There’s lots on the calendar this month, but don’t be afraid to add one more. Newtown’s own teen, Jane Shearin, performs in the Hartford Stage A Christmas Carol, running at the 50 Church Street theater in Hartford, through December 27. Ticket information is at www.hartfordstage.org.

I hear there are still a few tags on the Tag-A-Gift tree in Edmond Town Hall, for senior citizens. These gifts can make an older person’s holiday merry and bright, if you can help. Pick a tag from the tree, and return the unwrapped gift to ETH no later than December 18. Volunteers from Golden Opportunities will deliver the gifts to seniors.

Pat yourself on the back if this applies to you: The Newtown Police Department issued a release thanking all those who donated to the annual Toys For Tots toy drive this year — as well as the Toy Tree and T J Maxx, for all their help making this year’s collection a success.

There was something familiar about the nattily attired gentleman ringing people into Edmond Town Hall for this past weekend’s Holiday Festival, and then I realized he was none other than our former first selectman Herb Rosenthal. That other guy jingling bells looked mighty familiar, too… oh, yes. Santa Claus!

I understand that a little bird twittered some news about a certain someone’s birthday into the ears of riders on one of the historic Main Street trolley rides Sunday afternoon, and Town Historian Dan Cruson, leading the tours, found himself serenaded by the busload of history buffs. While I did not get to add my caterwauling to this rendition of “Happy Birthday,” I do want to take this opportunity to wish Dan a belated, very happy birthday.

Are you and your favorite pet into taking pelfies — selfies with a pet? You might want to check out the online Pelfie contest sponsored by Bethel’s Quality Gem, and win some jewels. Go to the jewelry store’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/qualitygem, and post your best pelfie there. The pelfie with the most “likes,” by 6 pm, December 24, is the winner! Maybe I can get the Bees to stop swarming around the newsroom and pose with me…

Speaking of pictures, the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown will present a Small Works Show on Saturday, December 12, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at the flag pole). All paintings will be 11 by 14 inches or smaller.

And more news from the art world is that former Newtown resident Tim Clifford will have some of his latest works featured in “Threat Assessment,” which opens December 11, at Howl! Happening, 6 East 1st Street in New York City. The exhibition, according to a press release from the nonprofit gallery, features “works that transform the visuals of American fun culture in meticulously rendered indictments of violence and death.” The exhibition will showcase the artist’s series of large scale, stark black and white ink and paper inlay drawings of carnival shooting galleries done at life size, filled with ducks, birds, and abstract geometric designs. In addition, “Target Panic,” a series of 100 gouache drawings based on pistol and sniper targets that form “an elegant, abstract grid that belies the psychological terror of the title,” according to the gallery’s press release, will also be part of the presentation. This first solo exhibition for Tim Clifford was timed to coincide with the third anniversary of 12/14. Tim, who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School, says his recent works are part of his ongoing investigation “of the way fear and violence are encoded in our culture’s vernacular objects.” The exhibition will remain on view until January 10; visit www.happening.howlarts.org or call 917-475-1294 for additional information.

Saskia Larsen Fredericks tells me that the movie she co-produced and acts in, Ten Days In A Madhouse, received a great review from The New York Times. She is also hopeful that the movie, based on 1800s reporter Nellie Bly’s experiences, will be in Connecticut theaters by mid-December.

The security guards at Head O’ Meadow were supplied with some fierce additional manpower this week. On Wednesday, December 9, this plush stuffed German shepherd, wearing a Harley-Davidson bandana was “guarding” the security desk at the school.  Security Guard Kevin Walsh was given temporary foster care of the dog by Head O’ Meadow secretary Toni Baranowski, after a collection of stuffed animals began coming in from teachers responding to an e-mail from retired HOM math/science specialist Gail Maletz. Gail volunteers with the Action Early Learning Center of Danbury, of the Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut. The collection of stuffed animals will be delivered to the center next week. Mr Walsh is a Harley-Davidson and bike enthusiast himself, so he and the newly named “Harley” were a perfect fit.

Here’s the buzz: A recently formed group, Protect Our Pollinators (POP), has launched a fundraising campaign to help spread their message. The basic concern of Protect Our Pollinators is to develop strategies to protect pollinators in Newtown and area towns through myriad ways, including the reduction of insecticides and other chemicals that harm bees, butterflies, and a host of other beneficial insects; increasing the habitat for pollinators; and educating the public. To raise funds for their efforts, including publicity materials, POP is selling silver and goldtone bumblebee pins. The pins are $10, and are available at the office of The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road. For additional information about the group or the pins, contact Mary Gaudet-Wilson at mhgwilson@sbcglobal.net.

The Music Man In Concert is coming to the Yale University Theater, this January 23 and 24, produced by Newtown’s own Amber Edwards, a 1982 alumna of Yale School of Drama. Broadway’s David Loud (’83) will lead a 37-piece orchestra of Yalies past and present, and playing the musical con man Harold Hill is Tony nominee Reg Rogers (YSD ’93). Amber just happens to be the founding artistic director of Yale Music Theater of the Arts, and previously produced smash hits Kiss Me, Kate In Concert and My Fair Lady In Concert. A limited number of VIP ticket packages are available for performances Saturday, January 23, at 2 pm; Saturday, January 23, at 8 pm; and Sunday, January 24, at 2 pm. General admission reserved ticket prices begin at $65 with special student pricing at $20, and can be purchased at www.yalerep-tickets.yale.edu; by calling 203-432-1234; or in person at the Yale Repertory Theatre Box Office, 1120 Chapel Street, New Haven, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturdays, noon to 5 pm.

I’ll have my own little production underway here, next week. Be sure to… Read me again.