Thanksgiving often means travel and visiting with friends and family, and we had one of our first guests stop in last week. Former longtime resident Sally Schwerdtle surprised us last Thursday afternoon, visiting 5 Church Hill Road with a relative in tow. Sally is making her way between her home on the southern section of the East Coast and visiting family in the northern region, she said. It was great to see her, and we love that she chose us for one of her stops.

Locally, Thanksgiving also means firefighters from all five of Newtown’s volunteer companies participating in Fill The Fire Truck the Saturday before the holiday. Photos appearing elsewhere in this week’s paper show just a few of the men and women who spent time at Queen Street Shopping Center and Sand Hill Plaza on November 22. Between the two locations, shoppers on Saturday donated over 60 boxes of food, 64 turkeys, and $1,590 in cash and gift cards. In addition to all things Thanksgiving, many people also offered breakfast items, personal hygiene items, pet supplies, and more. Everything was delivered to FAITH Food Pantry that afternoon, where volunteers were ready to sort and put away the very impressive collection.

While members of Sandy Hook, Hawleyville, Hook & Ladder, and Dodgingtown headed toward the pantry just after noon — the scheduled time for Fill the Fire Truck to conclude — members of Botsford Fire Rescue remained at their post in Sand Hill Plaza for an additional 90 minutes. They’d spontaneously decided to spend some more time there after a rainy, cold start meant slow donations at the onset of the 23rd annual collection. Bravo to everyone who played any role in Saturday’s event. You helped many residents enjoy Thanksgiving and beyond.

Friends of Newtown Seniors have asked me to offer a reminder that their Newtown Rides program is still available. The good news is, the Town of Newtown recently launched Newtown Easy Transit. That program offers rides to residents age 60 and older, and disabled individuals age 18 and over, to both in-town and nearby destinations. Rides are available weekdays, with small fees based on destination and an annual membership fee for those who are not members of Newtown Senior Center. Reservations are required at least three business days in advance. If you’d like to learn more about that program, see our story in the September 26, 2025 print edition or find it online (“Newtown Easy Transit: New Local Transportation Program Hits The Road,” posted September 30, 2025), or contact Newtown Senior Center at 203-270-4297.

Newtown Rides, meanwhile, was launched last year by FONS and provides rides to in-town destinations for residents age 55 and up. It was so well received, it expanded its schedule before the end of the year. Volunteers do the driving, and they also ask for at least three days’ notice. Newtown Rides is available Tuesdays through Thursdays between 9:30 am-12:30 pm and 11:30 am-2:30 pm. FONS Coordinator Bev Bennett Schaedler can be reached at 203-430-0633. She’d be happy to share additional information or schedule a ride. So good news all around, because this means local senior citizens are seeing more options for their transportation needs.

Speaking of people doing good for others, Newtown Trash Troopers spent time cleaning along Ethan Allen Road on November 16. I was a few miles off in my column last week with their location, but it does explain in part why they found some metal shelving among the litter that day. Someone probably reached the end of Ethan Allen, found the gate to the transfer station locked because it was closed, and figured they were close enough. Unfortunately, the person who decided to just leave the shelving on the road was correct — someone else did pick up after them. I still have such mixed feelings about this work. It’s so good that someone is out there picking up litter, but I worry that it will further encourage litterbugs to keep trashing our beautiful town once they learn others will clean up their mess.

Last weekend’s work by the grassroots group was along Edmond Road, where volunteers picked up 420 pounds of trash.

The members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company will be at their main station first thing this morning, unloading 700 fresh-cut Christmas trees from northern Vermont. Friday marks the opening day of the fire company’s Christmas Trees (& More!) Sale, its final fundraiser of the year. Christmas trees ranging from five feet tall to cathedral height will be sold, as will wreaths of two different sizes, cemetery boxes, pine roping, kissing balls, and tree stands. Opening day hours today are noon-9 pm, and then the sale will continue Saturdays, 9 am-9 pm; Sundays, 9 am-6 pm; and Fridays, 3-9 pm, until December 21 or while supplies last. The sale has sold out in three weekends in recent years, so organizers are encouraging those who would like to support the company to shop early to avoid disappointment. The sale is conducted at the company’s main station, 18-20 Riverside Road.

The fire company will also welcome the return of Santa Sleigh Rides in just a few weeks. Members of Tolland Fire Department will travel to the firehouse on Riverside Road, where they will be joined by members of the local fire company, escorting all ages as they enjoy rides on an antique sleigh mounted atop a trailer. Rides will begin at 1 pm Saturday, December 13, and all are welcome. Reservations are not taken for this event, but Santa always stays until everyone in line enjoys a ride. There is no fee; donations will benefit Sandy Hook VFR.

Beginning Monday, Newtown United Methodist Church will launch a free online Advent Calendar, offering daily opportunities for reflection and spiritual renewal throughout the Christmas season. Each morning, a new Advent “door” will open at numc.us, sharing a brief message, scripture, reflection, prayer, and simple daily challenge. The idea is, according to an email I received this week, "even though the holidays are a hectic time, it can be a way for people to connect and draw closer to the true meaning of Christmas. It could be especially meaningful for those who are unable to make it to traditional worship services or Christmas events — no matter the reason — as it allows not only NUMC members, but our wider community, as well as friends and family near and far, to pause, reconnect, and walk through this season of hope together. People can share the link with anyone they feel may enjoy the journey."

I hope you enjoy your journey during the upcoming week, wherever it may take you. I also hope you’ll remember to check in with me again next week, when it will be time to … read me again.