Girl Scouts of Connecticut reminds us that in January, Girl Scouts started taking orders for its annual fundraiser - Girl Scout Cookies. In February, Girl Scouts will still be taking orders from hungry customers, in case you missed out last month or need to add to your order. Girl Scout Cookie fans who don't know a Girl Scout can log onto gsofct.org and click on the "Looking for Cookies" button to connect with Girl Scouts participating in the cookie program locally.The Washington Post and a number of other sites, 40 exotic cat breeds will be on display at the previously exclusively canine Westminster Dog Show at Madison Garden in Manhattan, this Saturday. The kitties will be part of the "meet and greet" event, and some of these sleek felines will deign to take part in an agility obstacle course. Being cats, of course, they will need the handlers to convince them they are "hunting" and not amusing onlookers as they make their ways through the course, tempted by toys. Oh, there will be some new dog breeds introduced, too, in case anyone cares...Our Sole Source will be screened.newtownfriendsofmusic.org for complete information on the program.

Check out our local stores if you have left shopping for your valentine to the last minute. Flowers? Check. Jewelry? Check. Chocolate? Check. Cards? Check. It's all available right here in Newtown - all you add is love. Happy Valentine's Day!

So who was this St Valentine? There are various legends surrounding the Catholic saint, but generally it is agreed that the patron saint of happy marriages, love, lovers, couples - and beekeepers - lived in third century Rome, and was executed for either trying to convert Emperor Claudius to Christianity, or for refusing to make sacrifices to pagan gods. His execution took place on February 14, according to most legends, sometime between 269 and 280. The romantic celebration of Valentine's Day most likely began in response to a pagan holiday, Lupercalia, a mid-February festival that honored purification and fertility. Any reason to spread love and make merry in the midst of a long (for only 28 days...) winter's month is fine by me.

You can spread a bit of local love by donating to the FAITH Food Pantry. There is a need every month of the year for food and household necessities to help our neighbors in need. Canned stews and soups are always welcome this time of year, as are juice boxes, coffee, cereals, canned fruits and chicken, peanut butter, and rice. Complete pancake mix and syrup, granola bars, tea bags, canned tuna, condiments - and don't forget, pet foods - along with toiletries are welcome to be dropped off at the food pantry Tuesdays, from 10 am to noon, or from 6 to 7:30 pm on Thursdays, at 31 Pecks Lane. If you find a stop at Starbucks is a better fit to your schedule, you'll find a drop of box there for FAITH donations.

Heading into Valentine's Day, February 11 is National Make A Friend Day, as well as National Shut-In Visitation Day. Then you have National Plum Pudding Day to look forward to on Sunday, National Clean Out Your Computer Day on Monday, National Organ Donor Day on Tuesday (there's a real act of love!), and right on the heels of Valentine's Day... Singles Awareness Day on February 15. So much to celebrate...

Congratulations to Colleen Franke, who interned with The Bee the summer of 2013. She was recently hired as coordinator for EPIX, a premium movie channel. Colleen previously worked at NBCUniversal as the assistant to the executive producers of NBC's show, Harry. Best of luck in this new endeavor, Colleen, from every Bee.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, took a moment at the Board of Education's meeting on Tuesday to congratulate Newtown High School Principal Lorrie Rodrigue for her recently published article in the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Principal Leadership magazine. The article is titled, "The Power Of Student Work: Find Inspiring Moments In Your Own Backyard," and it was published on February 1. We add our congratulations to Dr Rodrigue, as well.

Well, finally. According to

Don't forget that the Pootatuck Watershed Association is inviting the public to find out more about this organization at an open house, Saturday afternoon, from 2:30 to 5 pm, at the C.H. Booth Library. Along with exhibits, the film

You can relax at the Newtown Friends of Music concert on Sunday afternoon, when the Telegraph Quartet and pianist Simone Dinnerstein are scheduled to perform at Edmond Town Hall at 3 pm. Check out

I couldn't write a column without words, and now I find out that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has added 1,000 new words this year. Among them are "Seussian" - relating to, or suggestive of the works of Dr Seuss; "conlang," a made up language; and "snollygoster," an unprincipled person and a word with the distinction of having been previously dropped due to lack of usage and now returned to its rightful place in the book of words. Do you post to your social media - or do you "humblebrag"? We all confess at one point or another that we "binge-watch" our favorite shows. Additionally, "Face-palm," "walk back," and "geek out" are all now official English language terms, according to M-W, to which I say, "Yowza!" (also in the dictionary, and a word I have long believed was part of the feline lexicon already). You have to love the evolution of language.

Yowza, indeed. My feelings exactly, just to know that next week you will... Read me again.