This past weekend was quiet in Newtown — was it the deep chill, was it the long weekend taking everyone away, or just an extended celebration of Valentine’s Day keeping everyone inside? Whichever, we are already heading well into the last days of February. We all know how things gear up when spring rolls around, so cherish the still moments.

It was not totally quiet in one classroom on Valentine’s Day, though. We heard news that a certain teacher at Hawley Elementary School (hint she is holding a rose in the picture) had a very special Valentine’s Day birthday on February 14. Tracy Gerardi Galassi’s husband, Lance, ordered her a singing telegram for the special day. A trio of singing men showed up to her third grade classroom, to the surprise of all, and sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “You’re the Love of My Life.” Well I know who two of Newtown’s sweethearts are now.

You are too late to get a 2020 calendar featuring the watercolor paintings of Newtown artist Chuck Fulkerson (they sold out quickly), but you can get a look at the original pieces that populated that calendar, and more, starting this Saturday through March 29. Chuck’s artwork will be exhibited at the C.H. Booth Library, in the second floor Gathering Room, with a reception from 3 to 5 pm, February 22, including complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. The public is welcome.

Scoot downstairs to the Meeting Room, too, where SCAN members will present nearly three dozen paintings for “SCAN Members Winter Exhibition,” on view until February 29.

A single crocus pushed through sun-warmed soil Monday afternoon in front of one Main Street home, while clusters of small white snowdrops poked through pachysandra at another address. Daffodils, stealing the foundation stones’ warmth in other spots, began sending shoots of green above ground. John and Sherry Bermingham and Betsy Kenyon are among the Main Street residents who have the pleasure of walking out their doors in coming days to these early signs of spring. Especially remarkable is the crocus, a solo adventurer, so far, in what was normally a sea of crocuses in Ms Kenyon’s lawn. We hope there are more survivors there following the removal of several mature trees that came down in the May 2018 storm, their stumps ground away, and new saplings planted in their place.

Spring is on everyone’s mind. Find out about how to create a pollinator garden at the next meeting of The Garden Club of Newtown. Michele MacKinnon will share some tips for attracting pollinators to your garden next Tuesday, February 25, at 1 pm, in the meeting room of the C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. The program is free.

There’s still plenty of winter left to slog through, though, I’m afraid. Curling up with a good book is always an option to pass the time. How about checking out the C.H. Booth Library February Reading Challenge? This month, the focus is on presidents. You’ll find a reading list at chboothlibrary.org, search Reading Challenge. Or create your own challenge: read about heroes; dogs; cats; women’s suffrage; education; heart health (February is American Heart Month: Did you know that women are less apt to be correctly diagnosed for heart attacks than men?); war and peace; mystery and magic — whatever it takes to get you through to the first real days of spring!

Read your way through Sandy Hook Center this Saturday, February 22, as guest readers and posters lead you along a path for the Charlotte Helen Bacon Foundation Storywalk. Good Dogs, Great Listeners by Renate Bowers, with JoAnn and Joel Bacon, is the book you’ll be following, any time between 2 and 4 pm. You’ll find the readers at various businesses in the Center — final reading will be at 3:30 pm. Pick up a map at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, and take a stroll. Meet back at the church afterward for treats and a chance to meet the authors — and some therapy dogs. Get the details for this family event at charlottehelenbaconfoundation.org.

The Garden Club of Newtown is the latest group to benefit from the philanthropy of BD Provisions. Copies of The Life and Times of A Newtown Bear, a book written by resident Vicki Boccuzzi, are being sold at the store this month, with all proceeds to benefit the garden club. The book, according to Vicki, was written in 2011, and it shares the story of a stuffed bear named Gordon. Vicki and her husband found Gordon at a tag sale on Main Street, and took him to their home on Queen Street. “Gordon was hoping for a house with kids to play with,” Vicki said. At that time though, Vicki and John Boccuzzi’s children were adults, and had moved away from home. “So Gordon was initially sad, just sitting at our house,” shared Vicki. “All of a sudden, two cars come driving into the yard, and they have our grandchildren, and they show Gordon some wonderful fun, and he is happy.” The book, she added, “is about belonging, feeling secure, and finding love and care, all essential for people and little bears.” BD Provisions is within Highland Plaza, at 123 South Main Street. Copies will be available through the end of the month, and are $10 each.

The St Rose Knights of Columbus Lenten fish fry dinners get underway next Friday, February 28, from 5 to 8 pm, at the Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Road. For $10 adults or $6 for children, you can enjoy a fish dinner (or eggplant Parmesan option), sides, drinks, and dessert. The Friday night fish fry dinners continue on March 6, 20, and 27, and April 10.

Have you gotten your flu shot? It’s not too late, and while everyone is worried about coronavirus, Connecticut residents are at far more risk to get the flu. While the shot is not 100 percent effective, those who get it can expect to have less severe symptoms should they get the virus. Flu can be deadly to the very young, very old, or those with compromised immune systems. Your not being vaccinated can put others at risk. Think about it.

Do you have four or more generations of family that continue to call Newtown/Sandy Hook home? We would love to hear from you for our ongoing series about longtime citizens. Contact alissa@thebee.com, or call Alissa at 203-426-3141.

The Letter Hive has already started getting endorsement letters for the November 2020 elections. Congratulations to those who are really on the ball this year. A reminder, however, that endorsement letters are limited to 300 words and will not be printed if they are deemed uncivil or derogatory toward another candidate. Keep the focus on why you are endorsing your candidate, so that your thoughts can be clearly shared.

Hello out there! We have had the opportunity to hear what some of our 55-plus residents think about town issues. Now we would love to conduct a Community Buzz with input from residents ages 16-50. If you are interested in taking part in a casual, one-hour conversation moderated by The Newtown Bee this spring, contact editor@thebee.com, subject line Community Buzz. Please note if you have restricted times/days to meet; we are open to different times and days that can accommodate the most participants. We look forward to hearing from you.

Through March 1, customers in Connecticut, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley can support JDRF’s (the global organization funding type 1 diabetes research) research efforts by donating at the register at the check out of Stop & Shop. Customers can take part by donating the denomination of their choosing ($1, $3, or $5) — or to round up to the next dollar — at the register. For more information about Stop & Shop’s campaign with JDRF, visit jdrf.org/shopandgiveback/stop-shop/.

I don’t ask for much, but the perfect give-back for me is if you promise to . . . Read me again!