A little bee reminded us this week to thinks of others. A bumblebee garden ornament showed up Monday morning, planted next to the door of the Bee office (carefully enshrouded within a plastic bag, which was kind, considering it was rainy and dreary). with a note carefully attached to it reading, “Practice random acts of kindness.” The note was also illustrated with a green ribbon and a bumblebee. Thank you, anonymous person.

Hearts of Hope Newtown and Ben’s Bells Connecticut reportedly made extra efforts to see that their respective offerings were also set out around town in time for the anniversary of 12/14. Ben’s Bells were spotted around town as early as last week. Patrick Doherty and Sam Celentano, both members of Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue, found a painted clay heart last Sunday. They were getting ready to start selling trees that morning, and found the carefully packaged Heart of Hope — which, according to its accompanying postcard, was painted by someone in Minneapolis, Minn., and then shipped to Newtown for distribution — hidden within one of the racks of Christmas trees.

Lifelong resident Sam Scott stopped by to give us a correction for last week’s “The Way We Were” photograph. Sam’s mother waitressed and his dad was bartender at The Pines, which was formerly Sophie’s Tea House, says Sam. Growing up nearby, he is very familiar with that area, so he knows that after The Pines burned down, a gas station did not arise from its ashes. The gas station is actually opposite the site where Sophie’s/The Pines stood, Sam tells me.

Here’s an update on some more Newtown history, regarding the 1926 Ford Model T Roadster pickup truck Rich Murdy purchased at the November 2014 Cherry Grove Farm Auction. (See the December 6, 2014 issue of The Newtown Bee or go to newtownbee.com/news/features/2014/12/06/auction-find-will-put-piece-history-back-road/244293 for the back story).

“Getting the truck road worthy was a challenge and lots of fun,” says Rich, who has done all the work on the auto himself. “When I first got the truck home, the engine was frozen and would not turn over. I filled the cylinders with Marvel Mystery Oil and let it sit for a few weeks to free the pistons. Luckily, I was able to turn the engine over with the hand crank,” Rich tells me. Then he sent the four ignition coils out to Tennessee to be rebuilt, and then a new battery, exhaust system, radiator hoses, fan belt, and other miscellaneous parts were added to the truck. Voila! The engine started. “It took me quite a while to find someone who would put the tires on the Model T split rims,” Rich says, “but eventually I found a restoration shop in Bridgeport to do it.” On November 21, the Model T, with Rich at the wheel, made its first voyage “in over 70 years, according to several people I met at the auction, who had worked at the farm,” he says. “I drove it on the side roads near my Hattertown Road home for about one half hour,” and it was quite the adventure, according to this antique auto buff.

“Driving the Model T truck for the first time was very exciting and a real learning experience, coordinating the three foot pedals, two levers, and choke. It is not like driving any other car I have ever driven,” Rich says. It was enough of a thrill for now, and the truck is back in storage until spring. But come warmer weather, don’t be surprised if you see a newly upholstered Model T, convertible top down, cruising the roads of town. “I think George Meyer, Sr, would be pleased to know that his truck is now road worthy again, and still in Newtown,” Rich says, and I would have to agree. In a side note, Rich says that he now has copies of the truck’s registrations from 1934 to 1939. His friend, Steve Paproski of Castle Hill Farm, bought a chest at the Cherry Grove Farm Auction that contained the registrations. Steve had the registrations framed, and gave them to Rich. “ I now have the registrations from 1930 to 1941,” he says.

Then there was one… Skye, one of three very special kittens in the care of The Animal Center, has found a forever home. Dominic, Skye, and Jojo all were born with radial agenesis, which causes shortened forelegs — not that they seemed to notice. The trio frisked about together like any playful kittens. Dominic was adopted a couple of weeks back, and now Skye. Doesn’t someone out there have room in their (carpeted) home and (big) heart for little Jojo? She has a few other health problems, but has a great deal of love to share, is what I hear from AC. Contact theanimalcenter.org to find out more about adopting Jojo.

Newtown Youth & Family Services has a special reading of The Polar Express this Saturday, December 19, from 10 to 11 am, at the 15 Berkshire Road office. Kids of all ages can just roll out of bed and show up in their jammies to hear the holiday story. Then everyone will have fun making a silver bell, and enjoying some snacks. Cost is $10 per child, and registration is required. Go to newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org to register, or for more information.

Here’s a thought from Livescience.com that you might want to keep in mind — warm weather means ticks may still be active, and your trip to cut down a Christmas tree could bring home more than an evergreen. “Unusually high fall temperatures in the northeastern United States have let blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as deer ticks, remain active later into December than usual.” Apparently, temperatures must be reliably below 40 degrees before these ticks go dormant. If a trip into the woods for a tree is still on your list, be sure you take the same anti-tick precautions that you would for a hike in the summer. By the way, don’t panic if tiny little bugs are dropping off of your precut tree. Not all of this year’s tree bugs are ticks — the warm weather means that precut trees can harbor some harmless aphids. 

It’s tick, tick, tick for me — as I count down the days until next week’s column. I know it’s a busy week, but please take time to… Read me again.