The Women’s Center in Danbury held its 15th Annual SafeWalk as a three-day-long virtual event the first weekend in October. According to an announcement, “SafeWalk is the Women’s Center’s premier event to unite the community in their vision to end domestic violence and raise funds to support programs and services that are provided at no cost. Over $75,000 and counting was contributed through sponsorships, registrations, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Hundreds of individuals on more than 40 teams ran, walked, hiked, and creatively moved their way to a 4K from across the Greater Danbury area to Michigan, Virginia, New York, Washington D.C., Maine, and as far as California.”

The Women’s Center is a nonprofit organization with a vision to end violence against women, men, and children, and to foster equality and empowerment for all. And one Newtown team was highlighted in the SafeWalk announcement. It continues, “Fairfield County Bank’s Strength in Numbers was the highest fundraising team for the third year in a row. Newtown High School’s Girls Inspiring Girls claimed the title of the highest youth fundraising team, also for the third year in a row. Kristin English, an English teacher at Newtown High School who helps organize the team, explained, ‘Girls Inspiring Girls, a Newtown High School club, works hard to support both the school community and the community at large. We know what the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury offers to women and families in the area, and SafeWalk is our favorite event every year. This year’s team, led by the club’s president, Maggie Breault, wanted to make this our most successful year yet. People need help now more than ever.’”

Heather Franse nominated her husband Scott Franse as a Good Egg Award recipient for being a fun-loving guy who likes to have a good time and would do anything for this kids... including showing enthusiastic support for Sandy Hook Elementary School’s recent Walk-A-Thon, which raised funds for the school’s PTA. We couldn’t agree more. Scott, you are a good egg!

Congratulations to Amber Edwards and Justin Scott, who had a very good first co-author event last weekend. I hear the Newtown couple had such a good turnout for their appearance at Bryd’s Books in Bethel, where they signed copies of their just released thriller Forty Days and Forty Nights: A Novel of the Mississippi River, that the store didn’t have any copies available by the end of their event. Fear not, inventory will (or has already been) replenished. Amber and Justin have another event this weekend, and you’ll want to stay right at home to participate in this one. The couple has been invited to be presenters for The 2021 Six Bridges Book Festival based in Little Rock, Ark. They will be participating, with author Rhona Weaver, in an author program on Saturday, October 23, at 10 am; visit cals.org/six-bridges-book-festival to register and then participate in the free virtual event.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue members are getting ready for their newest fundraiser. Sandy Hook Fall Festival is planned for this Saturday, from 11 am to 5 pm, at the fire company’s main station, 18-20 Riverside Road. Admission is $2 for adults, free for ages 12 and under, and costumes are definitely encouraged. There are five food trucks scheduled, a beer and wine garden, yard games, craft vendors, and more. Costumes will be judged at 4 o’clock, and the company is planning prizes for the two best adult and two best children’s costumes. Because this will be a very crowd-heavy (they hope), food-centric event, organizers remind pet owners that service animals are the only creatures that should be showing up on Saturday. The festival will be rain or shine, with plenty of nearby parking available.

As the weather is turning cooler, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary shared a “Wildlife Wednesday” update on its Instagram account (@cvhanimalsanctuary) this week: “If a few ladybugs (or a hundred) have made themselves comfortable in the corners of your home, you aren’t alone. While you might not appreciate the uninvited guests, they don’t pose any serious health or property threats and will happily depart once the weather warms.” I have certainly noticed this happening in my own humble cat palace.

Protect Our Pollinators (POP) also shared a timely weather update on its Facebook page (Protect Our Pollinators) this week. The group offered a reminder that all those leaves in the yard protect bees, specifically bumblebee queens, that nest underground. Leaving the leaves where they fall until May, when bees will emerge from nesting for the winter, supports these pollinators.

Do you follow The Newtown Bee on Instagram? Since 1877, The Newtown Bee has been devoted to local news and advertising, so of course we have an Instagram account. Follow @thenewtownbee to see photos from our excursions around town, like this bee I spotted while in Sandy Hook recently. Another recent photo is of Newtown’s rolling hills, from a perspective in Sandy Hook, with Main Street’s flagpole just visible between trees. And the rooster weathervane atop Newtown Meeting House — complete with one feathered friend literally taking in a bird’s-eye view of the area — was captured on a crisp early morning this week by Associate Editor Shannon Hicks.

State Senator Tony Hwang was recognized with The Good Scout Award on October 8 during an awards ceremony hosted by Connecticut Yankee Council and Boy Scouts of America. Tony was honored for exhibiting “leadership to help inspire a better community for future generations of young people.” Additional honorees were Connecticut First Lady Annie Lamont and financial journalist, author, and CEO Stacey Tisdale. The Good Scout Award, according to organizers, “celebrates and recognizes community leaders who exemplify the Boy Scouts of America’s ideals, values, character, and leadership.” In a statement, Tony said in part, “There are so many ways that one person can make a meaningful impact on their surrounding community, and the Boy Scouts provide opportunities for our youth to see and realize their potential at a pivotal time in their development. Leadership can start at a very young age, and the Connecticut Yankee Council proves that every day.”

Scarlett Lewis, who started the Jessie Lewis Choose Love Movement after losing her son Jessie Lewis on 12/14, and The Jessie Lewis Choose Love Movement announced this week that she has published a book. From Sandy Hook: How The Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives. Stories From Around The Globe is available on Amazon and at chooselovemovement.org. Each purchase supports the movement’s mission to make the world a safer, more peaceful and loving place for all, according to the announcement. Lewis says in the announcement, “This is the story of how I started a worldwide movement and how it expanded through the support of so many courageous individuals who are taking responsibility for what’s going on in their schools, homes, and communities, and who are stepping up and being part of the solution. I’m so grateful that people are understanding and recognizing that we must address escalating issues in our society by being proactive and preventative. The reality is that we can reduce and prevent so much of the suffering we’re seeing before it begins.”

Newtown Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving morning 5K race to benefit C.H. Booth Library, will take place on November 25 at 7:45 am. The race start times may be staggered to avoid crowds, and the race and 2.5K walk start and end at Newtown Middle School. Cost is $30 and there will be no race day registration, which will close on November 24 at noon. Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Newtown/NewtownTurkeyTrot to sign up. We’re counting down, and I know Newtown Bee Editor John Voket is extra excited, as he will be providing sound and entertainment support to keep participants informed and inspired! Rumor has it another member of the newspaper staff is also looking forward to putting on their sneakers and turkey hat for the big event again that morning too.

You never know where us roving bees will be. I promise to keep roving around town as long as you promise next week to... Read me again.