– straight to the Sandy Hook Organic Farmers’ Market for a fresh cup of coffee and a homemade muffin. “I love coming here. I don’t see why everyone else in town isn’t here, too,” Rose remarked as she enjoyed viewing the passing scene from one of the umbrella tables set out for farm market visitors. “We used to have a farm market in New Canaan, but it was much more manicured than this one and not nearly as friendly.”

Longtime resident Margaret Warner seemed to feel the same way, as she exited the farm market bearing a plastic bag loaded down with cucumbers, tomatoes, and corn. “I come every week. Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Margaret said.

Speaking of the Sandy Hook Farmers’ Market, Yuri, Prince Of Color, wants parents to know he’ll be there every Tuesday at 10:30 am, and then again at 12:30 pm, to entertain young children. “That way, I hope I can see both morning and afternoon kindergartners,” Yuri said. Look out, kids. Yuri is likely to pull a coin out of your ear, or ask you to stuff scarves into his magic hat and see what they turn into. Wonder if he needs a black cat as an assistant?

Gordon Williams may have found a new career on the speaker circuit since he retired from teaching high school history. Gordon presented programs about Norman Rockwell, Currier & Ives, and Teddy Roosevelt for the Newtown Historical Society during the last year and they proved to be so popular that he has taken his shows on the road. He’s already done three programs for other groups and decided that maybe he should get organized and put together a letter or brochure advertising his road show.

Gordon also is inviting everyone to pitch in and help the Lions Club in a cleanup of the Orchard Hill Nature Center on Saturday, September 27, from 9 am to 1 pm. The Lions need help marking paths, chipping trails, removing deadfall, and sprucing up the nature area.

The bids are going out for the Sandy Hook streetscape project and the merchants in the center say it’s about time. They’ve been waiting so long that they have dubbed their annual fall sidewalk sale the “Where the heck are our sidewalks sale.”

After two years of jackhammers and other noise outside, it is finally quiet in the first selectman’s office at Edmond Town Hall. Workmen have completed the veranda project and Herb’s office staff is grateful both for the refurbished veranda and the peace and quiet. Maybe you can hear it. I’ll be quiet now, but I’ll be making more noise next week, so be sure to …

Read me again.