As is mentioned in this week’s Way We Were column, we’re celebrating a silver anniversary this week. Twenty-five years ago this week, Carmela Veccharelli became the first person to be named as the Hometown Newspaper honoree. We continue to celebrate readers every week, with that distinction appearing in the upper right cover of the front page of The Newtown Bee. We always have a list of names available to choose from, but if you’d like to nominate someone — or even yourself! — send a suggestion to Managing Editor Shannon Hicks (shannon@thebee.com). And if you bump into Carmela this week, please extend our anniversary congratulations to her.

After a two year break, volunteers at Christ the King Lutheran Church are happy to announce they will again be holding their Fall Fair. The fair is planned for Saturday, November 5, from 9 am until 3 pm, and vendor openings are available. The fair will again feature more than 45 vendor tables, each selling something unique from hand crafted crafts, cosmetics and locally produced food items to jewelry, second hand items, and much more. Interested in learning more? Send a note to CTKfallfair@gmail.com. Meanwhile, for those who want to plan ahead to attend the fair, admission will be $5 for those who want to enjoy early bird selections at 8 am. Admission will then be free the remainder of the event, 9 am-3 pm. The church is also planning the return of the $1 tag sale featuring hundreds of items at one low price, including kids items, toys, clothing, home goods, sports equipment, jewelry, books, and much more.

Regular readers may remember a letter from two weeks ago, from Leigh Gocklin, whose father is former longtime Newtown resident Dean Snellback. Unfortunately, shortly after moving to New Milford, Dean lost just about all of his belongings in an apartment fire. Many may recognize Dean’s name from decades of living here, his active membership within Trinity Church, or even from one of his performances at local senior living facilities, among other locations. In her letter Leigh shared details about a few fundraisers that have been planned to help her father, including one coming up this weekend. All are invited to join friends and fellow music lovers on Sunday, September 25, at Sticks & Stones Farm at 201 Huntingtown Road. From 4:30 to 7 pm, local musicians will be performing. Admission is by donation, with all to be forwarded to Dean. BYO folding chairs/seating, refreshments, and insect repellent. Leigh’s letter also included a note of thanks “for the overwhelming show of support and kindness” her father and family have received since the September 1 fire.

What’s all that racket about? Newtown Tennis Association held its Newtown Open this past weekend; there were 120 participants and several champs were crowned. Not to mention, Newtown High School’s football team piled up 41 points in its first win of the season, the NHS field hockey team held on for its first victory, and there was plenty more Nighthawk success this past week. Read all about it in this week’s sports section.

Newtown Savings Bank shared helpful information this week about online scams and fraudulent activities. It also shared tips to help protect yourself. Those tips are to know that most bank employees will never contact someone requesting confidential information such as an account number, social security number, user ID, passwords, or debit card PIN; never give banking or personal information to a caller, even if the Caller ID shows the bank’s phone number or the caller indicates that they are an employee of the bank; and if you receive a call requesting confidential information, ask for the caller’s name and phone number, hang up, and call a publicly available number for the business. For example, to contact Newtown Savings Bank, use the number on the back of your debit card or on their website, NSBonline.com. It further recommends that if someone receives an e-mail or text message requesting sensitive information, do not respond. Never click on a link in an e-mail or text message that you received unexpectedly or from an unfamiliar sender, and use online and mobile banking to set up account alerts, monitor account activity and, if necessary, immediately disable your card.

Is your child set to celebrate a birthday? Parents can announce the happy news in The Newtown Bee’s Birthday Wishes, located in the Education section each week by sending a head and shoulders photo of their child, with their first and last name, age, and date of birth to Education Editor eliza@thebee.com for publication in “Birthday Wishes.” Be sure to include a daytime phone number in case we have questions, as well as your address. All children submitted for birthday announcements are entered into a chance to win a free ice cream cake from Ferris Acres Creamery.

The Hometown Foundation, Inc, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, in conjunction with Farmhouse Restaurant, 43 South Main Street, is set to host a “Community for K-9” event at the restaurant on Wednesday, September 28, from 6 to 9 pm. The event will commemorate the integration of a group of dogs, known as the Black Rock Lucky 13, back into the workforce and healthy homes within the community. To purchase tickets to the event see e.givesmart.com/events/szg.

Affinity Esports of Newtown, along with Post University, The Jordon Porco Foundation, and Turning Point CT, have teamed up to co-sponsor a “1Up — In It 4 Life” charity gaming event this Saturday, September 24, starting at 1 pm, at Post University in Waterbury. The event is raising funds for The Jordan Porco Foundation, which has a mission to prevent suicide, promote mental health, and create a message of hope for youth and young adults. To register to participate in the event go online to 1up.funraise.org.

I couldn’t help but notice our Weekly Question posted to Facebook last week on September 14: What was your introduction to playing sports? The responses tickled this cat. “Playing in the street with other kids from the neighborhood,” one person wrote. Another said, “Playing in the neighborhood: whiffleball, volleyball, baseball.” And another said, “T-ball!” This cat fondly remembers playing with the neighborhood cats too, but we chased our tails. A new question is posted weekly. Readers are encouraged to check facebook.com/thenewtownbee for the latest Weekly Question.

On the morning of September 19, The Newtown Bee Reporter Alissa Silber was visiting Newtown Wellness Collective for its Business Buzz profile in this week’s paper when she heard the tranquil sound of rippling water. She found it was coming from the Pootatuck River as it cascaded over the waterfall behind the building at 75 Glen Road. And lucky for us she captured a photo of the familiar waterfall (pictured).

I’ll be keeping my ears and eyes open too, so I hope you promise next week to ... Read me again.