One of the few candidate forums featuring the two people running for the state senator position that includes Newtown is fast approaching. Fairfield Rotary Club will host a State Senator Candidate Forum on Monday, October 19, with candidates Rob Blanchard (D) and Amybeth LaRoche (R). Questions submitted by Fairfield residents will be answered by each candidate, and then each will have time for closing statements. Registration is required and there may still be a few seats available for the midday event. Lunch will be served at noon, with the forum to begin at 12:15. Closing comments are scheduled for 1:45. Cost is $20 per person; visit fairfieldrotary.org to register and for additional information.

Meanwhile I’ll also remind you that the three episodes of “Two Guys & A Pint” that were recently recorded with three local candidates have all dropped. Michelle Embree Ku, who is running for the 106th State Representative seat against incumbent Mitch Bolinsky (who declined to do the podcast), is featured on an episode released October 5. Separate episodes featuring Rob and Amybeth, who also sat down recently with podcast co-hosts Gavin Arneth and Brian Hartgraves, both dropped this past Monday. Thanks to Gavin and Brian, there are options to hear from some of the local candidates ahead of Election Day. “Two Guys & A Pint” can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart.

Our in-house coverage of local candidates continues this week, with profiles of 107th District State Representative Marty Foncello (R) and his challenger, Julie Kerton (D). Each met recently with Reporter Jenna Visca. We have features planned in upcoming weeks with 106th District State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R) and his challenger, Michelle Embree Ku (D); and Amybeth Laroche and Rob Blanchard, the Republican and Democratic candidates, respectively, vying for the State Senator seat formerly held by Tony Hwang.

C.H. Booth Library is currently hosting “Elements,” an exhibition of pretty amazing pieces created by current members of FiberWorks. The group was formed more than four decades ago in Newtown. While visiting The Gathering Room at 25 Main Street last week I found myself admiring the pieces on view. One piece in particular, “Renew, Reuse, Recycle” by Paula West, held my attention. The longer I looked at the charms, vintage buttons, and other wonderful little trinkets, the more I discovered, including this little guy. We’ll have a proper story and fuller photos covering the long-term presentation next week, but I couldn’t resist teasing you with this bee (pictured).

Speaking of favorite things, it’s no secret that autumn, Halloween, and generally spooky things are among mine. Imagine my delight in reading not just one but two responses in recent Snapshot columns from people who say autumn is their favorite season, particularly Halloween.

On the brighter side of autumn, it’s been very enjoyable to look out the windows this week when the sun has been hitting some of our local foliage. I feel like we’re enjoying peak viewing right now. Tuesday evening and Wednesday especially, the oranges, yellows, and reds surrounding us were just gorgeous. That checks with what the folks at ctvisit.com said about this year’s peak foliage timeframe. The estimated peak for Connecticut Northwest/Northeast Corners was October 7-13, while the Eastern and Western Mid-State counties arrived at their peak on Wednesday and will continue until October 20. Shoreline and lower Connecticut River Valley areas will then reach peak foliage October 28-November 3, and the final section of the state, the Southwest Corner, will enjoy the autumnal fireworks November 4-10.

I heard from former Sandy Hook resident Pete Barresi this week, who stunned me when he said one of his sons is about to turn 20 and the younger is learning how to drive! How does time go so quickly??! I’m not aging, so how can the Barresi boys be growing up so fast?

Following a two-week delay, SHOP Sandy Hook Village was able to host a painting party last Sunday. All ages were invited to begin painting sections of the first mural that will be installed in Sandy Hook Center. We have a story about that event in this week’s paper, and you may notice in one photo the event coordinators and volunteers were wearing matching Sandy Hook Village 06482 T-shirts. The shirts are part of the efforts by the local business group to celebrate all things Sandy Hook Center.

The T-shirts can be purchased at special events, like the annual Sandy Hook Halloween Walk on October 24. SHOP will have a table set up at what used to be the western end of the bridge span, between PJ’s Laundromat and Sandy Hook Wine & Liquor. If there’s rain next Saturday the table will be inside the laundromat. I’m told the shirts will soon be available through the SHOP Sandy Hook Village Facebook page. They’re available in adult and children’s sizes, $20 and $10 each, respectively, and have black lettering on a sage or hot pink background.

The Halloween Walk will be taking place throughout Sandy Hook Village next Saturday from 11 am until 2 pm. A tradition since 2011, the Halloween Walk invites children and families to dress up in their Halloween best and make their way across the business district centered around the intersection of Church Hill Road, Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road for some early trick-or-treating. Special shopping and dining offers are also usually part of the presentation, which takes place rain or shine. Participating Sandy Hook businesses will open their doors to costumed children, creating a safe daytime experience. Additional groups and businesses will also be staged at Heritage Park, 7 Glen Road.

Before the rain returned last weekend, Castle Hill Farm presented its annual Fall Festival. On October 10 and 11, guests of all ages enjoyed live music, hayrides, face and hand painting, pumpkin picking, food options, and the corn maze, among its offerings. This year’s corn maze design continues the observance of America 250 with an eagle spreading its wings across the 7½-acre corn maze that has several miles of trails. “USA” and “250” have also been carved into the design, named “Born to be Free, a-MAIZE-ing America.”

While the main inspiration for that beautiful maze came from the 250th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence, it was shared with me this week that inspiration also came from a pair of eagles that have made their home near a lake on the farm. A video posted on the farm’s Facebook page at the beginning of this month shows the maze from multiple perspectives. A lovely narrative reminds visitors that while “we may not all start in the same place or follow the same path … we are each part of a much bigger picture — our families, our communities, and the country we call home.”

There’s more to read and see in the Facebook post, and I’ll leave it up to you to discover that little treat. Me, I’m off to see if I can discover a new napping place. I promise to wake up in time to see you around this time next week, when it will be time to … read me again.