Families United in Newtown is ready to kick its new season into high gear. Following a recent 2025-26 season-opening celebration, the annual FUN Soccer Scrimmage and Bake Sale are planned for this weekend at NHS Blue & Gold Stadium. Saturday afternoon beginning at 3, FUN volunteers will be selling delicious treats. FUN kids and mentors will take the field for their scrimmage at halftime.

A Newtown Ecumenical Workcamp Servants (NEWS) information session is planned for those interested in learning more about the program and its late June 2026 service trip. NEWS is partnering this year with a group that serves the Lakota youth community in South Dakota. A presentation Sunday, October 12, at 7 pm, at Newtown Congregational Church, will be the perfect opportunity for young adults and parents/guardians to learning about NEWS, upcoming local volunteering, and fundraising, as well as the trip and the impact NEWS has on communities it serves and its campers. Reservations are not needed but if you have questions feel free to contact Elie Mouchantat at newsworkcamp@gmail.com.

Bruce the Spruce is recognizing two important causes this month. Our three-foot tall artificial conifer is tipping his hat to both Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. His current outfit is filled with pink in honor of the former and purple for the latter.

I was privy to some special news this week: the 2025 Newtown Woman’s Club Annual Christmas Ornament will be released next week. Launched in 1988 featuring the town’s rooster weather vane as designed by Lorraine VanderWende, the Woman’s Club Christmas Ornament Project is an ongoing fundraiser for the club. This year’s pewter ornament depicts a wreath as designed by current NWC President Rosemary Rau, who also researched and wrote a brief history of the traditional holiday decoration to be included with each purchase. The 2026 ornament will be available October 16. We will have them at our office, 5 Church Hill Road. They will also be available at the Circulation Desk at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street; Newtown MediSpa, 34 Church Hill Road; and The Toy Tree, 32 Church Hill Road. Ornaments remain $20 each, cash or check.

I was reminded last week that Holcombe Hill Preserve is home to not only to the highest publicly accessible point above sea level in Newtown, it’s also the highest publicly accessible location in Fairfield County. Apologies to my friends at Newtown Forest Association (NFA), which owns the 55 Great Hill Road property. I was raving two weeks ago about it being time to go enjoy the autumnal views at Holcombe Hill, and didn’t give it the full credit it deserves.

I mention this because (a) I wanted to clarify my error, and (b) we had a press release last week about a new feature at that beautiful location. NFA has launched a new partnership with Chronolog to engage public involvement in documenting environmental change over time. A Chronolog photo station has been installed near the gazebo at the top of the hill. With your smartphone, you can take a photo and then upload it to the Chronolog platform, which will add to a growing time-lapse illustrating how the landscape shifts through seasons and years. The time-lapse will eventually be available to view at newtownforestassociation.org.

Nearby, a different NFA property will be spruced up this weekend. Volunteers of all ages are sought to join NFA members on Saturday between 9 am and noon at Nettleton Preserve, 2 Old Castle Drive. Bring along a favorite shovel and/or loppers if you have them, although a small supply will be available. The focus will be on removing invasives from the Nettleton orchard, and planting some natives. Light rain won’t change these plans but torrential rains will lead to a postponement. If you’re not sure about the weather or just want to check on any details before heading out, contact Elliott at Elliott.taylor@newtownforestassociation.org or 203-893-0131.

Concurrently, Newtown Lions Club will be doing their annual cleanup at Orchard Hill Nature Center Preserve Saturday morning. The property is Town owned and administered by Newtown Parks & Rec, and the Lions have been stewards of that 25-acre property for decades. They head out there most autumns and springs, and now is the time for the former. They’re always happy for additional volunteers. BYO hand tools if you have them, and head toward Huntingtown Road any time between 9 am and noon. The entrance to the preserve is about one-third of a mile south of Huntingtown’s intersection with Orchard Hill Road. Look for a pair of short stone pillars on the western side of that road; the parking lot and an informational kiosk are just beyond those pillars.

The League of Women Voters of Northern Fairfield County announced this week they will host a debate next week between the candidates for the Board of Selectmen, including first selectmen, in preparation for the November 4 municipal elections (see related release). Local podcasters Gavin Arneth and Brian Hartgraves have also been on their political game, interviewing incumbent Republican First Selectman Jeff Capeci and Board of Selectmen candidate Charles Gardner, and Democratic First Selectman candidate Bruce Walczak and his running mate, Paul Lundquist, for an episode of “Two Guys and A Pint.” That episode will be released Monday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart platforms.

By the time you read this, the votes will be in and all we can do is wait to find out if Martin Blanco and Sandra Radosh have won Signal Awards. Their podcast and radio show “I Wish I Were a Prosciutto” is a finalist in the 2025 Signal Awards Individual Episodes-Best Guest category and a Listener’s Choice award. Sandra and Martin regularly invite listeners to “join us as we take a close look at a favorite dish or tradition, share memories closely tied to the Italian table, and discover places where these traditions continue,” Martin recently shared. The podcast streams on major platforms and also twice a month on WGCH 1490 AM. The nominated episode features a robust conversation with Lidia Bastianich, the celebrated PBS cook, restaurateur, and Italian food ambassador. Listener’s Choice voting closed October 9; winners will be announced October 15. I’ll share an update as soon as I can, but you know this cat is keeping its paws crossed for those two.

I promise to keep this column as enjoyable and impactful as possible if you’ll vow to come back next week, when you can … read me again.