Entrants were down, but a few special stars were added, so everyone was a winner who to took the time and initiative to enter this year’s Holiday Decorating Contest. Judges were out and about the evening of December 16, dazzled as usual by homeowners’ creativity. Organizer Lois Barber reports that a Lifetime Achievement Award went to David Rosato (see last week’s story) on Route 34, who put up his Christmas extravaganza display for the final time, after 29 years.

An independent publisher mailed out 2019 calendars to Newtown residents over the past weekend... or should I say, “Newton” calendars? Boldly proclaimed on the front and back covers was that this Town Planner calendar was for “Newton-Sandy Hook.” Oops. Just to be clear, though, this is not a product of the Town of Newtown, nor is it a publication of The Newtown Bee! Maybe we can kindly say that it does certainly show that humans are behind this 12-month timetable; and as we know, to err is human...

If you need a more accurate calendar, don’t forget that copies of The Newtown Bee 2019 calendar are still available. The annual free calendar can be picked up at our 5 Church Hill Road office.

We heard from the Grimes family over the holidays of a wandering lamb. The family’s life size nativity scene at Kearns Farm Barn, 9 Bennett’s Bridge Road, was victim of a midnight raid last Friday night, when a man (who had just been rebuked by another traveler for using the side of the road as a personal porta potty...) “proceeded to walk toward Osborne Hill Road before turning and sprinting into the barn, grabbing the ‘standing lamb’ [pictured in the nativity scene], and jumping into a silver sedan heading north on Bennett’s Bridge,” according to Kevin and Yvonne Grimes. The Grimes family was sad to be without its second lamb — but spread the good news! As they wished, “that the person comes to their senses when he sobered up and would return the lamb to its rightful place,” we learned that the lamb had, indeed, been returned. I guess the Christmas spirit prevailed.

There’s always time for more music this time of year. On December 29, a Winter Benefit Concert at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, takes place at 6:30 pm. Cosponsored by NUMC and Newtown Congregational Church, performances include those by NHS students, Suzuki Music School, and UConn and WestConn musicians and will benefit Families United in Newtown and the Newtown Parent Connection.

Don’t forget that when your Christmas tree has seen better days and you are ready to bid it farewell, this year on January 5, the Candlewood Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Pootatuck Watershed Association invite you to bring your tree to the Deep Brook kiosk for disposal. Located on Old Farm Road, behind the Park & Bark, the group will use the trees to improve wild trout habitats.

Happy New Year! We are ready to leap into 2019 with all the news you can trust. Be sure next week to... Read me again.