We definitely had some Halloween spirit at 5 Church Hill Road last week. Jenna Visca and Sam Cross were first to arrive, and they arrived ready to enjoy the day. The reporters were Velma Dinkley and Daphne Blake, respectively, and they’d each put a lot of time into their wonderful costumes. Our 8-month-old office puppy Banks was quickly dubbed Scooby-Doo for the day.

Sam decided that even though Shannon Hicks had dressed for the day, wearing plenty of black and a splash of orange (but not a specific costume), our managing editor was “throwing Evil Librarian vibes,” and quickly created a backstory for Shannon’s non-costume. “You are the evil librarian looking for treasure hidden under the library,” Sam announced.

Jim Taylor’s entrance at the office Friday morning put everyone else on notice, however. When he wants to, Jim goes big for Halloween. He snuck in through the building’s back entrance, queued up the theme from Ghostbusters on his phone, and walked into Editorial like he owned the place. Dressed in a full Ghostbusters khaki uniform, Jim was Raymond Stantz, PhD for the day, complete with the Proton Pack, gizmo, No-Ghost logos on one arm and on the back of his uniform, and elbow pads.

Jim, Jenna and Sam were later joined by Tamar Mayer-DeAngelis, our new copy editor, who was also in costume, to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters Friday afternoon. Our earliest guests arrived right around 4 pm, and the stream of guests heading toward Main Street was then steady for about three hours. Jim even had a few younger Ghostbusters very excited to see him in his costume. He was asked a few times to pose for photos.

Just west of us, thousands of people again filled the sidewalks and lawns of properties and businesses on Main Street for Halloween. Homeowners again welcomed trick-or-treating guests of all ages. Photographer Bill Glass said he thought there were nearly as many adults in costume as there were children dressed for the occasion. There was plenty to take in again, too. Ghosts floated overhead for those stopping at one home near the top of Main Street. A little further north, on the west side of the state road, a very impressive sandworm that looked like it was straight out of Beetlejuice was certainly eye-catching. The Great Pumpkin Challenge took up residence in front of Trinity Church, and I’m pretty sure I saw some Wizard of Oz characters hanging out just a few doors south of the church. Other lawns had been turned into scenes from Hocus Pocus and The Flintstones — the latter included one of the best entrances by a dinosaur I have ever seen — and even a “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” presentation. Newtown Historical Society also joined the fun this year, with members handing out candy from under a pop-up tent in front of their headquarters.

Banks Baggett debuted something new this week, and it wasn’t a temporary item. Our office puppy is now sporting her own personalized collar. She looks lovely with the new blue necklace with lovely white detailing.

The summer flag was torn by last weekend’s heavy winds, so a quick change was needed to replace the 20- by 30-foot flag with its smaller — but nevertheless impressive — 18- by 24-foot winter version. Keeper of the Flag Chris Gardner was able to count on Newtown Hook & Ladder for extra duty after the flag ripped in Saturday’s winds. Firefighters assembled on Monday, once the winds died down enough to make it safe to undertake the public service, and Chris shared with me they not only took care of lowering one flag and raising the other, they also had enough volunteers at the base of the flagpole to make sure neither banner touched the ground.

Newtown Lions Club often takes care of that second task, but Chris said he didn’t have enough time to mobilize those men and women this time around. They will most certainly be called upon in the spring, however.

Chris also mentioned that the Sorrentino family, multiple-generation owners of Newtown Hardware, donated two winter flags for the landmark, which is both a state-sanctioned landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sorrentinos, he reminded me, have also been longtime supporters of that special flagpole. I thank them, and everyone else who takes care of that special landmark, for those efforts.

Congratulations Phil Crevier, who won the 2025 Newtown Congregational Church Chili Cook-Off crown last weekend. Phil is a repeat winner of that special honor, having won at least twice in the past. He picked up his third crown Sunday morning, after members of the West Street church spent time after that morning’s worship service enjoying samples of chili by six different cooks. When all votes were counted, Phil picked up the win, the crown, and ownership of The Golden Ladle for the next year.

With Halloween behind us, we are officially within the holiday season. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and I’m sure cooks like Phil are well into planning the meal for November 27. Green bean casserole … yea or nay? For me it’s a big yea, especially when some milk that’s meant to dilute the cream of mushroom soup spills on the floor. I am on that quicker than you can say “What’s the cat doing in the kitchen??!”

Young children already know this but maybe some adults need a reminder: it isn’t too early to send a letter to Santa. One of his dedicated mailboxes will open this weekend, thanks to our friends at Newtown Youth & Family Services and The Toy Tree. The toy store within The Village at Lexington Gardens on Church Hill Road will host the mailbox, which will be ready to receive letters to Santa for the next few weeks. Children are invited to drop their letters off before December 15, and those who remember to include a self-addressed stamped envelope will receive a response by Christmas.

I promise you’ll receive a happy response from me if you’ll remember to come back next week, when it will be time to … read me again.