I was grateful for my fur coat when I scurried into the Bee editorial department Monday morning. Just in time for one of the chilliest days yet, the radiators in that section of the building refused to cough up any heat. Naturally, I sought out the sanctuary of the warm conference room and any other cozy spot around town. That’s when I found out about something that at least warmed my heart.

There is a special tree “growing” in the Children’s Department of the C.H. Booth Library. The Kindness Tree sprouted November 18, and is covered with dozens of colorful leaves, each one with a suggestion for an act of kindness written upon it.  The Kindness Tree is the project of the Young Adult Council (YAC), said Children’s Librarian Alana Bennison. The students made up kindness wishes for the leaves and attached them. The public is invited to stop in and take a leaf with an act of kindness to perform. “It’s a low-key way of an activity of what you can do for others. It’s just about doing something nice for someone. When you do something as simple as one of these acts of kindness,” Ms Bennison said, “it can really make someone’s day.” The kindness acts range from “Tell a joke” to “Talk to someone you don’t know.” A bucket of replacement leaves allows anyone to add to the tree, but YAC members will regularly replenish the leaves, Ms Bennison said. The Kindness Tree will remain in place at least through the holidays, and perhaps beyond, she added.

If “Shop Small” is your motto for Saturday, November 30, maybe you’re thinking small as in “puppy.” There will be plenty of puppies and dogs up for adoption at a special Green Fur Kids Dog Rescue adoption day at Your Healthy Pet, 224 South Main Street, from 11 am to 3 pm that day. Who knew that shopping small might mean giving a forever home to a dog that will love you forever?

As usual, Newtown responded with love and donations to the recent plea by Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) for assistance in filling Thanksgiving baskets for those in need this holiday season. WIN members and volunteers spent this past Friday filling the baskets and delivering them, to make sure that everyone in town has something for which to be truly thankful, come this Thursday. The basket program, which started more than 40 years ago, includes supplies to create Thanksgiving dinner, and also food for the remainder of the holiday season. Pet foods, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products are all part of the package. Looks to me like WIN and all of Newtown gets the Good Egg Award this week.  

I hope that caring and sharing extends to Margaret from Butcher’s Best, owned by Steve Ford, on South Main Street, because the Good Egg goes out to her, as well, this week. Susan White gives Margaret a shout out. “I finished my pre Turkey day errands at Steve’s this afternoon and picked up a wide array of goodies along with my turkey and sausage. I came home and had just finished unpacking my car and realized that I had left a bag of goodies at Steve’s.  Needless to say I was not happy with myself,” Susan tells us. “So I put my shoes and coat back on, and headed for the car; and with that, I see Margaret from Steve’s standing at the top of my driveway with my forgotten bag. What a goddess!” As Susan reminds me, it is nicer in Newtown.

Pastor Tim from Faith at Newtown and his congregation have much to be thankful for as the holiday season gets underway. “God has opened a door for us to have a new place of worship,” Pastor Tim shares. “Beginning this Sunday, we meet at 4 Riverside Road, underneath The Villa.”

Judd Baggett can cross one more thing off his bucket list, now that he’s home for the holiday. Since his college graduation in May from Norwich University, Judd and his friend Robert Butts have completed a 2,200-mile journey of walking the Appalachian Trail. They started walking June 8, from the top of Katahdin Mountain in Maine, making their way south through 14 states, to celebrate their journey’s end on top of Springer Mountain in Georgia, November 24. Meeting many great people along the way who extended warmth and kindness, as well as being welcomed into homes, the two hikers know there is much to celebrate this Thanksgiving. (Rumor has it that Judd plans to challenge walkers in the Fun Walk, Thanksgiving morning. I guess once you get going, there’s just no stopping.)

We begin the gallop through the holiday season! Start out the weekend by supporting local businesses on Saturday, November 30, which is the day to Shop Small. Sunday brings the annual Newtown Youth & Family Services Holiday Festival, sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank. Trolley rides with Town Historian Dan Cruson are the newest addition to this annual day of festivity. Check out the calendar at www.newtownbee.com for details. More great events, including three tree lightings and the Saturday, December 7, Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast take place the next weekend, too. Did I mention the great Holiday Book Sale (and gifts!) in the C.H. Library, both Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8? There are plenty of musical celebrations on the schedule for the next month, including the Newtown Choral Society Winter Concert, Sunday, December 8, at 3:30 pm, in the Meeting House. You won’t want to miss the performances of original works by area composers, and a chance to sing along and get into the groove of the season.

My calendar is already filling up, as fast as a guest at the Thanksgiving table. No doubt, we’ll all be stuffed by the time you next... Read me again.