As it has since, well, the beginning of time, winter has once again come to our beloved New England. However, it seems that the fabled “White Christmas” will pass Newtown by this year. Experts at the Western Connecticut State University Weather Center said that at most, we might only see a flurry or two.

But all hope is not lost! Many will remember that last year a 11/4 –inch blanket of the white stuff coated Newtown on Christmas Eve. It doesn’t seem that this potential lack of snow has downed Newtown’s holiday spirit, however, especially that of Kim Sharpe and a few of her friends.

If you were around Lake Zoar last Saturday, you might have noticed a curious sight cutting across the otherwise placid, cold water. A boatload of Santa Clauses spent much of the afternoon water skiing, two at a time, up and down the lake. Longtime Newtown resident, police dispatcher and volunteer fire fighter Kim Sharpe said that the group has been doing this frigid frolic for over 10 years now.

 When asked if the water was as cold as it looked (the boat at times broke through thin crusts of ice), Kim said that it was not as warm as last year, though not as cold as past years. The skiing Santas were well prepared for the cold as each wore multiple layers of neoprene wetsuits, with their red suits forming the final coat. Kim said that she had to have her red hat duct taped to her head to prevent it from blowing off. Come to think of it, she concluded, much of her suit needed to be duct taped as it was way to big for her.

A group of about two dozen Newtowners went caroling on Main Street last Sunday evening and found that while the Christmas lights were all on, few people apparently were home. Either that or they just didn’t answer their doors.

At each house the carolers stopped, rang the doorbell, and sang a different song. The Honans were interrupted in the middle of their dinner, but Bill opened the door anyway, then went back to his meal.

As they worked their way back down the other side of the street, the carolers noticed a police car that pulled up and parked, and an officer got out of the car and watched them. “Apparently someone thought we might be dangerous,” Mark Dennen said. “But afterwards we went to the Ratyna’s house and the food was great!”

Newtown Social Services delivered holiday baskets to 93 local families this past weekend, helping to ensure that everyone has a merry Christmas this year. Many of the gifts were donated by residents at last Saturday’s Depot Day put on by the Newtown Fund at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Salvation Army bell ringers have also been doing their part around down to make the season merrier for others. They helped to raise more than $3,800 for charity as they greeted shoppers at the Grand Union and Super Stop & Shop. Newtown resident Allan Graves and a handful of Boy Scouts from Troop 270 (Dodgingtown Firehouse) spent five hours ringing the bell Saturday.

The Salvation Army, which uses the money to fill the shelves in its food pantry, also received a pair of $1,000 donations from Taunton Press and Pitney Bowes.

Karin Halstead says tickets still are available for the New Year’s Eve Party at the Sandy Hook firehouse on Riverside Road. The $38 per person ticket includes dinner and dancing until 1 am, beer, wine and setups. For more information call Karin at 426-5505 or 270-4392 because tickets cannot be purchased at the door.

Amid the holiday preparations, the Newtown High School boys’ basketball team had its mind on business, namely their home opener against Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport Wednesday night. The team had its hands full during a preseason scrimmage at Trumbull earlier this month. The Eagles feature a center who stands seven feet tall. Fernando Bonfim is a freshman player from Brazil, who many say has the potential to be a real star. Still raw, the young Brazilian far from dominated the more experienced Nighthawk big men.

 A large group of Newtown residents (many of them youth basketball players) took the trip down to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield Tuesday night. Harvard sophomore Andrew Gellert, a 1997 Newtown High School graduate, was in town and everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of this rising star. Gellert scored just four points, but he pulled down 10 rebounds and had his usual high number of steals and assists as Harvard won 96-83.

The town clerk’s office held its annual holiday party Wednesday afternoon. Sue Shpunt brought her famous artichoke dip, Cindy Curtis Simon came with her tasty spinach dip, Blythe Dotson delivered the fruitcake and Jean Salvatore took care of the cheese and crackers spread…

…Which reminds me about how hungry I am. Since mice are not stirring too much in the nights before Christmas, I might have look for plates of cookies. So deck the halls, hang your stockings with care, and most importantly…

Read me again.