I do believe that many residents got their fill of exercise last Thursday, shoveling and snow blowing the nearly one foot of snow that was draped across our landscape the night before. Maybe my memory is foggy, but this seemed like more than I saw all last winter. Seems like 2020 just has had to have the last word... only another week til the New Year!

The pond at Ram Pasture was busy as could be this past weekend, with pick-up hockey games and ice skaters. The very cold temperatures — just 7 degrees on Saturday morning — put a nice layer of ice in place there. With every day since warming up, it was wise of these outdoor enthusiasts to make the most of the icy situation while they could.

Pat Caruso, president of Associated Waste Removal and a local Rotarian, sent me a little update on the organization’s first child sponsored for the Gift of Life operation, in 2014. Genesis, from Belize City, Belize, was just three years old when she came to the area for heart surgery, thanks to the Newtown Rotary Club sponsorship. Mike and Monica Toll were the host family. In 2014, Mike Toll shared with The Newtown Bee that Genesis at that time was “only getting 50 percent of the blood she needed, and of that, only 50 percent of the blood was properly oxygenated.” The lifesaving surgery, by Dr Samuel Weinstein at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, truly was a gift of life for the little girl. Not only has Genesis survived, but she thrives. INSERT GENESIS PHOTO “Mike tells me she is 10 years old, but acts as if she is a mature 12-13 year old,” Pat shares. “Genesis loves reading, math, and painting. She is currently reading David Copperfield. She speaks fluent English, as well.” Well done, Rotary Club!

Like so many others, members of Newtown Congregational Church have continued helping others in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. We heard two very good bits of news, both having to do with efforts that did very well. The church’s Back Bay Mission Adult Work Camp team this year transformed its annual sit-down BBQ & Shrimp Boil into a very successful drive-through. Led by workcamper Donna Miklaszewski, the group raised $2,200 through the sale of 100 dinners and freewill donations. Similarly, church member Gary Peters also wrangled others to continue following his lead in helping Bridgeport Rescue Mission with an annual turkey drive. Thanks to those efforts, the Park City mission received donations of $595 to buy turkeys last month. In addition, local restaurateur Angelo Marini worked through some of his contacts to make sure turkeys were also delivered to the mission this year.

St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 46 Church Hill Road, has been helping chase away the dark of the short winter days and pandemic issues with a delightful light show. If you missed the first Light Show Extravaganza this past week, another showing of the synchronized music and 10,000 lights is scheduled for the evening of December 23 and again on December 26. The free, public, parking lot event is scheduled for several time slots each evening. Reservations are required, so be sure to visit tickettailor.com/events/strosechurch/465544 to save your spot. Any bit of light in this dark time is welcome!

If you are an early bird and grabbed this copy of the paper Wednesday afternoon, it reminds me that you’ll want to check with any house of worship you usually attend this holiday season. I see that Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, planned three Christmas Eve services, as always — except this year, all presented virtually. Christ the King planned to welcome people in person at the 85 Mt Pleasant Road Lutheran church, for two evening services December 24; and St Rose, 46 Church Hill Road, had plans in place for services livestreamed, in person, and via parked vehicles on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For those of the Christian faith, it is clear to me that the celebration of Christmas would go on, in good faith, and be delivered to congregations in a manner that respects the pandemic restrictions while bringing the peace of the season to all.

FAITH Food Pantry volunteers recently began doing first-Saturday-of-the-month food drives, and we can confirm that they will indeed follow that schedule in January. Terry Ferris says they may have extra layers of clothing and a lot of hot cocoa going to stay warm, but volunteers will be receiving donations on Saturday, January 2, from 10 am until noon. The pantry is behind St Rose Church, at 46 Church Hill Road. Donors should head toward the pantry building, and remain in their vehicles while volunteers collect items. You can find a list of most-needed items at newtownfoodpantry.org, or a way to donate monetarily.

Are you looking for some new holiday recipes? I’ve just found out that Rachel Zierzow, an Austin, Texas, resident and daughter of Newtown residents Louise and Arthur Zierzow, is offering an e-book of her favorite healthy holiday recipes. You’ll find a link to get the e-book at her site cookloveheal.com, along with virtual classes and workshops. Louise tells me that Rachel’s husband, two children, and the two cats all make appearances at times with her in the cooking videos!

Parents-to-be — be sure to check out the full page of ads in this issue for the First Baby of 2021. Your family could receive all of these great gifts from local businesses, if your baby is the first Newtown/Sandy Hook baby born in 2021. No later than January 5, send a statement from your doctor noting the exact time/date of baby’s birth; parents’ names and address; place of baby’s birth, weight, and baby’s name to Bee Publishing Co., PO Box 5503, Newtown CT 06470 or e-mail the information to shannon@thebee.com. Good luck! We can’t wait to find out who our newest citizen will be!

Even as we put 2020 behind us, at The Newtown Bee we are focused on the new year and all it will bring. We appreciate notices of in-town events and programs, and love to hear about the many special people of our community. If you have a story idea, please contact editor@thebee.com. Want to be our Snapshot, or know someone who does? Contact Alissa Silber at alissa@thebee.com to arrange a conversation for this weekly personal profile of a Sandy Hook/Newtown resident. How about reaching out to Eliza Hallabeck, eliza@thebee.com, if you have an idea for a building in town you would like her to explore? She has been presenting the “Get To Know” series the past several months, and looks forward to tips on other interesting buildings you are curious about. Eliza is also the best person to contact with school related news. Don’t forget that Shannon Hicks is at shannon@thebee.com, and wants to know about programs you are planning, and the people of town, be they for Enjoy, our religion page, or general news; and John Voket at john@thebee.com will take care of your news about health, business, and town government. Andy Hutchison wants to include any sports news or news about local sports personalities. You can contact him at andyh@thebee.com. We are here for you. Newtown’s hometown paper is the place to spread the word. (Not to mention, editor@thebee.com will share any catty bits of news you might have for the Top of the Mountain column...) As much as we wish we were all-knowing, we count on the community to help us keep everyone informed in a timely manner.

As 2021 hovers on the horizon, I am counting on you, of course, to... Read me again.

Best wishes to all for a happy holiday season!