The 2018 Firehouse Ride and BBQ/Pig Roast, sponsored by Newtown Hook & Ladder, takes place September 29. The 50-mile ride takes off at 3 pm, with festivities to follow at the fire house. Why am I telling you this now? Because there are still sponsorship and advertising opportunities available until September 11 - all supporting one of our local fire companies. Live music and raffles are yet another draw to the event, if the temptation of the big BBQ is not enough for you. Visit firehouseride.com/register.php for more information.this year will feature Eunice Laverty as Grand Marshal. Individual and family donations are more than welcome to support our end of the summer parade - there are many costs involved in putting on the event. If you'll be on the sidelines the morning of September 3, please consider a donation at https://newtownctlabordayparade.org/ or use the coupon found in this week's print edition of The Newtown Bee. Let's make that thermometer boil over this year!The Newtown Bee one day last week. Elisa was introducing her California friend, Chris, to the wonders of our town - a stop at the General Store, a viewing of the Edmond Town Hall murals, and a look around our office were on the agenda. I understand that they planned to take in the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale as well... and was ice cream on the "to-do" list? Surely California can't compare with all of this!the last Sandy Hook Love Runs Through 5K Run/Walk that takes place this Saturday, July 21, put on your race shoes and run right over bright and early. Final registration ends at 9 am when runners/walkers set off at Fairfield Hills. There is a $30 race fee plus $2.50 sign-up fee. Kids can run, too, with the ¼- or ½-mile race, starting at 8:15 am. Kids run for a $10 race fee plus $2 sign up fee. Registration for kids ends at 8 am. If you're not a runner but wish you were, why not be a virtual racer? Find out details on all of the races at 5krunforshf.org. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to charities chosen by the survivors of 12/14 victims.

Have you seen the thermometers placed about the center of town? They're taking the temperature of how hot people are to have another Labor Day Parade, which

Tim Napolitano found the door to his new principal's office at Head O' Meadow School to be a wonderful surprise, with welcoming decorations for his first day on the job, July 2. Mr Napolitano served as assistant principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and he was selected to replace retired Head O' Meadow Principal Barbara Gasparine.

2006 NHS graduate Elisa Van Buskirk, now a Californian, stopped by the office of

Gail Friedman, who oversees the Victory Garden at Fairfield Hills, tells us that "once again, the New Morning Market in Woodbury has donated a variety of vegetable plants for our Victory Garden. We brought the plants to the FAITH Food Pantry this morning so their interested clients might grow their own vegetables," says Gail. What a great gift.

If you have not yet signed up for

Sticks and Stones Farm, 210 Huntingtown Road, will host a special class with artist and retired art educator Arlene Spoonfeather, Saturday, July 21, from 2 to 4 pm. Arlene will lead "Guiding The Brush," a class using Chinese brushes and ink to make marks while controlling one's breath and spirit. Cost is $35 per student, and Arlene would like to hear from folks in advance if they want to join the session. Call 203-209-9354 for a reservation.

The one-man band KB Whirly will be the featured family-friendly entertainer at the July 24 Summer Jam Concert. The free program starts at 6 pm at the Dickinson Park bandshell - but may move to an indoor site if weather is not good. If you're unsure, give Parks & Rec at call at 203-270-4340.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited to see the community center and senior center taking shape up at Fairfield Hills. It has been a long time coming, and seeing the actual beams in place really gives a sense of what a large complex we will have at our disposal come June 2019 (if all stays on track). And speaking of progress, the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Committee is down to the final submissions. Check out the stories elsewhere in this issue about both of these projects.

Bear with me as we once again report on bear sightings about town. So far this week, a bear has been spotted near Dickinson Park and on Nunnawauk Road. Is it the same bear or do we have multiple bears visiting neighborhoods in town? It's hard to say, but please keep your eyes open anytime you are out and about, and stay a safe distance away if you spot one. Not to mention, even though bears are more apt to devour berries and bird seed than other animals, us small creatures appreciate being kept inside if no one is watching us. There are far more hazards in the natural world than bears alone.

It seems we have come out on the other side of another heat wave, with cooler temperatures and a bearable level of humidity the end of this week. It's always nice to have a reprieve.

Hopefully, you'll not be taking a reprieve from my deep thoughts. Be sure next week to... Read me again.