The rhododendron leaves curled up like tight little fists, the early part of the week, warning me that it was mighty cold outside. That 70 degree Christmas Eve weather is just a pleasant memory now. Single digit and below zero temps with the wind chill were a harsh reminder that, even without a covering of snow, it is truly winter in New England.

The next Property Brothers episode featuring Sandy Hook’s Bobbie Sue Smart as the design lead will be airing January 20, at 9 pm, on HGTV. “It’s Episode 9 and the 100th episode,” Bobbie Sue tells me. She also says that the “Brothers” will be coming back this year to film the next season, “and Nurzia Construction and I will team up again, to do three episodes.” Congratulations! Property Brothers is looking for new homeowners in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, by the way, who are ready for a renovation. If you think the Property Brothers (and maybe Bobbie Sue?) should take a look at your place, you can apply at www.propertybrothers.castingcrane.com.

Congratulations, as well, to three Newtown restaurants that have received honors from readers of Connecticut Magazine in its annual Readers’ Choice awards. Taking first place in the Best Italian Restaurant division is Sal e Pepe, 97 South Main Street, which also received honors as runner-up for best lunch in the state, runner-up for best desserts (could it be that Nutella pie?), and best restaurant overall. Just down the street, Butcher’s Best, 125 South Main Street, was awarded best runner-up for delis in Connecticut. Toro, at 98 Church Hill Road, took top honors as readers’ choice for best Asian food and runner-up for best sushi. Anyone who lives here knows that these restaurants, and so many more, are a top choice for chowing down.

Robert LaPorta shared this photo of his family’s new Christmas kitten, Lucy. This “Mountain” look-alike is showing off what good taste she has in reading material, although why she is not paging right to this column, is a mystery to me.

All swimmers who regularly use the high school swimming pool should take note that this Saturday, January 9, the open swim will be canceled due to The Newtown Torpedoes’ Third Annual Swim-A-Thon. The Swim-A-Thon takes place from 11 am to 3 pm. Proceeds from the event go toward the swim team and also fund the Daniel Barden Newtown Torpedo Scholarship, given by Newtown Scholarship Association to a graduating swimmer from Newtown High. Last year, Torpedoes’ swimmers combined to swim 209,800 yards, in four hours, during the Swim-A-Thon. For more information on how to support this event, e-mail Lisa Irving at torpedocoachli@gmail.com.

It’s always nice to take a little art break. Newtown Photographer Marleen Cafarelli’s exhibit “Life in The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard” is on view at the Newtown Municipal Center (3 Primrose Street, Fairfield Hills campus), throughout the month of January. You may recognize that Marleen occasionally pitches in for The Bee with her beautiful photography. You can see the exhibit anytime between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

I hope you regularly check the Library Notes in The Newtown Bee, or go to the website, chboothlibrary.org. There are a lot of interesting events that go on at our library, way beyond book clubs. How about making Fido or Fluffy a warm blanket for those chilly nights? There’s a program coming up on January 20 where you get to do this very thing. Teen Iron Chef is next Friday, January 15, and a Teen Trivia Contest will take place in February. Did I mention that there is a particularly exciting lecture on Monday, January 11, by Town Historian Dan Cruson? You can get up close and personal with items owned by President John Adams, President John Quincy Adams, and other descendants of our second president. (See the story in this week’s Enjoy section of The Newtown Bee.)

I reminded you last week, but I’ll tell you again. The Newtown Choral Society has prepared a delightful winter concert, and is ready to present it Sunday afternoon, January 17, at 3:30 pm, at the Newtown Meeting House on Main Street. Tickets are $10 at the door ($8 for seniors).

Newtown resident Chuck Mindenhall, a journalist for MMA (mixed martial arts), was recently nominated for MMA Journalist of the Year. Chuck tells me he has been covering MMA since 2007, first in Southern California for FIGHT Magazine. “I worked at ESPN from 2010 to 2013, both as a columnist and as an on-air analyst on MMA Live on ESPN2,” says Chuck, who now works for the sports site SB Nation. Back to the nomination, though: He needs votes on the MMA Awards site and if anyone would like to cast a “yea” for him, go to www.worldmmaawards.com, register to vote, and scroll down to Journalist of the Year. Good luck, Chuck!

Are you looking to give back to the town? First Selectman Pat Llodra is looking for people to fill vacant positions on several boards and commissions. Some require you to be of a particular political party affiliation, others do not. To find out more, visit the Office of the First Selectman, 3 Primrose Street, or call 203-270-4201.

I understand the Van Buskirk family is promoting a pre-kitten, kitten give away… just in case their foxy feline, Elaine, proves to be as irresistible to the tomcats in the neighborhood as they suspect…

I’d like to curl up, just like the rhododendron leaves, and hibernate. But I know you are counting on my finding the juicy bits of news that are just around the corner. I’ll be around, no matter how the temperatures dip or rise, so be sure next week to… Read me again.