The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library have promised me that they have some awesome books and gift items at the Holiday Book Sale, this Saturday, from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, from 11 am to 5 pm. You'll be impressed by the quality and prices for books, games, DVDs, and more. Add this to your "to do" list for Newtown's big holiday weekend... I don't need to remind you of all the tree lightings and the NYFS Holiday Festival on Sunday, do I? Check our online calendar and elsewhere in this week's paper for the rundown on the weekend events. And keep a smile on your face; The Bee will have reporters out and about!newtownbee.com home page for the most critical items); the other is collecting Toys For Tots. New, unwrapped presents suitable for children ages infant to teen are needed this holiday season. You'll feel good about your free calendar, and good about making someone else's life a little happier. Thanks, in advance!This Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World, by Sandy Hook mother/son authors Sophfronia Scott and Tain, is hosting a spiritual book table at Trinity Episcopal Church Newtown, this Sunday, December 3. Sophfronia and Tain will be at the table signing copies of their book from noon to 2 pm. The table will also feature other Advent and Christmas titles for children and adults, including My Favorite Color is Blue. Sometimes. - A Journey through Loss with Art and Color by Roger Hutchison, who wrote the book after painting with children from Sandy Hook Elementary.space.com, this makes the moon seem 14 percent larger - and 30 percent brighter.alliance.newtownaction.org.yogadimensions.net for more information on joining in.thenewtownyogacenter.com/events-trainings.Greenearthmedia.com shares with us that along with the human misery from this fall's hurricanes, many migratory birds have been adversely affected, as well. A reduction of normal food availability, altered migration schedules and courses, and exposure to toxins are among the challenges our feathered friends face. Providing food and water for birds this winter is even more crucial than usual; choose high quality seed blends for seed-eaters, offer dried mealworms for insect-eaters, and provide high-fat suet for the birds. Peanuts, fruit pieces, and raisins soaked in water overnight are other options that birds enjoy. Be sure to keep the feeders clean - and water sources free of ice. Personally, I love a good "birdy show" provided by peering out the window at the busy feeder - you might, too!

There are enough Good Eggs about town to fill a few cartons, but this week, I have to recognize Murphy's Pub owner Mark Murphy, who opened the door of his South Main Street establishment on Thanksgiving Day to any and all in need of a place to share and enjoy a celebration. The free meal and good company was a most heartwarming gesture. Mark, you are a Good Egg!

When you stop by our 5 Church Hill Road office to pick up your free 2018 Newtown Bee calendar, you can also drop off donations to two worthy causes. Right by our front door are two large boxes: one collects needed goods for FAITH Food Pantry (see the FAITH ad on our

Paraclete Press, publisher of

Don't be alarmed if the moon looms larger than you would expect when it rises this Sunday night. It's a Supermoon this month, when the full moon's orbit brings it the closest it comes to the earth (just over 222,000 miles away). Get out your sunglasses... moonglasses? because according to

Congratulations to NHS Girls' Soccer Coach Marc Kenney, named the Connecticut Girls' Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the second time!

The Ben's Lighthouse Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has been busy this fall. Information from the group tells me of their response to the devastation they saw unfolding in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. YAC members implemented a collection drive for supplies to assist families relocating to Connecticut from Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the hurricanes. They engaged fellow students in their schools and reached out to community members to help support this effort. The group had a tremendous response and delivered a huge amount of supplies to the Maria Colon Sanchez School in Hartford, which is helping to resettle families in Connecticut.

The students also have taken part in the Tech4Good Mentor Program at Reed Intermediate School, pairing fifth and sixth grade students with high school mentors to learn how technology is being used to solve problems.

And, I'm told, Ben's Lighthouse YAC students are currently participating in the Facing Difference challenge with Students Rebuild, an online program meant to "inspire teachers & students worldwide to connect, learn & take collective action on global issues." Participants are identifying their "superpowers" - the traits and tools that make them each unique - and using creativity to incorporate them into one-of-a-kind self-portraits. These self-portraits will be turned into donations by the Bezos Foundation to help support educational programs in Sri Lanka and Nigeria. I guess this is where that whole carton of Good Eggs could go.

The Newtown Foundation, Newtown Action Alliance, and many other gun violence awareness groups are hosting the 5th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, December 6, in Washington, DC, in "commemoration of the five-year mark of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, as well as the 500,000 Americans who have been killed or injured by guns since December 2012." Family members and survivors directly impacted by gun violence from 20 states are expected to attend the National Vigil and a busload of community members from Newtown will also be attending. To find out more about registering for this two-day event, visit

Next weekend sees generosity on the parts of two yoga centers in town, just a stone's throw apart from each other. Yoga Dimensions, 87 South Main Street, holds a two-day "Yogathon," from 12:30 to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10. Proceeds benefit the Women's Center of Greater Danbury. Visit

The Resiliency Center of Newtown is the beneficiary of the Yoga Mat Art Show at the Newtown Yoga Center, 78 South Main Street, on Saturday, December 9. Information and tickets to this event (still available) are at

A pair of reindeer are visiting the Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue in Bridgeport, for the holiday season. Santa's helpers "Sam" and "Jacob" (are those nicknames for Dancer and Prancer?) arrived from the Far North and are settled into their new home, a temporary exhibit near the Victorian Greenhouse. The yearling males will be zoo guests until New Year's, with the possible exception of Christmas Eve... They have other plans that night.

So was it Rudolph nosing about the backyard of a Julia Court residence this past Friday? Nope. Just a buck with a nice set of antlers. Robert Fossum shared this information with us.

Plentiful news is as vital as plentiful food, I say. Be sure next week to... Read me again.