Continued birthday wishes to Donna Ball, Kathy Hamilton, and Alex Villamil, who all shared their big day with Election Day this year. While I don’t know how the ladies celebrated the anniversary of their birth, the chairman of Newtown's Democratic Town Committee had a very special celebration Tuesday night. While at Reverie Brewing to monitor the race results, Alex’s wife Vanessa brought out a carrot cake shortly after the polls closed. Alex was still buried in his computer looking for vote counts when the cake was presented to him. Candles were lit and the crowd sang “Happy Birthday.” Alex thanked everyone for coming and said that everyone probably knew what he was going to wish for when he blew out the candles. Later in the night, when the race was called, Villamil said his wish was “powerful.”

Congratulations to Daina Smith and everyone involved with Semolina Pilchard. The British crime-comedy set in Liverpool that was released in April in the UK and then featured locally in screenings at Edmond Town Hall and The Ridgefield Playhousearrived on streaming platforms on Monday. Apple TV, Amazon, and Fandango are all hosting the film. As mentioned a few times this year, the film follows Clara Reynolds (played by Sarah Louise Chadwick), the estranged daughter of Gerry (Joe McGann), a terminally ill gangster who summons his daughter home. Clara quickly becomes entangled in a complex inheritance conflict with her younger sister, a determined and jealous woman named Danika (Sophia Leanna Kelly) who is convinced Gerry plans to leave everything to Clara despite the older sibling trying to leave everything behind five years earlier. The film was co-written and directed by Mike Clarke, and co-written and co-produced by our friend and fellow Borough resident Daina.

The Borough will be host to this year’s Turkey Trot in just a few weeks. We’ve had photos in recent editions of the paper of many of the big event’s sponsors. I’ve wondered about those who are getting ready to participate this year. Jordana Bloom, the strategic project manager for C.H. Booth Library — which will benefit from the Thanksgiving morning fundraiser — shared with me on Wednesday that as of that morning 1,300 people had signed up to earn their stuffing. No worries, however, if you’re still among those planning to join that group. Registration remains open until 7:30 pm Thanksgiving Eve, so you have time. Cost is $45 per person and Jordana asked me to remind readers that only those who register by November 8 will be guaranteed a race T-shirt. Visit chboothlibrary.org for full race details and the registration link.

It’s been a few months, and Ezra is ready to start exploring again. Having already visited the former Caleb Baldwin Tavern in June and The William Edmond House in August, Newtown Historical Society mascot Ezra the Rooster will resume his Semiquincentennial tour this weekend. You’ll want to keep an eye on his Facebook page and Instagram feed to see where he lands this weekend, both @newtownhistoricalsociety. As in past visits, Ezra will quietly make an appearance, which will be captured by his handler’s camera, and then he’ll have a photo and lesson about the location in those social media locations.

We’ve learned a few things about Bee employees in recent weeks. The Whiteboard Challenge has arrived at 5 Church Hill Road. As mentioned two weeks ago, the trend launched in our main floor hallway in October with “How would a giraffe wear a bow tie?” The options were (a) bowtie immediately under its chin and (b) bowtie toward the base of the neck, just above its body. For those who answered within the first day, the answers leaned heavily toward option A. A few days into the inaugural challenge, however, B started getting some love. The final decision went to A, however, with 8 votes for immediately below the chin to B’s 5 votes for above the belly.

Last week we went seasonal. At the beginning of the week the new question was “Who in the office would survive a zombie attack?” Five people were nominated through that write-in challenge, with just one receiving more than one vote, so I’m not calling that a clear answer. I did love, however, that one person admitted “Not me!” while another asked if joining the side of the zombies would count as surviving. Toward the end of the week it was another seasonal question: “If a vampire bites a zombie, does (a) the zombie become a vampire or (b) the vampire become a zombie?” This one drew some great discussions, including a very passionate filibuster. One member of the Editorial department of sister paper Antiques and The Arts Weekly spent nearly ten minutes charming us with her answer. Carly Timpson offered an off-the-cuff dissertation that showed that woman knows her zombie and vampire lore.

This week’s challenge: Would you rather have your laugh sound like a car horn or a goat? I’ll let you know next week how that one plays out. If you have a suggestion for our whiteboard challenge, I’d love to hear it; I can be reached at mountain@thebee.com.

Bravo to Newtown Earth Day Festival organizers! While we’ve already heard from some folks with details ahead of the approaching holiday season, organizers for the popular spring event announced last week that the 2026 festival will be returning Saturday, April 24. It’s on my calendar.

Thanks to Joon Gardens of Newtown, clients of Daily Bread Food Pantry have been enjoying garden-grown peppers and tomatoes. Joon Gardens was among the regional farmers and food producers the Danbury-based pantry has been able to shop from thanks to a Connecticut Department of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Assistance program. According to a note in Daily Bread’s Fall 2026 newsletter, the funds have allowed Daily Bread to purchase homegrown fruits, vegetables, meats, and milk from the Newtown location as well as many others. Funds have been used for everything from pears, garlic, eggplants, and cucumbers to bok choy, beets, chicken, and pork, and “lots of apples!” from multiple farms, orchards, et al, the note continued.

I understand Louise Zierzow and her Spanish students from Newtown Senior Center found themselves a new place to enjoy their occasional road trip luncheons. Last week they headed to Monroe for lunch at Mama Rosa, where El Coyote had been for many years. Louise said she and the others — about a dozen total — “descended on the restaurant and the young man who was our server wasn’t quite sure what to do with all of us showing up like that.” She laughed at the memory, and quickly added the server regained his composure and the entire staff at the restaurant made sure lunch was enjoyed by all.

I would enjoy it very much if you’ll remember to check in around this time next week, when it will be time to … read me again.