We hear that 1,000 peace cranes are in flight once again. Extending the gesture of 1,000 folded paper cranes sent to the First Congressional Church of Santa Barbara by the Newtown Congregational Church, following the Isla Vista murders in California earlier this year, the Santa Barbara Church sent 1,000 peace cranes this past Monday to the Everett United Church of Christ near Marysville, Wash., where four high school students were killed in a shooting there, last month. Of further interest, the new pastor at First Congressional is Alyssa De Wolf, who was assistant minister at Newtown Congregational Church at the time of the Sandy Hook School shooting. Rev De Wolf had barely accepted the position in Santa Barbara when the rampage at the University of California, Santa Barbara took place. While First Congressional Church members folded more cranes, in case there is another incident, we all hope these cranes can stay in their nest.

Can I remind you that the second National Vigil to Honor Victims of Gun Violence takes place next Thursday, December 11, in Washington, DC? The vigil is held at the National Cathedral, and serves as a reminder that every day, gun violence continues to affect the lives of nearly 200 people in our country. Travel and registration information can be found at www.newtownaction.org/2014-national-vigil.

The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Holiday Book and Gift Sale takes place this Saturday and Sunday, during library hours, in the meeting room. A great selection of new and gently used affordable books and gift items can be found there, and take a look at the quality jigsaw puzzles that will be among the gifts available for purchase. Now that would be a good way to while away the upcoming long winter days.

Maybe you’ll see what I spotted this week while scouting for news at the library. Foam hand sanitizers stanchions have been set up in the C.H. Booth Library, that’s what. It’s a great addition to the very busy public place, I think, and just in time to help combat flu season. Scrub-a-dub-dub!

Sorry, if you had to knock some frost off your issue of The Bee this week. The Church Hill Road office became somewhat of an igloo this week when the old, old boiler decided to retire. That meant no heat while the 79-year-old boiler was cut into pieces and hauled out (having been built on site). Many thanks to  Elias Rigging, LLC, for their hard work on the boiler. Once the new boiler is installed, things will heat up around here. Of course, getting 600 new gallons of water hot and circulated throughout the system is a slow process, too… It’s one time I’m thankful for these furry paws.

I hear that the salmon prepared by the culinary students at the high school for visitors from the American Federation of Teachers and its Connecticut branch, local teachers and staff, was delicious. The NHS chefs-in-the-making hosted the dinner Tuesday night. My invitation must have been lost in the mail, because certainly a cat’s insight on fish preparation would have been desired…

There are not one, and not two, but three tree lightings coming up this weekend in town. Friday night is the traditional Ram Pasture tree lighting, followed by one in Sandy Hook Center, Saturday evening, then the Hawleyville tree lighting culminates the glowing weekend on Sunday night.

That’s not all, of course. The Holiday Book Sale at the library, as I mentioned, Breakfast with Santa at the Newtown Middle School, the Garden Club Greens Sale, and the Rotary Pancake Day make for a festive morning on Saturday. (Here’s a tip: Don’t be late to the 9 am start of the Greens Sale…) Start a new holiday tradition by attending the Jingle Jam Holiday Concert with Goldrush, featuring Mary Beth Sippin and company, Saturday evening at Edmond Town Hall. The annual Holiday Festival sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank to benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services is this Sunday, with most of the favorite old (like the renamed Holiday Tea and excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite) and new events taking place in Edmond Town Hall. The rumor is, Santa is going to be at Edmond Town Hall on Sunday, too. Stop by Trinity Church for Lessons & Carols on Sunday afternoon, for a calming break and a refreshed spirit. You’ll want to check this week’s online calendar at newtownbee.com for times and details. I suggest a map, a compass, and a notebook, too. You don’t want to miss a single thing. Oh, and if you weren’t here to take part in Shop Local Saturday last weekend, don’t you worry. Newtown stores are still well-stocked with the best gifts around, for your shopping ease this holiday season.

You know where you can go for reading ease this holiday season. Just open up the paper and… Read me again.