Now this is a pretty scary photo for a Halloween cat like me. This photo was snapped by Mrs Alves in her backyard on Sunday, October 21. Coyotes are pretty shy around humans, but they just love to invite cats like me for dinner – literally! So pet owners, beware. These hungry canines are out there. Keep your pets close to home, especially at night, when the coyotes are most active.

First selectman candidates Owen Carney and Herb Rosenthal have been seeing quite a bit of each other lately as they travel from one debate to the next. Both men have been perfect gentlemen throughout. Owen even holds the door for the older Herb. “Age before beauty,” Mr Carney says with a smile. “You always get me with that,” Herb quips in reply.

 A big crowd turned out for Monday night’s Pizza & Politics event at the Fireside Inn as everyone wanted to hear from the candidates. Republican selectman incumbent Bill Brimmer began his speech by saying he had promised Tim Holian earlier in the night that he would not sing. Bill is reportedly quite a crooner. “’God Bless America’ would be apropos,” he said.

Speaking of Pizza & Politics, Herb showed up with much shorter hair that I had seen him with earlier in the day when he stopped by The Bee. Jan Andras apparently suggested that Herb might need a trim. He agreed and did so in time for the big event.

Wendy Beres reports having a great time at her 30th high school reunion at New Canaan High School last weekend. She described it as being like the last day of senior year and it was a skip day.

The Sandy Hook Fire Company has two new faces these days – Tim Whelan and Michael Burton – and they were both spotted at the scene of a motor vehicle accident this week.

 To help raise money for a new sound system at Newtown High School, The Berkshire Big Band and The Dartmouth Cords will be performing at the high school on Friday, November 2, at 7:30 pm. The Berkshire Big Band is a 17-piece band that has been playing throughout Fairfield County and the surrounding area for many years under the direction of Chip Zellner. The band performs a wide variety of music for listening and dancing.

The Dartmouth Chords is recognized as one of the country’s best a cappella performing groups, combining sweet sounds, smooth moves and hilarious skits to produce action packed shows that have won the group acclaim since its founding in 1995. The November 2 show in Newtown will be especially meaningful for the Chords in that member Ryan Braun is a Newtown High School Class of 2000 graduate. Ryan offers his baritone voice to the group’s contemporary ballads. For advance tickets call Dr Henry Gellert’s office at 426-5900 or Dr Kevin Braun’s office at 426-9692. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Head O’ Meadow kindergarten teacher Carol Howard is getting the nickname “Klutz” because she has been hobbling around in a cast because of a minor accident with some stairs. She broke her middle toe. Mrs Howard stopped by The Bee a few weeks ago. She wanted to pay for her daughter Laura’s subscription to The Bee, which of course Laura said she would pay back. We suggest Mrs Howard consider the $9 lost because we’re sure Laura is going to be needing the $9 for other important college materials.

Middle Gate fifth grade teacher Chris Breyan and his wife are the proud parents of their second daughter, Leslie. Chris is the advisor for the Middle Gate Bee reporters and said he has been a bit distracted with his new bundle of joy and is behind in getting student articles together.

Sandy Hook School had its annual Fire Prevention evacuation drill on Tuesday. The students did a fine job. Once they got back into class, the alarm was set off again when it was being reset. Students made their way out a second time within minutes of the practice drill. Practice makes perfect.

Never say that the Booth Library books aren’t well traveled. One of the library patrons checked out a book recently and took it with her on a flight to Minneapolis, then accidentally left it on the plane. Assuming she would never get it back, she returned to the library after her trip and paid for the lost book. A few days later, a mysterious package arrived in the library mail. It was the book, found by the pilot of the airliner. Capt Jeff Currin, who lives in Georgia, saw the library stamp inside the book so he took the book home, wrapped it up, and mailed it back to the library with an explanatory note. Library Director Janet Woycik was delighted. “We wrote him back and told him that if he is every in town, he should stop in,” she said.

Well, it’s time for me to wrap things up, and like Capt Curran, if you’re in the area this time next week, be sure to stop in and…

Read me again.