This weekend is a big one. And if you don’t believe me, check our calendars, in print and online. If you are looking for holiday-related events, you will not be disappointed.

We heard from Linda Dale Mulholland this week who, like so many others, is already planning ahead for the holidays at the end of the month. The assistant club manager of Newtown Bridge Club just wanted to let everyone know that the club will be taking a planned break on Monday and Wednesday, December 26 and 28. The bridge club’s regular Monday lessons and games and its Chat Bridge on Wednesday will not happen that final week of the month (and year…), but they will resume the following week, she said. Newcomers are always welcome. See our calendars, in print and online, for details about those weekly sessions including how to contact Linda and other club members.

Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, is one of more than a dozen Toys For Tots drop-off donation sites in Newtown. A box is located at each entrance. The United States Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys For Tots program collects new, unwrapped toys for children and teens. For many, these are the only toys they will receive during the holidays. Each year, donations are given to Newtown families in need through various organizations and churches, as well as to children in surrounding towns who need support. Toys are anticipated to be collected from drop-off locations on Friday, December 16. Our online calendar has daily listings that include all of this year's in-town collection bin locations (including the one just inside our front door at 5 Church Hill Road). To learn more or to contribute a monetary donation online, visit toysfortots.org.

Readers are also reminded that the local Salvation Army chapter is still scheduling bell ringers for two weekends this month. Volunteers are sought for December 9-10 and 16-17, at various locations around town. One hour is the minimum time needed, and ringers can provide entertainment should they desire to do that as well. Interested? Contact Steve Bennett at bennett.steve11@gmail.com or 203-470-4975 to see if remaining openings work for your schedule.

After last Sunday’s overcast morning and rainy afternoon, Hawleyville firefighters are hoping this Sunday’s weather will be much better for their annual fundraiser, which has been rescheduled. Members of the company are planning again to be in the intersection of Route 6 and 25/Mt Pleasant Road at Hawleyville Road on Sunday, December 2, from 9 am to 2 pm, conducting a Fill The Fire Boot Drive. Donations of all sizes will be appreciated, as will the additional attention we hope everyone will pay to the first responders in the roadway for a few hours.

Make sure to turn these pages to this week’s Sports section where you will find the Turkey Trot featured some fast runners — and a turkey that took on the course; Newtown High School football had a busy week with its annual Thanksgiving Eve clash with Masuk followed by a state playoff tilt; and hit the ice and catch up with professional hockey player Melissa Samoskevich from Sandy Hook.

The Connecticut State Library is gearing up to launch the second annual All CT Reads program for 2023. The program is set to start on January 1, and it encourages lifelong reading. One main book title and three shortlist book titles are selected each calendar year for three age groups: children (ages 8-12), teens (ages 13-18), and adults. The 2023 All CT Reads primary chosen titles are Living with Viola by Rosena Fung, Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed, and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton. To launch this initiative, join the 2023 All CT Reads team for the Virtual Author Launch with the authors of this year’s primary selections on Thursday, January 12, from 5-6:30 pm. Each author will discuss their work and answer questions from the CT community. Register at cslib.libcal.com/event/9802914. All CT Reads is supported by a generous grant from EBSCO Information Services to the Connecticut Heritage Foundation. More information is available online at bit.ly/AllCTReads.

Here’s a reminder on some closer-to-home pages: C.H. Booth Library has two upcoming virtual author talks. The first is a talk with author Geraldine Brooks, set for Tuesday, December 6, at 7 pm. She will discuss her most recent New York Times bestselling novel Horse. Then on Saturday, December 10, at 2 pm, the library is hosting a virtual author talk with Frederik Backman. He will discuss his body of work, including his new novel The Winners, the third installment of the Beartown series. To register for either talk visit https://libraryc.org/chboothlibrary and select the program of your choice.

Is it me or is there a glow coming from the direction of Hartford? The Connecticut Convention Center is being transformed into “a stunning Christmas wonderland,” according to an announcement for the Hartford Glow event. The main attraction is magical light gardens. From seeing the lighted grounds to activities, like a yuletide scavenger hunt for children, it looks like a great place for a day trip this holiday season. Ticket prices are $16.99 children and seniors (plus fees), $22.99 adults (plus fees), $69.99 for a family package (two adults and three children, plus fees), and free for children 5 and under. The event runs through January 1. More information, such as weekday and weekend hours and to purchase tickets, is available online at glowgardens.com/hartford-christmas.

I hear there is a new top dog around here, and it is not this cat. Stanley, a therapy dog with The Exceptional Sidekick Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs in Newtown, visited Middle Gate Elementary School on November 21. As the group shared on its Facebook page recently, the visit came about after Stanley’s “big brother” wrote a story about how wonderful Stanley is. “Now the whole class knows Stanley the Amazing Therapy Dog,” the Facebook post reads.

I’ll be sure to share some wonderful stories myself next week as long as you promise to ... Read me again.