Hartford HealthCare shared a video ahead of the New Year, and it featured one of Newtown’s own. Brett Boles, a resident, Director of Choirs at William H. Hall High School, an award-winning musical theater composer, lyricist, bookwriter, and musical director, created a video with some of his students for Hartford HealthCare. It is an emotional and poignant way to thank healthcare workers for all they have done and are doing. Take a look, and make sure to listen at facebook.com/HartfordHealthCare/videos/651455119357755.

Just four days into the new year we celebrated our first in-office birthday here at Bee Publishing. Sales Rep Jeff Williams had a birthday on Tuesday. While we won’t mention which milestone Jeff reached this year, we will say he looks pretty nifty.

On February 2, Newtown High School’s wrestling program is planning to celebrate 50 years of wrestling in the renovated practice room at 6 pm prior to the scheduled match against Masuk of Monroe. Following the 6 pm ceremony, NHS wrestling will honor Newtown Youth Wrestling Association grapplers; the future high school wrestlers will warm up on the NHS mats at 6:30 pm; the Newtown High match will follow at 7 pm — both in the main gymnasium. Newtown High wrestlers, alumni, and youth program families are invited to attend the 6 pm ceremony, and both events as well as the match are open to the public. In addition to that wrestling match being postponed, so too was the boys’ swim meet vs New Fairfield on January 4 due to COVID issues at NHS.

Newtown author Andrea Zimmermann’s planned author event at The Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Road (Route 25) in Brookfield Center is rescheduled from January 5 to January 27 from 5 to 6 pm. Andrea will be signing copies of her latest book, A Legacy of Lies, A Rock Ridge Mystery (which will be available for purchase), and talking about her writing process. Masks are required.

Newtown Parks & Recreation is hoping residents and friends will bundle up for a winter evening of fun in a few weeks. Snow Much Fun is being planned for Friday, January 28, from 6 to 8 pm. Centered around Fairfield Hills Green, near Keating Farms Avenue and Washington Square, the all-ages event will offer games, tractor rides, a bonfire, music from a DJ and, conditions permitting, ice skating. Cost is $3 per person. Fork in the Road food truck will also be on site for those who want to purchase their refreshments. Registration is requested and can be done through the Parks & Rec office at 203-270-4310 or online at newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation. You’ll be registering for Activity 214101A.

Members of Newtown Rotary Club will be very happy with anyone who puts a marker on their calendar now for Saturday, May 21. While plenty of details still need to be ironed out, the local club is planning a cornhole tournament for that day. President Alex Villamil thinks the event will have an early morning/late afternoon start, but he and others are going to keep us posted as plans are solidified, which means we will then be able to keep you updated as well.

Have you been keeping up with the weekly question posts on The Newtown Bee’s Facebook page? Last week’s weekly question was, “What was the best part of 2021 for you?” And I can’t help but highlight one funny commenter who first responded by saying the Newtown Arts Festival then, shortly after, wrote, “Whoops! My 50th wedding anniversary.” We wish this happy couple many more anniversary years. Check The Newtown Bee’s Facebook page weekly for a new question, posted on Wednesdays. Answers may be highlighted in an upcoming print edition of the paper. This week’s question is, “What local event are you most looking forward to in 2022”

Congratulations to Newtown Police Captain Chris Vanghele, who is retiring from the Newtown Police Department after 28 and a half years to become the new police chief in Plainville. Vanghele has been a credit to the department, and among his accomplishments was heading up organizing the department’s 50th anniversary event. We thank you for all you have done for Newtown.

The Alpaca Gnomes will be the headliner for the finale of the 2020-21 Colonial Automobile Series at Edmond Town Hall. The wonderfully eclectic band is scheduled to perform at 45 Main Street on Saturday, January 29, at 7 pm. Tickets are $30 for balcony seating, $35 for main floor seating, and available through edmondtownhall.org. Beer, wine, and concessions treats will be available for purchase during the show. Meanwhile, the town hall Board of Managers is well into planning for the spring and fall Colonial Series. Stella Blue’s Band is scheduled for March 19. Back to the Garden and Sugar Mountain are reportedly returning during the spring months; Best of the Eagles and A Brother’s Revival, among others, are reportedly being planned for the fall. Want to be part of the programs? Sponsorships are currently available. Visit edmondtownhall.org or contact the ETH Operations Manager Sheila Torres at 203-270-4285.

Speaking of Edmond Town Hall, anyone interested in taking in a viewing of the 2021 version of Dune is in luck. Six screenings are planned this weekend at the town hall theater, and every one of them is free thanks to longstanding sponsor Ingersoll Auto of Newtown. Released in October, this is director Denis Velleneuve’s reimagining of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel of the same name. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya, among many others. It is rated PG-13 and has a (long!) running time of 2 hours, 35 minutes. Check our calendar on page A-2 or online at newtownbee.com/calendar for screening times and how to reserve tickets. Remaining tickets will also be available at the box office prior to each show.

In light of the challenges drivers had Wednesday morning, when flash freezing all but crippled the area for a few hours, this cat thinks this might be a good time to remind local vehicle owners of the Town’s longstanding winter parking ordinance. Vehicles cannot be left parked (or even abandoned, in the case of a breakdown) “on any Town highway in the Town of Newtown from sunset to sunrise from November 15 to March 15,” according to Article II Ordinance No 28, which has been on the books since November 1968. Any vehicle left on the road may be removed by the First Selectman, their designee, or any police officer — and this will be at the expense of the owner or the person in possession of that vehicle, also according to the ordinance. In addition to any towing fee, an infraction can also be issued. The parking ban is intended to allow town public works staffers to clear those roads of snow and ice in a timely manner. Also note it is illegal for property owners and snow removal companies to deposit snow and/or ice on roadways.

It’s the first week of the new year. If you aren’t already familiar with the above ordinances, please resolve to commit these to memory and leave room for our Town employees to do their job. They usually are having a tough enough time clearing roads for our safe passage. Please don’t make it more difficult for them. And if you get pinched for leaving your vehicle on the road, don’t give officials a hard time for doing their job.

With all Newtown High School students working on Capstone Projects this year, I hear there are many amazing efforts underway. One student, Mia Hochstetler, reached out to us to let us know she is overseeing a coloring book and supplies drive that will run January 1 to February 1. After gathering new and lightly used donations, Mia will give the materials out through local organizations, The Resiliency Center of Newtown, and Center for Empowerment and Education in Danbury. Public donation locations include Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street; C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street; Newtown Center Pediatrics, 10 Queen Street; and Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street. Students and school community members can also drop donations at NHS, Newtown Middle School, Reed Intermediate School, Hawley Elementary School, Head O’ Meadow Elementary School, Middle Gate Elementary School, and Sandy Hook Elementary School. All donations will be collected during open hours for the locations.

I’ll be ready to color in all the local news again for you next week as long as you promise to ... Read me again.