A big Thank You goes to Newtown's firefighters, who saved 18 lives this past Tuesday... That is, when two pet cats were rescued from a house fire on Sunnyview Terrace. I wonder if surviving a fire counts for having just eight lives left each, now, or if it was so frightening the kitties have only two or three lives left to go. It's a thought a cat like me has to ponder.Newtown CROP Hunger Walk. The walk will take place in Fairfield Hills and will begin outside NYA Sports & Fitness Center, 4 Primrose Street. Funds raised by walkers support the efforts of Church World Service (CWS) to overcome hunger and poverty within local communities and around the world. The Newtown CROP Hunger Walk will return 25 percent of the funds raised to hunger-fighting programs locally. If you are unable to walk yourself, you can sponsor another walker. For more information and/or to get a sponsor form, contact Newtown Congregational Church at 203-426-9024. Individuals can also register, donate, seek sponsors, and create teams online at crophungerwalk.org/newtownct.6th Annual Passport to Sandy Hook. So how could we resist a photo? Brandi and a fleet of her fellow Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs greeted eventgoers throughout the day's activities. Hopefully no one confused Brandi with our Bee reporter on the scene...NUMC's Annual Craft Show this weekend, Newtown High School National Honors Society and Families United in Newtown (FUN) will join T.J. Designs at Reed Intermediate School, this Saturday, October 15, from 10 am until 4 pm, to raise money for the FUN Respite program. The two groups have collaborated to offer handcrafted jewelry and crafts, candles, mandala rocks, rock "cairns," essential oils, terrariums, and more. For a real treat, Newtown yoga and journey dance instructor and energy healer Joanne Keane will be providing reiki, between noon and 2 pm.office@bnaitorahct.org.eliza@thebee.com for details on our weekly birthday cake give away. (Not to mention, your child's smiling picture featured on the page is a fun birthday present.)nancy@thebee.com.

Congratulations to Newbury Place owners Liz Page of Newtown and her business partners Eva Schick and Amy Cameron, who have opened another location of their popular Southbury gift store. The Washington Depot Newbury Place celebrated its opening at 3 Bryon Hall Plaza last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Wishing them the best of luck!

Congratulations as well to Bee Sales Rep Fred Taylor and wife, Kaki, who traveled to Germany just in time for their newest grandson, Jacob Andrew Taylor, to arrive on the scene - and on Fred and Kaki's 30th anniversary, to boot. New dad Drew Taylor and mom Katie and the grandparents are all elated.

When their bird feeder got dragged across their Pine Tree Hill Road yard about three months back, Julie and Mark Johnson decided to get a game camera to find out the culprit. They have caught various visitors - a fox, skunk, and raccoon - on film, but last Thursday, Julie got an unexpected closeup of the bird feeder villain. Pulling into the driveway just past 5 pm, Julie spotted a bear coming around the side of her house. "He saw me but did not seem alarmed. He kept walking off into the woods. He is beautiful and huge," she tells us. "I apparently saw him right after the game camera captured him." It's not the first visit a bear has made to this neighborhood, and the Johnsons' neighbors reported seeing this one later in the day, further into the Winton Farm neighborhood. Bears are going to be busy the next several weeks foraging for food to get them through the winter, so be aware that any feeders or pet food left out may be raided.

Not everyone can forage food when needed. There are many who go hungry every day, but the annual CROP Hunger Walk takes strides toward helping those with insufficient food. Sunday, October 16, at 2 pm, people from various faith communities from Newtown will be participating in the annual

I bumped into Tina, a visitor from San Diego, in the parking lot of our office last Thursday afternoon. She was snapping a photo of the fanciful bee weathervane that tops the building. Tina explained that her dad, John Hallock, is the artist who created the copper weathervane, and that she recalled being a little girl and her dad working on the piece in their living room. I do hope she and her family are enjoying the photographs she took.

Newtown-Strong Therapy Dog Brandi came dressed as a bee and with her handler, Patty Linardo, to the Saturday, October 8,

Friends of the C.H. Booth Library want your books, CDs, DVDs, video games, board games, and puzzles. Book Donation Day is Sunday, October 23, rain or shine, from noon to 5 pm. Drop off your donations with volunteers in the parking lot to the rear of the library, 25 Main Street. What a great opportunity to clear off the shelves at home and make way for more.

It may seem early for Christmas decorations, but Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company is hoping residents will have Hawleyville Fire in mind when decorations are decking the halls of retail stores. Members are planning for the 2nd Annual Holiday Light Show, and of course they're hoping to go even bigger than last year's strong debut. With that in mind, HVFC is seeking donations of outdoor Christmas lights and/or decorations. "These donations will help us put the show together," says Hawleyville Firefighter Dan Cragin. "This year we're doubling the side of the display, and adding an interactive winter village that children can walk through." The light display is scheduled to open Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving evening), and will continue daily through Sunday, January 8, running 5 to 10 pm each night. Once the show is running, Dan says, firefighters will be collecting for Toys For Tots, and also accepting donations for the volunteer fire company that covers western and northern portions of Newtown. For additional information call Dan at 203-448-6387. Donations of materials can be left at the firehouse, at 31 Hawleyville Road. Call Dan to arrange a time to drop off any financial donations before November 24, or take any financial donations to the firehouse once the light show starts.

I hear that among the dozens of artists and crafters scheduled to participate in

Looking for a place to sell your wares or share your knowledge? Congregation B'nai Torah in Trumbull is seeking vendors for its Sunday, December 11, Holiday Boutique. Vendor applications for the nondenominational event can be had by calling the B'nai Torah office at 203-268-6940, or e-mailing

Happy birthday... to who? It could be your youngster, that's who. See the education section of the paper to find out how to enter your child in a chance to win a birthday cake from DOrazio Sisters Bakery, or contact

Where are the Good Eggs in this town? If you know someone who is gracious and generous and helpful - but never asks for recognition - please let us know. We would love to bestow the Good Egg Award to such a person, this column's shout-out to the good folks that are all around our town. Send your nomination to

I came across this saying in my wanderings this week that I felt was worth sharing: "The difference between a flower and a weed is a judgment." It made me stop and think about how differently we all see things.

I see lots of different things every week, and am always eager to share. So, be sure next week to... Read me again.