First and foremost, thank you to our readers who took time to offer comments and suggestions during National Newspaper Week. We love hearing what people like, love, and even don’t like — constructive criticism is helpful — any time, but it’s especially heartening during a week we are honoring with fellow journalists across the country. We read all the comments on our Facebook, X and Instagram feeds, and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts.

Newtown Police Department and Newtown Animal Control responded to Mt Pleasant Road on Monday morning following a few calls about a bald eagle. Passersby thought the bird had been struck by a vehicle, and then died. It was a few quiet minutes in our Editorial department as we waited to hear what officers would find. No one wanted to hear that one of those beautiful creatures had perished. Fortunately, it was a good ending. One passerby reportedly found and then stayed with the bird until help arrived. Although the eagle was reportedly hit and stunned, it eventually woke up, left the roadway on its own, and then flew to a nearby tree, according to Newtown PD. Local officers also offered a reminder to everyone: Large birds of prey are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous. They’re big animals! This cat isn’t going to mess with them, that’s for sure. Bald eagles will attack if they are frightened and/or injured. If you see one in distress, do what the kind person did on Monday: give it space and call for help. Newtown Animal Control can be reached at 203-426-6900. If they don’t answer, try calling Newtown Dispatch’s non-emergency number, 203-270-4200.

Newtown PTA’s current fundraiser sounds (and smells! and tastes!) delicious. Through October 17, readers can order one dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts for $17.50. We had a full page ad in last week’s print edition of The Newtown Bee (thank you Newtown PTA!) with a QR code to place orders through. If you can’t get your hands on that paper, visit tinyurl.com/4h5kvywx to place an order. Pickup for all orders will be at Newtown Middle School on Saturday, October 21, between 10 am and noon. Orders are placed through the Reed PTA Giveback portal, but you get to indicate the school of your choice to receive the funds when you place your order. Don’t be late on your pickup next weekend — all orders that aren’t picked up by 12:01 pm will be donated away. If the PTA folks are looking for a spot to drop off unclaimed donuts next Saturday afternoon, there’s a mail slot on the front door of our office…

Those wonderful Women Involved in Newtown have a new project this year: WIN Main Street Halloween Candy Collections. As mentioned last week, the incredibly popular destination for children of all ages, who live in town as well as in local municipalities, means Main Street homeowners regularly see hundreds if not a few thousand Trick or Treaters at their doors on October 31. “Halloween on Main Street” is not a Town-sanctioned event. It’s just a fun, nearly legendary tradition for our town. Local groups have done collections of new, wrapped candy for years to share among the homes between the stretch of Currituck Road and the Main Street at Sugar Street-South Main Street-Glover Avenue intersection. Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market (5 Queen Street), Newtown Parks & Rec (8 Simpson Street), and Trinity Episcopal Church (36 Main Street) regularly host collections. Now WIN has joined the effort, with locations set up at Around Town Real Estate (17 Church Hill Road), Coldwell Banker Realty (32 Church Hill Road), Newtown Community Center (8 Simpson Street), and Wesley Learning Center (attached to Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road). Donations to any of the WIN locations will be accepted until October 29; the club will make sure all unopened candy is then distributed in time for Trick or Treating.

Meanwhile, Newtown Community Center is hosting a Teal Pumpkin Project Collection. If you aren’t yet familiar with the growing movement, the Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safety, inclusion, and respect for those who manage food allergies. As its name suggests, teal colored pumpkins at a home or business indicate participation, and parents can rest assured their children will find non-food trinkets and treats for their children. The community center is accepting donations of stickers, pencils, bubbles, bracelets, stamps, glow sticks, and toy rings. Visit 8 Simpson Street with those items by October 23, which will give volunteers enough time to then distribute those offerings to Main Street homes.

Business owners in Sandy Hook are also getting ready to celebrate this month’s big holiday. The 2023 SHOP Halloween Walk will return to the sidewalks of Church Hill Road, Washington Avenue, Riverside Road and Glen Road on Saturday, October 28. Rain or shine, children are invited to visit the shops and restaurants between 11 am and 2 pm that day, when they can pick up treats and give their Halloween costumes a first run.

If Halloween isn’t enough to get your chocolate love going, consider a trip along the Connecticut Chocolate Trail. I was pleasantly surprised last week to learn about that happy trail, featuring 17 chocolatiers. The best place to start? I’d say right at 6 Glen Road in Sandy Hook, home of Castle Hill Chocolate, one of the featured stops on the CT Visit offering. Heck, I may even start and stop there, but I won’t be doing the full trip in one day. The tour includes stops in Fairfield County, the greater Hartford area, Litchfield Hills, greater New Haven, and Mystic County. That’s a lot of driving, and a lot of really good chocolate. Best to pace myself. Visit ctvisit.com/trail/chocolate to plan your trek.

Nancy K. Crevier will present her second reading and book signing of Pieces of the World and other poems, next week at C.H. Booth Library. Our retired editor will welcome guests to the Gathering Room at 25 Main Street on Thursday, October 19, at 7 pm. All are welcome, with registration requested; call 203-426-4533 or visit chboothlibrary.org to take care of that. Nancy’s new book follows her release last year of The Peach Quartet and Other Poems. Copies of the new book are available at the library reading. They can also be purchased at Queen Street Gifts, 3 Queen Street; Art & Frame at 77 Main Street, and at Amazon.com.

The 2023 Lions Mustang Raffle has just about a week to go before the winning ticket is pulled. This year’s car is a 2020 low-mileage Mustang convertible with a black top and metallic blue body, and gray and white leather interior. This cat would look awesome in that ride, which also features an eco-boosted 2.3-liter engine with 310-horsepower and 350 pounds-per-foot of torque, and a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also includes all the latest safety features, automatic convertible top, remote entry, and lots more. Tickets are $10 each, and are available newtownlions.org. Final tickets will be available just before the drawing at 1 pm Saturday, October 21, in front of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street. This raffle is the local club’s primary fundraiser for Lions Charities. The purchase of raffle tickets provides valuable assets that go to dozens of local, regional, national, and global charities. If I don’t win but you do, would you at least give me a ride?

October is the month for black cats, but I’m happy to share the spotlight for just a minute with (of all things!) my canine cousins. We’re about midway through Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month and my friends at Bee Publishing Company are again hosting a collection for the Newtown Animal Shelter. The shelter this year is requesting Earthborn and Iams dry dog food, Nutro Max mini chunk dog food, freeze-dried liver treats, poultry flavor toothpaste, pig’s ears, large rubber Kong toys, Air Kongs, large rope toys, Frisbees, squeak toys, tennis balls, choke chains, collars, and study slide leads. I appreciate the fact that while it’s Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, the folks at the shelter are also open to donations of canned or dry cat food and treats. Cleaning and other supplies are always welcomed too, from bleach, ammonia, paper towels and laundry detergent to dryer sheets, towels and large plastic garbage bags. Still not sure how to help? Pet store gift certificates are also helpful. Donations are being accepted at the shelter, 21 Old Farm Road, Monday through Saturday, 9 am-3 pm; and the lobby of The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, weekdays generally 8 am to 5 pm (earlier and later by chance), through October 27.

Phew! I think I’ve earned a little catnap after sharing all these notes, but I do hope you’ll remember to come back next week to … read me again.