Well, March certainly did come in like a lion, with some fierce, tree-toppling winds on Monday night into Tuesday. Hundreds of residents found themselves once more in the dark from a storm, though it seemed like Eversource was more on top of this than some storms of yore. This kitty did a little shuddering as the wind roared during the night hours, that’s for sure. Definitely looking forward to this month going out like a lamb, aren’t you?

Ben’s Bells Project Connecticut announced in a Facebook event that it is calling for “all kind people” through March 14 to help with a project. “Danbury Fair and Ben’s Bells Project are teaming up for a special art project to reflect what kindness means in our communities. This community connecting event is free to the public. So we encourage you, regardless of age or artistic ability, to participate. Also, prizes will be awarded to selected participants and this event will conclude with an auction of the stepping stones in support of Ben’s Bells Programming.” People are asked to submit a drawing of what kindness means to them. A committee will select 25 submissions that will be made into custom signature Ben’s Bells stepping stones, which will then be displayed at the mall and auctioned off to the public. Entries are welcome through March 14. Winners will be announced on March 23. All selected artists will receive a $20 gift card from a Danbury Fair Mall retailer. The completed stepping stones will be put on display between May 8 and May 20. “During this time, the public will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite entry, and the top three liked stepping stones will receive a gift card from a Danbury Fair mall retailer valued up to $200. Stepping Stones will be auctioned off to the public from June 5th to 6.” The entry form is available online at danburyfairmall.com/events/communitykindness.

I’m pleased to see that the access road from Commerce Road to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary on Old Farm Road is underway. It may be stop and go progress, though, CVH Foundation founder Jenny Hubbard tells me, as respecting the creatures that call the woods home will be a priority: nesting birds, long-eared bats, turtles... all that flies, runs, or crawls that could be impacted by the noise and disturbance. Knowing that care is taken at every step of creating this place of safety for animals makes me one happy kitty!

With more and more people getting vaccinated, and events reopening more broadly, moms and dads may soon have the chance for an evening out... and that means babysitters will be in demand. If you are a young person age 11-17, Parks & Rec is offering a Child and Babysitting Safety Program to teach care skills. You can find more details at https://www.newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation/news/child-babysitting-safety-program, and register there.

Keep digging in the couch cushions for that spare change! While not yet scheduled, the Newtown Lions Club will sponsor a second “Treasure Hunt” in the not-too-distant future, and you want to be ready with your handfuls of coins to donate. The donated change will add up to funds that will be used to purchase playground equipment at Treadwell Park that can accommodate special needs children. The Lions’ first Treasure Hunt was held in December, soliciting those pennies, nickels, and dimes that are wearing a hole in your pocket. Kids were given a chocolate coin in return for the currency donated, though I cannot promise the same delight this time around. I’m keeping my whiskers at attention for notification from the club as to when and where I can share my bounty. There’s always a little something jingling beneath my cozy cushion that I can get my paws on.

It’s coming. St Patrick’s Day. And it is March 2021, a far cry from March of 2020. If you plan to celebrate on March 17, please remember to continue to practice physical distancing and mask wearing, even if you have been lucky enough to already have received the COVID vaccination. Sip your green beer or Guinness Stout; munch your Irish soda bread. But do it in small groups, please, or even via the used and abused Zoom. We are inching ever closer to a return to a more normal life: Let’s not blow it with carelessness. Before you know it, then, we’ll be dancing a jig!

I hope you didn’t miss National Cat Health Month, which was in February. I’ll give you a heads up on the month of March, though: it’s Women’s History Month. What better place to find books about women and by women than our C.H. Booth Library? If you’re not sure what to read, staff there can come up with plenty of suggestions to help you. Don’t forget to check out the books for purchase (at rock bottom prices!) in the Little Book Store, located near the main circulation desk. And might I mention that if you know a woman today who is making history, congratulate her, encourage her, and celebrate her this month, and every month.

Speaking of women, Newtown Girl Scouts will be selling Girl Scout Cookies on the weekends during March. They’ll be practicing safe COVID protocols, so we hope you will, too. Wear a mask and social distance. You can find the young women and their cookies beginning this Saturday, March 6, at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street, from 11 am to 5 pm; at Your Healthy Pet, 61 Church Hill Road, from 10 am to 4 pm; and at Chintz-n-Prints, 39 South Main Street, from noon to 5 pm. On Saturday, March 13, cookies will be sold at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street, as a drive through, from 8 am to 5 pm. Sunday, March 14 finds the girls at Dunkin’ Donuts, 6 Queen Street, from 8 am to noon. Cookie sales will take place again at the Newtown Community Center on Saturday, March 20, from 8 to 11 am, and at Chintz-n-Prints from noon to 5 pm. Sunday, March 21, you can buy cookies at Newtown Hardware, 61 Church Hill Road, from noon to 2 pm. March 28, cookie sales are once more a Newtown Middle School drive-through opportunity, from 11 am to 5 pm. On Sunday, March 28, look for the final Girl Scout cookie sale for the month at Dunkin’ Donuts, from 8 am to noon.

SCAN’s “Color in Winter and into Spring” show is on view now at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, at Fairfield Hills, during regular Center hours. You can admire the works created in a number of mediums by members of the local art society — and if you really love a piece, it very well may be for sale! The art show will be exhibited through April 30; don’t forget to wear your mask and practice physical distancing when you go.

Have you donated blood recently? The American Red Cross has a blood drive scheduled for Thursday, March 11, from 1:30 to 6 pm, in the Great Room of the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street. Please consider making an appointment at redcrossblood.org, 800-733-2767, if you are at least 17 years old and weigh over 110 pounds. The Red Cross continues to have a critical need for all blood types. Your donation can make a difference.

It seems we have days that are becoming more and more pleasant, as we edge ever closer to spring. That makes me want to spend time outdoors whenever I can, and the Newtown Hikers group has some hikes on the schedule: this Saturday, March 6, Sally Cox is the leader for a hike at the Richter/Farrington Park Trail, 100 Aunt Hack Road, Danbury; call 203-830-9032 for details. Then on Saturday, March 13, Jim Steck will lead a hike at the White Memorial/Pine Island Trail, 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield; details by calling 845-621-5559/914-806-4107. The nice thing is, you don’t have to be a super hiker to participate, or a member, though you may be asked to sign a waiver if it is your first outing with the group. Kids are welcome, and usually dogs, so long as they are leashed: check ahead, as not all trails do welcome dogs. (No information on taking your cat, in case you wondered...) Have fun!

I’ll be having fun getting next week’s column together. Be sure to... Read me again.