Carm O’Neil has used all of her sleuthing skills and has come up empty. A couple of days before Christmas, Carm found a little Starbucks bag hanging from her garage door when she returned home, with a present wrapped in tissue inside. She took it in, unwrapped it, and discovered a homemade marron puree (chestnuts) in a jar. “I have no idea who gave it to me. I’ve called all of my neighbors, I’ve asked at my library group, and I called a friend who is a Starbucks fiend, and I haven’t been able to figure it out,” Carm tells me. She is very grateful for the gift and would like to thank her Secret Santa. If you can point Carm in the right direction, contact Nancy@thebee.com, and the cat will pass it on to Carm. If she doesn’t find out soon, it looks like she is going to have to silently thank her mysterious gift giver with every mouthful of the delicious delicacy.

Winter is a great time for exercising — especially your vocal chords. The Newtown Choral Society begins rehearsals for the spring concert on Wednesday, January 18, from 7 to 9 pm, in the chorus room of the Newtown Middle School. Contact Laura Lerman at lel-choirs@se-ltd.com to find out about joining this community chorus. The April 28 concert is tentatively a selection of songs, from the classics to contemporary, that reflect the theme of “Phobias, the Music.” Don’t let your case of decantophobia, psallophobia, or adophobia (aka, “fear of singing”) stand in your way. “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,” as said by a wise man.

There’s nothing I like better this time of the year than tapping into some creativity. Cutting out paper valentines, gluing, drawing, and painting all fit the bill, and there is more than one place to leave off those special cards this year. Valentines For Troops is under way at the schools, and this week the Newtown Woman’s Club set up two boxes to collect Valentines For Vets. All cards, store bought or homemade, are welcome to be donated. The Woman’s Club is asking, though, that no cards with glitter be contributed. That’s fine. I hate when I find myself licking glitter out of my fur weeks after I’ve finished a project.

Can you open your home, temporarily or permanently to Charlie, a playful boxer-mix looking for a new home? I’m told that 5-year-old Charlie is nonaggressive and cuddly, but currently is living in a home where another dog has taken to attacking him. He actually likes other dogs, so he wouldn’t be opposed to sharing a new home with a friendlier canine pal; or being an only dog. Even if you can help by just taking him in short-term, to get him out of an unpleasant situation, that would be great. Call 203-431-9812 or 914-441-0904 or e-mail Wai@nanoholdings.com if you are considering adopting Charlie. (You’ll have to ask how Charlie feels about cats, because that’s one bit of info I haven’t heard from my friend, Amy Sullivan, who told me about this canine in crisis.)

On I go, to cats in crisis, and a Good Egg Award for local veterinarian Dr Chris Mixon of Newtown Veterinary Center on South Main Street. Sandy Hook Kitten Associates founder Robin Olson rescued a momma kitty and her babies from a kill shelter recently. “I noticed the mama, which we named Bobette, had a mild limp so I had it checked out,” says Robin. “Turns out her kneecap is luxated [not in position] and on a scale of 4 out of 4 she’s a 4, being the worst,” adds Robin. Bobette is in a lot of pain, but resources at Kitten Associates are tapped and there is not enough money to pay for a $2,500 procedure. This is where Dr Mixon comes to the rescue. Dr Mixon, who has been working with Kitten Associates since last October, offered to donate his fee and only charge for materials, which will end up being a few hundred dollars tops, reducing Robin to tears of thankfulness. “He loves to do orthopedic surgeries,” Robin tells me, “and felt he could help give Bobette a comfortable future.” Bobette was scheduled for surgery Wednesday morning, so I am crossing my paws that all goes well. Incidentally, Dr Mixon was so taken with two foster kittens he neutered for KA this past year that he ended up adopting both of them. Dr Mixon, you are a Good Egg!

Here’s a second chance to view last fall’s display of Artful Bras & Boxers, if you missed the show. Newtown United LLC, the nonprofit organization that held its second annual fundraiser in October by raffling and auctioning Artful Bra & Boxers, will host a public reception at C.H. Booth Library Friday, January 20, from 3 to 5 pm. The public is invited to meet members of Newtown United while viewing photos and the video from the autumn event, which raised more than $6,000 for Ann’s Place/The Home of I Can, the Danbury organization that has been providing free cancer support services to those touched by cancer and their loved ones since 1991. Light refreshments will be served. Call Newtown United President Rosemary Rau for additional information (203-426-2226), or just show up at the lower meeting room of the library on Friday afternoon.

I’ll be applying my artful work to the keyboard once again this week, providing refreshment of a whole different kind. So, be sure to pick up The Bee and… Read me again.