There’s a lot coming up in the next few days to get you in the Halloween spirit, but only one of them is for pets. The Tenth Annual Howl-O-Ween party is this Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm, at the Park and Bark Dog Park on Old Farm Road. It’s $5 per dog (maximum three pooches per person) for games, raffles, and yes — costume contests! Please bring a donation for FAITH Food Pantry pets, if you can. Visit newtownparkandbark.org for details. (There’s no Park and Meow Cat Park, so I guess that means no party for kitties. Black cats prefer to stay safe indoors this time of year, anyway.)

But along with the SHOP Halloween Walk and Halloween events at Stop & Shop, add this to your list of fun “people” things to do this Halloween: Newtown Community Center is ready to celebrate its first Halloween. Costumed ghouls and goblins who can visit the Community Center at 11 am Thursday, October 31, will participate in a parade down the halls of the 8 Simpson Street building, with seasonal tunes to accompany them. The parade is for all ages, and will end in the Multi-Purpose Room, where photo opportunities and ghoulish treats will await everyone.

If you’re willing to travel a little further, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue in Bridgeport, presents BOO at the Zoo on Sunday, October 27, from noon to 3 pm. Goodies, story-time, and activities for little monsters and harvest hayrides are part of the fun for the whole family. One child under 12 in costume, accompanied by a paying adult, gets in to the Zoo for free. Additional children in costume will receive a discounted admission of $6.

Travel the other direction and see the giant pumpkins on display at The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27, from 10 am to 6 pm. Meet the growers and learn more about their growing processes, Saturday at 1 and 3 pm, and on Sunday at noon. Be amazed as master carvers transform pumpkins of all shapes and sizes into spooky works of art. Find out details by calling 718-817-8700.

Halloween trick-or-treaters will need to be bear aware as they traipse the roads. Lisa Lengel snapped this picture, Monday evening, of a busy bear across from her 32 West Street home. It is the second time this month that a bear has been spotted in that neighborhood, so Lisa is hoping all will be a bit more alert as they trick-or-treat in the neighborhood near Route 302 — or anywhere in town, for that matter.

Which reminds me, we hear from Pomperaug Valley Garden Club that “Paul Colburn, a certified Master Wildlife Conservationist with CT DEEP, will present a lecture on black bears on Tuesday, November 12, at 11 am, at the Woodbury Fire House, 25 Quassuk Road, for the Pomperaug Valley Garden Club. ‘Black Bears in Connecticut’ will focus on the natural history of black bears in Connecticut, an overview of black bears’ habitat, diet, behavior, and reproduction, and current research efforts. It also provides practical recommendations for optimum coexistence with our black bear population. Colburn is trained in wildlife management, natural history, and interpretation. Guests are welcome for a $5 donation.”

Celebrate the fall with Protect Our Pollinators at the family friendly POP presentation this Sunday at the C.H. Booth Library meeting room, from 1 to 4 pm. Learn about butterflies, view a slide show of Newtown gardens, and take part in a wildflower seed swap. Call 203-417-1109 if you have questions.

Thanks to Diane Warner and Cheryl Moulthrop, who have enlightened us as to the mystery photo in the October 18 “Way We Were” column. “This week’s photo might have been Christmas 1996 or 1997,” Diane tells us. “The boy with the ‘98’ is my son, Reid Warner, playing trombone. This was at the Sandy Hook tree lighting and the man playing in the front of the group is [the] then band director, Jack Zamary.” Cheryl adds that “Yes, that picture is in the little ‘park’ in Sandy Hook Center before Mary Fellows purchased the building that housed The Little Green Barn. It could definitely be 1997 or 1998,” she says, “as Bruce thinks the building changed hands about 2000. All the way to the left hand side behind the barrel planter is me along with Stephen and Erin. From this picture Stephen is still in elementary school (Sandy Hook), so fifth grade, which makes me lean towards 1997.”

It’s always inspiring to see the artwork of SCAN members, and this weekend, the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown presents its Fall Art Show & Sale in the lower level of the Main Street Meeting House. From Friday, October 25, through Sunday, October 27, browse and buy from 10 am to 5 pm each day. An artists’ reception is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday evening. Visit scanart.org or call 203-270-8837 for information.

FAITH Food Pantry reportedly did very well during a donations collection event last weekend. FFP volunteer Terry Ferris mentioned on Tuesday — during her weekly visit to our office to pick up pantry donations left here — that volunteers received enough donations while outside Stop & Shop on October 19 to fill three vehicles. They also collected, she said, $600 in financial donations. And while that sounds like a lot, the pantry will go through those donations very quickly. FFP provided more than 66,000 meals to residents during 2018. That represented 1,214 families, and 3,154 people… so it won’t take long to go through Saturday’s donations. “We’ll be tight until just before Thanksgiving,” Terry mentioned. Newtown’s fire companies will band together again on Saturday, November 23, for the annual Fill The Fire Truck event. Firefighters will be stationed outside Big Y on Queen Street and Stop & Shop in Sand Hill Plaza between 9 am and 2 pm. Thanksgiving fixings will be the focus, but any food or cash donations will all be accepted and then delivered to the pantry that afternoon. Residents are also welcome to drop off donations at the pantry’s regular drop boxes — Barre Boutique, Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market, fisio physical therapy, Popowich Chiropractic, The Newtown Bee office, Newtown United Methodist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Union Savings Bank, and Village Perk Café — any time the locations are open. The pantry also accepts donations when it’s open, Tuesdays between 9:30 and 11:30 am, and Thursday evenings between 6 and 7:30 pm.

The cool weather brings out the runners, and we learn that Danbury podiatrist Paul Betschart, DPM, has teamed up with Sandy Hook Promise, according to a recent press release. He’ll run the 26.2-mile 2019 NYC Marathon on November 3 “for the families of those who have lost loved ones to gun violence and will raise money to support the efforts of Sandy Hook Promise.” To support Dr Betschart, go to crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/sandy-hook-promise-foundation-nyc-2019/paulbetschart. Call his office at 203-791-0466 for more information and to find out about a special raffle.

There’s even more reason to tie on your running shoes and get registered for the Tenth Annual Turkey Trot, Thanksgiving morning. Finish Line Sponsor Newtown Center Pediatrics has made it possible this year for monetary prizes to be awarded to the overall top three female and top three male runners. Prizes will be presented during an awards ceremony immediately following the race. Not just the harvest dinner awaiting post-race, but this new incentive should have runners fired up on November 28. Funds raised from sponsorships and registration support C.H. Booth Library. To register to walk or run, go to newtownturkeytrot.com. For sponsorship information or volunteering with the race committee, contact turkeytrot@chboothlibrary.org or call 203-313-5507.

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