Congratulations to Igor Poliwoda of Newtown! Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announced the promotion of Igor, a member of the New York Army National Guard, among those recognized for their capability for additional responsibility and leadership. He was assigned to the 107th Military Police Company and received a promotion to the rank of Private. According to information we received, the “Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential. These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber citizen soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.”

I expect to see evergreen trees tightly strapped to the tops of vehicles come this Friday, a traditional day for many to “capture” the perfect tree for the holidays. Be sure to check out The Newtown Bee print editions for tree farms advertising, or scoot on down to the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company on Riverside Road. The SH fire company will begin its annual Christmas Tree Sale on Friday, November 29, from noon to 9 pm. That sale runs through Christmas Eve, so long as they have trees.

Relax and enjoy Holiday Brass and Organ performance at Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, on November 30 at 7:30 pm — tickets are $25 when purchased online though waterburysymphony.org before 4:30 pm Friday, November 29. After that, tickets will be $35 at Trinity Church, beginning at 6:30 pm November 30, based on availability.

Looking for some family fun on Sunday, December 1? The Newtown Congregational Church is sponsoring “Music At Reverie,” from 4 to 7 pm. You’ll hear music by local artist Jim Allyn as well as The Whiskey Brothers at the 57B Church Hill Road brewery. Free will donations go to support the Resiliency Center of Newtown.

Right after we went to print last week, we received some exciting news: an addition to the plans for this year’s Garden Club of Newtown Holiday Greens Sale. In addition to the beautifully decorated wreaths, centerpieces, boxwood trees, kissing balls, and other offerings, the club will welcome Newtown master gardener and author Sydney Eddison to this year’s sale. Sydney is celebrating the release of her latest poetry collection, Light of Day. She will be at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, on Saturday, December 7, from 9 am until noon, signing copies of that book, which we just highlighted in a feature by Alissa Silber a few weeks ago. The fundraiser is a popular event, so if you’re planning to go, I’d suggest earlier rather than later. The garden club event often sells out well before noon.

My ears perked up when I heard that the location for the annual Rotary Pancake Breakfast has changed this year! I marked my calendar as a reminder — as should you — that the Saturday morning, December 7 breakfast is at the Newtown Community Center this year, not Edmond Town Hall, as has been tradition. The traditions of breakfast time entertainment and delicious flapjacks has not changed, though; and by partnering with Parks & Rec, Santa is guaranteed to stop by the event. See you there!

Along with the annual Holiday Festival festivities planned for Sunday, December 8, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation is celebrating “The Giving Tree” that afternoon, from 2 to 4 pm, at the sanctuary property on Old Farms Road. There will be crafts to create edibles for wildlife, a camp fire, cocoa, story time — and a tree lighting. Register at cvhfoundation.org/event/the-giving-tree.

I highly recommend checking the calendar at newtownbee.com or on page 2 of this issue; there are so many wonderful events about to get underway, you may need to map out a plan for what you are going to do, when, and where for the next upcoming weeks. It would take a whole ‘nother column for me to run down that list!

Since Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, let us show our gratitude for local businesses and residents who are supporting the Toys For Tots charity this holiday season. There are more than a dozen public drop-off locations in town, including the C.H. Booth Library on Main Street (pictured), with boxes to collect new, unwrapped toys for babies, children, and teens. The toy drive will be completed on Sunday, December 15, in order to distribute the toys to local families in need before Christmas. For more information on how to donate, e-mail the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys For Tots Area Coordinator Dave Silber at dave4handyman@gmail.com or call the Ridgefield Marine Corps League at 203-438-4333.

The Newtown Bee remains a drop-off point for FAITH Food Pantry donations, as well. You’ll find a list of most needed items on the FAITH ad on the homepage of newtownbee.com or visit newtownfoodpantry.org. Donations can be brought to our 5 Church Hill Road location anytime between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. (Just a reminder, though, that the office is closed for the holiday November 28 and 29 and reopens Monday, December 2.)

It’s Small Business Saturday this coming weekend, November 30. Sandwiched in amongst the other national days of holiday shopping, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is the chance for you to give back to your own community by shopping locally. I don’t need to remind you that Newtown boasts so many businesses that can help you fill those stockings and deck the halls. If you’re not sure where to start, be sure to check out pages A12-15 in this issue of the paper, where you will find advertisers anxious to help you make your holiday shopping easy and amazing. Shop local!

A reminder, in case you read this last week and just forgot to put it on your “to do” list: The Newtown Bee is seeking memories of Newtown holidays past. Tell us by sending your story, limit of 300 words, to education reporter Eliza Hallabeck by e-mail to eliza@thebee.com by December 12. Stories will be compiled and published with the first and last name of the person who shares the story in the December 20 print edition of The Newtown Bee.

Ho-ho-ho! Who needs a great gift for a Newtown resident (or even a former resident or college kid)? Consider a subscription to The Newtown Bee, for a present that reminds the recipient of your thoughtfulness, every week of the year. Just $47 for a year’s worth of local news is a deal hard to beat. Visit classadz.vdata.com/legacy/newtownbee/circulation/subscriber or call 203-426-3141 to start a gift subscription now. (Don’t forget to give yourself one, too, if you’re not already a subscriber. You get so much local news in print!)

The holidays are underway, and it can be a hazardous time for four-footed family members. The ASPCA has a few tips, starting with Thanksgiving celebrations: sweets, fatty foods, leftovers, alcohol... not such special treats for dogs and cats, so keep them out of the reach of inquisitive paws. Then, if you are inclined to set up your Christmas tree ASAP, be sure to securely anchor it — just in case some rambunctious kitten decides to shimmy up its branches, for instance. Water in the tree holder can become pretty yucky, too, and if Fido takes a few drinks of bacteria-laden water, it won’t be a happy holiday. Be sure to keep it fresh and avoid additives. Other items that can be a bummer for pets are mistletoe and holly if these are nibbled on. Make sure wires are safely out of the way of where pets might wander and get tangled; and glass ornaments can break, so hang them out of temptation’s way, please. Love the tinsel? Well, as I well know, it is really attractive to cats but oh, so easy to swallow. Another shimmery option to decorate the tree might save you and Fluffy a trip to the emergency veterinarian during holiday season. Now, have a Happy Thanksgiving and gear up for December!

You might not have room in your tummies after the Thanksgiving Day feast, but I sure hope you’ll have room in your hearts to... Read me again.