If you missed the summer presentation at Nettleton Preserve and/or haven’t had the opportunity to visit the southern exterior area of Newtown Municipal Center in recent weeks, time is really running short to take in the joy that is “The Great Art-Doors.” This is the exhibition that was created and curated by Newtown resident Annette Womack, who collaborated with Newtown Forest Association for the project. Annette issued an open call to local artists a year ago that resulted in the creation of a whimsical collection of art presented this past summer within Nettleton Preserve. The show’s original closing date was to be mid-September, but Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC) decided to relocate and extend the presentation.

Readers have until this Saturday to view the collection by local artists, which has been moved to the southern lawn of Newtown Municipal Center. A pair of clever miniature houses by Tracy Van Buskirk have been staged on benches on either side of the building’s door. Additional pieces have been set up in the grassy area to the east of the sidewalk. NCAC Chair Laura Lerman noted last week that this is the first art exhibit to be shown on the grounds of the municipal center. She also shared high praise for NCAC auxiliary member Alexa Skalandunas, who spearheaded the relocation and extension of “The Great Art-Doors.” Eight of the original works from the summer presentation are still on exhibit, including pieces created by Paula Brinkman, Patrick Dunne, R.T. Eckenrode, Julie Schwartz, Daisy and Darryl Sorensen, Annette Womack, and Willow Womack. Stop by before sunset Saturday if you can. It’s worth it.

Accuracy. Byline. Community. Deadline. Editor. Facts. Grammar. History. Independent. Journalism. Knowledge. Local. Meetings. Newspaper. Orchid. Publishing. Questions. Reporters. Subscribers. Trust. Underscore. Voices. Watchdog. Zoning.

One of these things is usually not like the others, but this week all of the above fit into our newsroom. This Saturday will also mark the conclusion of National Newspaper Week 2026, and Wednesday morning we were gifted with a beautiful orchid in honor of the annual observance. Thank you to our friends at Newtown Lions Club for the note and gift. National Newspaper Week may be coming to its conclusion, but we promise to everyone that we will remain committed — as we have been for just shy of 150 years — to this year’s theme of “Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth.”

Continued congratulations to the Reverend Sue Klein, who has retired as deacon from Newtown United Methodist Church but forgot to share her good news with me. Thank you to the little bird who did share the news.

Newtown Congregational Church hosted what will probably be the final local Semiquincentennial event in town this year (see Jenna Visca’s story and photos), and at least one person wrote in to tell me how much she enjoyed the show. Louise Zierzow said there was a lively crowd of not only members of the church, but also friends and family of performers and many community members. Rich Collins put in months of work to put the event together, and from the sounds of it, those efforts paid off on Sunday. The concert of Americana and folk music went on for nearly three hours, according to Louise. There was plenty of clapping, toe-tapping, and singing along, and at least one little girl who enjoyed dancing and twirling to the music, Louise also shared.

I don’t know if he’s twirling with pride, but the winner of the inaugural Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity Hot Wing Contest recently consumed over a dozen wings to earn the trophy. Justin Bartholomew ate 16 super spicy wings from Cover Two in five minutes during Rockin’ the Hook on September 26 (see related story, also by Jenna Visca). He believes his closest competitor was able to finish 14 wings, but it was Justin’s finish that earned him this handsome trophy now being proudly displayed at Sandy Hook Wine & Liquor. The win also included a nice gift card from Cover Two, and Justin said this week he hasn’t had any hesitation about enjoying more wings since the contest.

Last week I mentioned we’ve entered October, my favorite month. The clock is ticking faster than I realized, however, because some folks in the front office of this newspaper are already looking toward the arrival of the new year: the 2027 Newtown Bee calendars have arrived. Readers are welcome to stop in and pick one up weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm. These are the same style we’ve been printing for decades, with the large, easy-to-read numbers for each month in the center of each page. The previous month and the next month are also shown along the lower portion of each page, which I’ve always found very helpful. There is no charge for a Bee calendar, although I wouldn’t tell if you were to drop a snack or toy for me in the front office when you grab yours.

Finally! We learned last week that the winner of The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut is The Lee Company’s Satellite Propellant Isolation Valve. A critical component of space applications supporting GPS, global communications, and weather forecasting — which I read in a press release; I couldn’t have told you that on my own — the Westbrook-based company’s win was announced on October 1 during the Made in Connecticut: 2026 Manufacturing Summit in Hartford.

This year’s Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut competition opened in August. Visitors to the website of CBIA, the state’s largest business organization, were invited to vote for their favorite in a single-elimination, bracket style competition that opened with 16 contenders. This year’s competition included products ranging from aerospace and defense technologies to medical devices, consumer goods, and food products. The competition, now in its third year, showcases the diversity and innovation of Connecticut manufacturing, according to the folks at CBIA. CBIA President and CEO Chris DiPentima said the competition highlights the very best of manufacturing in the state as well as the “dedicated employees whose creativity and experience bring them to life.” He also congratulated the folks at The Lee Company for their creation, calling it “a worthy champion that exemplifies the spirit of innovation and excellence.”

I wonder what Chris would say about my hairballs. Some of them have been called impressive, among other things. I’d be mighty impressed if you’ll come back again this time next week, when it will be time to … read me again.