Thank you veterans. I could not let this edition of my column start any other way. May you feel our gratitude all year, not just on this Friday, November 11. We hope the many celebrations scheduled locally, both in schools and at public spaces, will warm your heart more than an over 70 degree day in November. Thank you for your service, and thank you for being you.

If you drove by The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, this past week, you know we are celebrating the arrival of a tiny human. As you can see in this photo taken by Sherri Baggett, we have a new addition in our Bee family: Violet Sloane Baggett was born the night of Halloween. She is the daughter of Judd and Ali Albini Baggett, and the third gorgeous grandchild of Scott and Sherri Baggett. She is also the niece of Alex and Scudder Baggett, and the newest great-grandchild of Helen Smith. Congratulations Ali and Judd, and all the rest of the Baggett and Smith crew. We are thrilled!

We are tipping our hats this week to Reverie Brewing Co, which recently announced it is the 2022-23 season partner and official taproom for Danbury Hat Tricks. “We are proud to announce a new marketing partnership with the Danbury Hat Tricks of the Federal Prospects Hockey League for the 2022-23 season,” an announcement read. “This makes Reverie the preferred taproom and beer destination of The Danbury Hat Tricks. This season the Reverie Brewing Company logo will be featured throughout the Danbury Ice Arena and at all Hat Tricks games.”

Bingo is back at St Rose of Lima School this weekend. The school’s Home-School Association will host its next round of family games on Friday, November 11, in the Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall, 40 Church Hill Road. Doors open at 5:45 pm, and the games will begin at 6:30. All ages are welcome for the three-hour event, which will also include prizes during intermission. Cost is $20 per person for all regular games. There are special games also offered, for $1 each. No reservations, just head toward the school building and have some fun!

Reporter Alissa Silber saw a newly unveiled mural at New Insights Boutique in Sandy Hook while taking a Snapshot photo of manager Sam Bucur on November 2. Sam created the colorful floor to ceiling artwork, which includes a white dove, deer, hummingbird, and butterflies. Check it out in person at 111 Church Hill Road. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for Sam’s Snapshot in The Newtown Bee’s November 18 edition next week.

Some news from Save The Sound, a local environmental group that focuses on Long Island Sound, caught my eye recently. I know many families venture to Connecticut’s beaches in the summer. And Save The Sound recently shared data from its annual Connecticut Cleanup program. Do you want to know what the top three trash types found polluting the state’s beaches were this year? “This year, cigarette butts were the top trash type coming in at 17,769 collected across our state cleanups. They were followed by tiny pieces of plastic and food wrappers as the most common types of trash littering our beaches, parks and waterways,” an announcement read. Save The Sound Cleanup Coordinator Annalisa Paltauf said in the announcement, “Cigarettes are filled with a plastic called cellulose acetate, so they don’t fully break down. The material is also full of toxins that leach into the ground when it rains or go into the ocean if they are left on the beach. Cigarette butts and the other types of tiny trash that once again topped our list have also been found in the stomachs of birds, sea turtles and fish, directly harming our wildlife. They continue to be a major source of trash and contribute to many environmental and health issues. We urge people to pick them up when they see them.” This cat would really like it if we could keep our birds and ocean life safer from trash. Thank you.

Here is a reminder that the local unit of the Salvation Army is holding a breakfast reception this Saturday, November 12, from 9 to 11 am at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street. Registration is requested and can be done by sending a note to newtownringers@yahoo.com. I will forgive you if you read this column too late to register for the breakfast, but please note that it will not be too late to sign up for helping the annual Red Kettle effort. The local Salvation Army unit plans to ring the weekends of December 9-10 and 16-17. E-mail newtownringers@yahoo.com to make an early reservation to ring at any of the following locations: Stop & Shop, within Sand Hill Plaza; Yankee Wine & Liquor, 6 Queen Street; Dunkin’ Donuts, 6 Queen Street; Newtown General Store, 43 Main Street; Walgreens, 49 South Main Street; and Bagel Delight, 30 Church Hill Road.

The Longest Day events annually benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, with donations supporting those suffering from dementia, their caregivers, and for research to find a prevention or cure for this terrible disease. This year, Newtown Bridge Club had a tremendous showing. The local club was in the top 20 of 350 American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) clubs across the country in terms of fundraising. It took a little while for the results from the June event to be finalized, but we’d say it was worth the wait: The local club, according to assistant club manager Linda Dale Mulholland, raised $11,562. That was the 19th highest finish in the country this year. It also brought the club’s six year total donations to more than $44,000. Want to join the fun? The club meets at Edmond Town Hall every Monday and Wednesday morning and early afternoon, and lessons are offered each Monday morning. See our calendar listings, in print and online, for details.

A reminder that the Hearts of Hope-Newtown chapter has released its 2022 commemorative hearts. The palm-sized ceramic hearts this year feature a design by Newtown native Ryan Patrick, who used blue, tan, and white, a pair of roosters, and the words “Newtown is HOPE.” Each heart is wrapped in bubble wrap and then placed inside a white pouch. Each also contains an explanatory postcard with details about Hearts of Hope and Ryan. The hearts are $15 each, cash or check payable to HOH-Newtown, and are available at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street; Newtown General Store, 43 Main Street; and The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road.

C.H. Booth Library has a number of upcoming webinars that have caught my eye. First up is “Lessons in Chemistry: Author Talk with Bonnie Garmus,” November 10 at 2 pm. Then there will be “How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race: Practical Tools for Necessary Change in the Workplace and Beyond with Kwame Christian,” November 15 at noon; “Author Talk with Geraldine Brooks,” December 6, at 7 pm; “Author Talk with Fredrik Backman: Bestselling Author of A Man Called Ove,” December 10 at 2 pm; “A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America, Author Talk with Nicole Eustace,” December 14 at noon; and “The Gilded Ones Series: Author Talk with Namina Forna,” January 12 at 2 pm. If you are interested in tuning in to the webinars check the website libraryc.org/chboothlibrary/upcoming.

I am always tuned in and ready to report for you each week, as long as I know you promise to ... Read me again.