Halloween 2019 has passed, but moviegoers have a few special treats waiting for them at Edmond Town Hall. Starting Friday night, the theater will begin screening The Peanut Butter Falcon, Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson’s latest release. The adventure dramedy also introduces audiences to Zack Gottsagen, who plays Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true. Screenings run November 15-20 and will include four matinees on Saturday. In addition, the 7 pm Saturday show is this month’s free offering by Ingersoll Auto of Danbury.

The other treat is the next offering in Newtown Cultural Arts Commission’s Someday Cinema Series. The 1938 romantic comedy Bringing Up Baby is this month’s offering, with screenings planned for 1, 4, and 7 pm on Sunday. Tickets are $3 each, and the first matinee will have subtitles. Screenings of The Peanut Butter Falcon resume on Monday.

The Hawleyville Post Office, 23 Barnabas Road (just off Exit 9 on Route 84), regularly processes passports from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Saturday. If you have a group ready to travel, Hawleyville Post Office offers special evening or Saturday hours and can visit your organization at your convenience. Contact the post office at 203-426-0623.

David Lew captured a video on a trail camera of a bear scouting about his Currituck Road yard this past Friday night. Coupled with other bear reports last week, it seems that there are at least a couple of bears nosing around our town in hopes of finding goodies.

Bill Eder photographed this bear Sunday afternoon at his Mt Pleasant Road property. This bear, he said, “strolled through a number of properties on Mount Pleasant Road and Diamond Drive on Sunday, November 10th. I heard from some of the neighbors that the critter visited Diamond Drive twice, but when we saw it, it was out for a stroll!”

Be alert, and report bear sightings at ct.gov/deep/blackbear or by calling 860-424-3011.

Residents of Newtown may have recently received a mailing from Meals on Wheels of America soliciting donations, and Newtown Meals On Wheels member Marilyn Alexander would like to clarify that these are two separate groups. “Donations made to Meals on Wheels of America is certainly needed and a good thing; but donations to Newtown Meals on Wheels Inc at PO Box 122, Newtown CT 06470 helps fellow Newtowners. Our homespun program does not take any money from the fed, state, or town governments,” says Marilyn. “Recipients pay for their meals... or not... depending on circumstances. Recipients do not have to have a [prescription] from their doctors nor do they have to be 65 [years of age or older]. Homebound without a caregiver... that’s what is required.” Newtown Meals On Wheels depends on donations from the public and donations received from organizations such as the Lions, Rotary, and Woman’s Clubs, as well as some grants. Marilyn adds that she is “So very proud to be part of this organization.”

French students at Newtown High School participated in National French Week the week of November 4 to 8. It is a national celebration of the French language and culture. Students did research projects and presentations in class, NHS teachers Alison Flannery and Gail Gay tell me. On Thursday, November 7, students held an all-day celebration in the Lecture Hall, decorated with posters reflecting their research (topics were art, music, French regions, food, historical figures, scientists, and mathematicians). The celebration included singing the French national anthem, a French T-shirt design contest, a national French trivia contest, dining on student-made French cuisine (like the macarons pictured made by students Maleeha Ali and Mackenzie Adair), and posing for photos with French props and a Parisian backdrop.

Beginning at 9:30 am this Saturday, November 16, NYA at Fairfield Hills welcomes the community to an open house celebrating its updated facility. A boot camp, kids’ events, basketball and volleyball, intro to pickleball, and circuit training are among the sample programs running through 3 pm that day. Find out more at nyasportsfitness.com.

Marty’s Café, 4 Green Hill Road, Washington, has partnered up with Paul’s Custom Pet Food (PCPF) of New Milford and introduced a dog-food menu. The choices of Casey’s Chicken with Brown Rice; Spud’s Beef with Veggies; and Jessie’s Beef with Turkey Jambalaya mean that dog companions at Marty’s can be assured that they will get healthy options, just like their owners can from the human menu. Dogs can only be seated outdoors, but Marty’s does offer take out service for its customers who want to seek a warmer winter spot for snacking. (How long before cat cuisine is on the menu?)

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is always fun. The NHS Drama Department is performing the Shakespearean comedy romance this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the high school. Tickets for the Thursday, Friday, or Saturday performances, 7 pm, and the Sunday matinee at 2 pm, can be purchased at the door, adults: $12, students: $7, senior citizens: $10.

The Doug Wahlberg Band will be part of the Saturday, November 23, “A Night of Music,” annual event at Fairfield Theatre Company, raising funds for The Lebo-DeSantie Center for Liver & Pancreatic Cancer at St Vincent’s Medical Center. Tickets are $50, which includes food and music by Doug and his band, as well as Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction, The Christopher Robin Band, Denise Daniels Biagi, and other special guests. A raffle, silent auction, and cash bar will also be part of the Night of Music, from 7 to 10 pm in FTC’s Warehouse. For reservations and other information call 203-259-1036 or visit fairfieldtheatre.org.

Sign up now for a seat at the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence at eventbrite.com/e/70561480287. The vigil is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, in Washington, DC, at St Marks Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill, from 7 to 9 pm.

There are only about 40 shopping days until the holidays, so pick up a copy of next week’s Newtown Bee, which will include the Holiday Gift Guide. Find out where all of the great shopping places are — the local shops that have one-of-a-kind gifts to make the holidays extra special for someone. When you “Shop Small,” you support friends and neighbors who own and work in these businesses and the economic health of our town.

Shop Small, but Read Big. I’ll have the news you want to read next week, if you make time to... read me again.