UPDATE: This story was updated to reflect that Newtown is included in the state's selection of voting precincts to audit.

FISH has officially disbanded. After 50 years of providing rides to residents who need to get to medical appointments and other destinations, FISH of Newtown Inc President Colleen Honan told The Newtown Bee this week that the service organization will not return following last year’s shutdown due to COVID-19. “We celebrated our 50th year in 2019, but when COVID struck we had to suspend all driving,” she said. Having lost many drivers during the shutdown, FISH has changed lanes and is now working with Town officials to help residents find their way to the hospital for non-emergency visits, doctor’s offices, and other medical appointments when they have no other means of transportation. Human Services Director Natalie Jackson and her office have been working with residents for over a year, although logistics still need to be worked out. We’ll have a story in an upcoming issue with additional information. Moving forward, however, contact Human Services at 203-270-4330. While the rides are available to all ages, Newtown Senior Center staff is also available to help coordinate rides. They can be reached at 203-270-4310.

Before that you can run or walk on Thanksgiving. The 2021 Newtown Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving morning 5K race to benefit C.H. Booth Library, is scheduled for Thursday, November 25, at 7:45 am. The race start times may be staggered to avoid crowds, and the race and 2.5K walk start and end at Newtown Middle School. Cost is $30 and there will be no race day registration, which will close on November 24 at noon. Visit runsignup.com/Race/CT/Newtown/NewtownTurkeyTrot to sign up. We’re counting down, too, with The Newtown Bee Editor John Voket providing sound and entertainment support and at least one member of our Editorial department planning on participating again this year... It will surely be a good time.

The first Bingo event in 18 months at St Rose was a success, according to organizers. The Home School Association welcomed players of all ages to the Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall at St Rose School last Friday night, and many went home winners. The series will take a one-month break during the crush of the upcoming holidays, but has already planned its next games night. Bingo players can put Friday, January 12, on their calendars. Doors will open at 5:45; games will run from 6:30 to 9:30 pm and admission remains $20 per person. Reservations are not needed. Additional information is available by contacting the school’s administrative officers at 203-426-5102.

Four tornadoes reportedly touched down in various locations in Connecticut last Saturday. Fortunately, none was rated higher than EF-1 but still, scary times for some. Here in Newtown, we had some pretty miserable weather Friday and Saturday. The Newtown Forest Association (NFA) Meet & Greet event originally planned for last weekend has been rescheduled to this Saturday. The public is now invited to meet Trent McCann, who was recently hired to serve as NFA’s first executive director, and other NFA members, between 4 and 6 pm Saturday, November 20. A bonfire is planned for the outdoor event, which will also have light refreshments. If inclement weather rolls into the area again, check our calendar for updates. McCann was also recently featured in a story in The Newtown Bee, and you can read it online at newtownbee.com/10122021/meet-trent-mccann-new-nfa-executive-director-eager-to-engage-with-communit.

Speaking of our calendar, are you aware that having a public event listed is a service we offer free of charge? Organizers just need to send details to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks by noon Tuesday to be included in each week’s print edition. In fact, once the date of an event is confirmed, send Shannon that information. Our online calendar includes listings as soon as they are received, while our print calendar highlights events coming up during the approaching week. To submit information for the calendar, send it to shannon@thebee.com. Electronic communication is preferred, although she will also work with items that are delivered to the office at 5 Church Hill Road. Of course, the deadlines for next week’s papers are all moved up by 24 hours due to Thanksgiving (see the related note on page A-1 of the November 19 print edition). If you want to get something to Shannon for the November 26, 2021 Community Calendar, you’ll need to have that to her by next Monday at noon.

The Friends of Booth Library is, for the second year, presenting a Holiday Book and Gift Boutique. During library hours, November 22-January 8, visitors to The Little Book Store — near the main circulation desk at 25 Main Street — will find gift-quality books, jigsaw puzzles, games, stocking suffers, and more, “for all ages at great prices,” the Friends said via e-mail last week. Sponsored by the Friends, proceeds from the sale will also allow the 501(c)(3) organization to continue providing financial and material support to Newtown’s library.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill randomly selected voting precincts to have results audited following the November 2 election, and Newtown Middle School was one of them. 5% of the polling precincts are subject to the audit, as prescribed by Connecticut General Statutes 9-320f. Those audited ballots will be matched against the vote totals from the optical scan machines. There were 673 polling locations that used optical scan machines on November 2, so the Secretary of the State chose 34 precincts and 5 alternates. Why? Merrill said in a release this week that auditing results is “one of the strongest protections we have in place to ensure that the results of Connecticut’s elections accurately reflect the votes cast in the election.”

Dr Anselm Anyoha of Newtown has a new book, “The Journey to Ezido Lake: A Story About Empathy.” According to an announcement for the book, it is available on Amazon Kindle and in paperback, and it follows two Nigerian children with two completely different social backgrounds. It “beautifully shows that regardless of circumstances, with empathy and understanding both of their lives can be affected for the better.”

We heard from Sandy Hook resident Leo McIlrath this week, when he told us about a Veterans Day ceremony he oversaw last week at The Lutheran Home in Southbury. Leo, who serves as the home’s interfaith chaplain, and the Pastoral Care Department created a program of prayer, reflections, and patriotic songs, he said, to honor the home’s veterans. Many local groups who have participated in similar events in past years were unable to visit the home for a second consecutive year, Leo said, due to continued COVID-19 precautions. Those who were in attendance were able to celebrate veterans and their spouses, some of whom shared their supportive experiences while their loved ones were away, Leo said.

Thank you, again, to our veterans. And I thank you readers, if you promise next week to ... Read me again.