I love winter, but I couldn’t help but smile at the news from Connecticut Beardsley Zoo this week that Beardsley Bart, a Prognosticating Prairie Dog, dug out from the weekend’s snow at sunrise on February 2 and did not see his shadow, a sign of an early spring. “Beardsley Bart is a very early riser and when he came out this morning, he confirmed that he did not see his shadow,” explained Zoo Director Gregg Dancho in an announcement. “But every year, Beardsley Bart says that spring is coming eventually, and he has always been 100% correct.” Dancho invites everyone to visit the Zoo throughout the cold weather, as that’s when many of the animals are most active. Animals who enjoy cold temperatures include the Amur leopards, Amur tigers, North American river otters, and Mexican grey and red wolves. Connecticut Beardsley Zoo is celebrating its 100th year this year. It has 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.

Spring will bring the musical Footloose to the stage at Newtown High School, and there is still time to purchase program ads. The deadline for ad submissions is February 15. According to an announcement, “NHS Drama productions provide students with opportunities to experience all aspects of theater while entertaining our community. The successes of our ambitious productions are made possible with generous financial support of local area businesses like yours. This year we would love to include you in this group of supportive businesses as we stage Footloose!” E-mail stamms@newtown.k12.ct.us for more information about placing an ad in the program for Footloose. I am looking forward to the show already!

Readers are reminded that Ridgefield Guild of Artists will present its first in-person exhibition in months beginning this weekend. In addition to celebrating the presentation of art by five artists, keep in mind that Newtown artist Roberta Shea will be represented in this show. An opening reception is planned for Saturday afternoon from 4 to 6 pm. If you can’t make that, or don’t feel comfortable being in a group setting, the collection is on view for just a few weeks, until February 27. Visit rgoa.org for gallery details including address and contact information. And say Hello to Roberta on Saturday!

Newtown’s BSA Troop 270 had a very successful Christmas Tree Pickup Fundraiser last month. Thanks to donations left for the Scouts, who spent three weekends picking up Christmas trees that were done being decorated for the season, the local troop earned over $5,000. Those funds will be used by the Newtown Scouts, enabling them greater access to programs, events, and training opportunities. And those trees? The trees were dropped combined with collections done by Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited (CVTU) and Pootatuck Watershed Association (PWA), and will still be put to good use. CVTU and PWA will continue using Christmas trees to build a habitat for wild trout in the protected Deep Brook. Donated trees will help stabilize stream banks, reduce erosion, and create a refuge habitat for juvenile trout and other aquatic life. Sounds like everyone’s a winner here.

St Rose HSA is hoping for better luck next weekend. After January’s Friday Bingo games night was canceled, organizers are looking toward Friday, February 11, for a family friendly evening out. The Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall at St Rose School, 40 Church Hill Road, will open at 5:45 that night. Games will then run from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Admission is $20 per person, which covers all regular games. There will be a few special games, for an additional few dollars each, and raffles at intermission. Seating is first-come, first-served. There are no reservations, but additional information is available for the school’s administrative office, 203-4216-5102.

We learned this week that Smugmug, the site that hosts our online photo gallery, has increased material and labor costs and will therefore be increasing the cost of purchasing photo prints and other items available on our photo gallery. When the prices are updated we will be sure to let you know. In the meantime, be sure to browse the photo gallery each week to see what our editorial staff captures. The site is online at photos.newtownbee.com/Journalism.

Remember the Good Egg Award we offered Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps a few weeks ago? The local ambulance group had loaned out one of its vehicles to Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company, when one of its rigs needed some serious maintenance and repairs. That long-term mutual aid chapter has concluded, with a very good ending. Stony Hill’s ailing ambulance returned to service last Friday night, January 28. The loaned NVAC ambulance reportedly responded to approximately 100 calls while in Bethel last month.

Another follow-up note this week: The posters that were received recently by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC), who had been seeking the official art for this year’s Newtown Arts Festival, are on view this month at Newtown Municipal Center. NCAC Chair Laura Lerman told me this week that each poster is accompanied by a quote from the artist behind each design. While Ryan Patrick was recently announced as the winner of the competition, to select this year’s festival logo, Laura said “the work that the other artists submitted was so excellent, we wanted them to know we appreciated their work.” The collection can be viewed weekdays when the municipal center is open, generally 8 am to 4:30 pm. Leave yourself some additional time if you plan to view the posters collection, or even if you need to visit an office at 3 Primrose Street. The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown’s annual “Color in Winter” Show & Sale is still on view as well. That collection of original artwork is also on view through the end of the month.

Why yes, C.H. Booth Library does have new shelves located near its main circulation desk. Library Director Douglas Lord recently shared this photo with the news, “After a long delay, some beautiful new oak shelving is installed at the library— thank you so much to our generous donors!” I am excited to see what books and other items will fill the shelves.

C.H. Booth Library and the Newtown Public Schools district is set to cohost a Zoom community conversation called “Race: More Than A Conversation” this Monday, February 7, from 6 to 7:30 pm. Community leaders will answer questions posed by moderators. Panelists will be Newtown Public Schools DEI Coordinator Wesley A. Johnson II, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, Board of Education Chair Deborra Zukowski, The Newtown Bee Editor John Voket, C.H. Booth Library DEI Special Committee Chair Dana Flynn, Newtown Savings Bank President Ken Weinstein, and Newtown Congregational Church Reverend Kristen M.E. Provost Switzer. A Q&A with the audience will follow questions from moderators Dr George A. Coleman, former CT Commissioner of Education, and Dr Sherry Earle, PhD, Newtown Public Schools Project Challenge Teacher of the Gifted. The event is free, but registration is required. People can register on the library’s event calendar or by using this specific website https://bit.ly/3rPu6sZ.

I’ll be tuned in to follow along and promise to tune in to all the local news to share with you next week as long as you promise to... Read me again.