The late Newtown native Glenn Atkinson put up a fully lit American flag after 9/11 that was visible from Interstate 84 eastbound. That flag has not been lit for a while, but recently, Glenn’s family members decided to light it again for the holiday season. The flag, and Glenn’s memory, are aglow and can be seen as one approaches Exit 9 East.

 One light was extinguished briefly late Monday night. A full-moon lunar eclipse occurred early, early Tuesday morning, on the cusp of the Winter Solstice. And where was I? Snug in my bed, while visions of sugarplums… If you missed this event, too, check out the photo of the lunar eclipse in four stages shared with us by Tom Bittman, elsewhere in this week’s issue of The Bee, and on our Facebook page. Naturally, there are endless photos online, too.

While the public is no doubt already planning to attend, there are still a number of appointments available for the American Red Cross Blood Drive to be held on December 27 at Congregation Adath Israel. This blood drive is being organized in part by and to honor former Newtown resident Mark Rebb, who survived a knife assault (as did his wife Leah) in October. Mark is hoping that friends and neighbors will show up at some point during the day to donate some of their blood, something he is more committed to now than ever before. The blood drive will run from 8:30 am until 6:30 pm and, according to Red Cross Account Manager Lynne Phillips, the folks at Edmond Town Hall have generously donated movie passes so that each presenting donor on Monday will receive a free movie ticket to the town hall’s movie theater. The Red Cross Blood Services Division requires donors be at least age 18, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Appointments are available by calling 800-448-3543. Donors are also welcomed without appointment, and Congregation Adath Israel is at 115 Huntingtown Road.

Pattie and Bill Calderara have hosted 17-year-old Issyana (Inez) Indraswari, a 17-year-old student from Indonesia, since August. Inez is participating in the Rotary Youth Exchange program. While the Calderaras love Inez, Rotary coordinator Chris Hoeffel explains that the club looks for the youth they sponsor to have multiple family experiences. Families interested in finding out more about hosting Inez, who hopes one day to become a doctor, can contact Chris at 203-648-6518, or call Rotary president Carrie Swan at 203-426-1230.

If the town seems to be bulging a bit at the seams this week, it may have something to do with the return of all of the college students. Welcome home!

I always send out a long list of wishes to Santa “Claws” each year, but one of my most heartfelt wishes is that no pet will go hungry (especially cats) this winter. When you donate to the local food pantries, don’t forget to include a bag of dog or cat food, or some birdseed for Tweetie Bird. When families fall upon hard times, their pets do, too.

As the year winds down, I am shocked not to be inundated by nominations for The Good Egg. If you know someone around town who quietly goes about spreading good cheer and doing for others, let me know at Nancy@thebee.com. It’s not much, admittedly, but I like to think The Good Egg brings a smile to faces.

I know we have yet to put Christmas and New Year’s behind us, but it is not too soon to start thinking about valentines for our troops overseas, an ongoing local project to send cards to those in the service. Project chairperson Donna Randle tells me there is someone new in the service who might appreciate a valentine this year: Sergeant First Class Timmy, a therapy dog. SFC Timmy is based in Kabul and works at a rest and recoupment center for soldiers experiencing battle fatigue. Here’s SFC Timmy preparing to jump aboard a helicopter and head over to another Forward Operating Base: The command sergeant major who sent Donna the info on Timmy also tells her that his unit expects to get its own military working dogs soon, and would appreciate Valentines for Troops for them, too. Please contact Jennifer Peterson at jdmp7896@charter.net for more information.

Our assistant editor is really taking advantage of the holiday season to be the “spoiling auntie.” Miss Hicks has taken little chocolate lab pup Tique under her wing when his “dad,” Antiques and The Arts Weekly editor David Smith, is unavailable. Check Tique out at the office after the holidays: Auntie Shannon has outfitted him with his own bright orange, monogrammed collar from L.L. Bean. (She got him a stuffed duckie, too, but his eagerness to chew everything in sight earned him that present pre-Christmas.)

I don’t know what Santa has in mind for me, but I’m looking forward to a peaceful holiday weekend. Then I’ll gear up to paw through the litter box of information that comes my way, so that next week you can…. Read me again.