Don’t be too surprised if someone tells you to walk something off next week. My friends at Newtown Forest Association reminded me last week that National Take a Walk Day will be observed on January 20. NFA members are encouraging everyone to celebrate the national observance on Tuesday by exploring one of the association’s many preserves. The entire month, in fact, is a perfect time to enjoy crisp air, animal tracks in the snow, and the quiet beauty of winter forests, according to a note that came in last week.

A friend quietly mentioned something to me recently about former Newtown resident Beth Henvy (nee MacMillian). A 1996 graduate of Newtown High school now living in Danbury, Beth is the newest member of Tarrywile Park Authority. Beth is an avid horsewoman and an APRN in palliative care at Danbury Hospital, according to the notes also shared with me. Yay Beth!

Still another friend shared a conversation she had with one of our readers last week. Monica Kaptein said she not only enjoys reading the print edition of The Newtown Bee every week — which she has mailed to her home, smart lady! — she passes her copy to a friend who is a school teacher once she’s done with it. That teacher then reads Bee stories to her students, leading to discussions about local news and events.

But wait, there’s more. When the teacher is done with The Bee, she then takes it to an elderly friend who enjoys reading it. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Thank you for sharing that story, Monica. It makes my kitty heart warm.

Still another friend alerted me this week to a change of plans. If you were hoping to join the fun at Newtown Meeting House Saturday afternoon, the Cozy New England Tea has been postponed. Newtown Historical Society quietly announced on Tuesday that the event, which was to feature a speaker from Bigelow Tea Company offering a presentation on the history of tea and then serving refreshments, will be rescheduled for later in the year. I’m already looking forward to the new date for that program. I snuck into a similar event presented at Nunnawauk Meadows a few years ago and it was very interesting. A lady named Cindy Manning visited from the Fairfield-based tea company and she gave a really good presentation on the history of tea in general, the history of Bigelow Tea, and even some pointers on how to make a good cup of tea.

FONS Chore Services and an independent HVAC contractor helped one resident stay warm a few weeks ago. Chores Services Coordinator Beverly Bennett Schaedler was alerted to a local senior who was living with just electric heaters in their home because they couldn’t get their furnace repaired. A friend of a friend mentioned this to Bev, who immediately used her networks to issue a call for help on New Year’s Eve. She was hoping to hear from “anyone in the furnace business, to see if they could help,” she told me.

Despite it being a holiday, Bev said she heard from fellow Newtown resident Lou DeRosa, who recently opened his own business after working for another company for a few years. Lou visited the family in question around 8:30 that night, and then returned by noon the following day, when he was able to replace parts, double check wiring, and get the heat running again. I spoke with Lou at the beginning of the week, and he confirmed he “just wanted to help someone else out.” It took just a few hours of his time to be a very good neighbor to a stranger. I’d say Lou definitely earns a Good Egg Award for this heartwarming story.

The Brady Bunch famously gave us the phrase “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” but it was “Louise, Louise, Louise” — without the exasperation — this week at My Place Restaurant. The dining room was filled with 40-plus members and guests of Newtown Congregational Church’s Circle of Hope on Tuesday, when a luncheon was held at the popular and longstanding Queen Street eatery. Two servers very deftly took care of the large group and at one point guests looked up and NCC Circle of Hope members Louise Zierzow and Louise Baker were seen chatting with My Place Owner Louise Tambascio.

I finally have a 2026 calendar to keep track of plans, special events and those days we sometimes forget about. This year’s is a very food-centric planner as noted by upcoming mentions of National Cheese Lover’s Day — also occurring on January 20, although I don’t know how well walking and the consumption of cheese go together — National Pie Day next Friday, National Croissant Day on January 30, and National Hot Chocolate Day on January 31. I hope to see National Catnip Day appear on this calendar at some point. I also hope to see you next week, when your calendar should remind you it’ll be time to … read me again.