Back in 2011, we wrote about a discovery of the gravesite of Newtown Bee founder, John Pearce, and his great-great-great nephew C. Michael Anderson’s efforts to have the Department of Veterans’ Affairs place a headstone on that unmarked grave in Bethel. It was a success on his part, resulting in the placement of the headstone. Just this week, Mike got back to me with some additional information on the man who put out the first (somewhat erratically published) issues of The Newtown Bee, before the Smith family took over. “I’ve found a lot more info on him,” Mike writes. “He won a lot of money in a lottery, he remarried in 1904 to a childhood sweetheart he reconnected with at the age of about 65. During his time in the 15th Virginia he was supposedly discharged but under care at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, and then those records state he was residing in a private residence in Richmond versus in the hospital itself; the muster roles contain this information. His sister was noted as being a nurse during the Civil War and through city directories, etc, I found they resided in a very high-end neighborhood not far from the hospital I previously mentioned. A lot of mysteries and unanswered questions, so I continue to research.” We look forward to updates! Thank you, Mike.

The American Red Cross has a critical type O blood shortage and urgently needs donors of all blood types — especially types O negative and O positive — to give blood or platelets. There are numerous blood drives coming up in our area. Go to redcrossblood.org to locate one nearby.

I’m handing out the Good Egg Award to the hostess at Market Place Kitchen & Bar. I’m told that she recognized this past Sunday that a young mom with baby had a stuffed animal elephant “binkie” that was similar to a stuffed giraffe “binkie” that had been found in the restaurant a month ago. On the way out, the kind hostess asked the mom if it happened to be hers from a previous visit — and the baby and binkie have been reunited. What a nice surprise for them!

Quick! Get out your ice skates! Who knows how long the cold snap will last? Newtown Parks & Rec announced this week that the ice rink at Dickinson Park, 50 Elm Drive, is ready for visitors. As weather permits, the ice is skatable daily until 7:50 pm; BYO skates and other equipment.

If you ask him nicely, Marty the Robot might break into his favorite dance move — the Robot, of course — if asked to do so on Saturday. Stop & Shop’s resident hazard detector is turning 1 this weekend, and the Newtown store is reportedly among those that will be celebrating a birthday party. Birthday cake, crafts for kids, and giveaways will all be part of the January 25 event, scheduled to run from 10 am until 2 pm. Newtown Bee reporter Alissa Silber caught this photo of Marty in October, when he was decked out in his skeleton “costume” for Halloween. The tall, googly-eyed robot that can be found in more than 300 Stop & Shop stores within the company’s five state footprint has been spotting spills and potential hazards for a year. When the robot detects a potential hazard on the floor, it notifies store associates, who take corrective action. On average, Marty spots 40 spills and hazards at each store, every day. Sounds like a good reason for a Marty Party!

It’s open house season, and I don’t mean just real estate. Wesley Learning Center, adjacent to Newtown United Methodist Church in Sandy Hook Center, hosts its open house from 9 to 11 am this Saturday, January 25. Then, from 1 to 3 pm, the new assisted living facility on The Boulevard, Church Hill Village, invites the public to an open house, also on Saturday. On Sunday, explore St Rose of Lima School, 40 Church Hill Road, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, when it hosts its open house.

American Legion Post 202 Senior Vice Commander Donna Monteleone has plenty of contacts with units from Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force to Army that are just waiting for their Valentines For Troops. (Two of the Army units are from Connecticut.) She is anxious that all of the troops will get their special card or letter, as well as care packages for those troops serving overseas. Lots of schoolchildren take part each year, but Donna reminds me that adults are welcome to write letters in Word — print out more than one copy to send out more than one letter. Adults, of course, can add their address or e-mail address, too. Church groups and other organizations are encouraged to take part. Please contact Donna at ndrandle@charter.net for details on creating a care package and how you can make someone’s day a little brighter — on Valentine’s Day or any day throughout the year.

The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation special fundraiser last weekend to support animals in Australia impacted by the horrific weather and fires was quite successful. There’s another event coming up to let Australia know that we care — Paint With A Purpose for Australia, Wednesday, January 29. fisio Physical Therapy & Wellness will host a Hearts of Hope painting evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the 141 Mt Pleasant Road office. It’s $7 per ceramic heart, and you can create your own positive message for it. These hearts will be shipped to Australia. Call 203-270-2977 with questions, register at https://www.eventbrite.com, search Paint With A Purpose for Australia.

It is Take A Child To The Library Day on Saturday, February 1, so mark your calendar now for some special programs at C.H. Booth Library that day. From 11:30 to 1:30 pm, the library has drop-in activities in its Maker Space in the young adult area on the second floor. Children and parents can stop by and build with Strawbees or Legos, play a board game, or make a button to take home. At 2 pm, the Discovery Museum presents “Don’t Try This At Home,” which Children’s Librarian Alana Bennison describes as “a fascinating science demonstration that combines basic scientific principles with explosive results.” What a fun introduction to our library, for kids and adults alike. (Regular patrons know already how much activity and how many reading events take place at the 25 Main Street building.)

The Burnham Library in Bridgewater will join the celebration, if you’re out that way on February 1. Join in on a Pete the Cat’s Groovy Get-Together from 10 am to noon in that library’s Susan Beris, MD Youth Learning Center. Wear your jammies and enjoy breakfast from the Cereal Bar, a reading of Pete the Cat: Loves His White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean, and search for Pete and friends in a family scavenger hunt. I’m told there will be a special appearance by the one and only Pete the Cat — now, that’s almost as good as if I showed up! E-mail cfisher@burnhamlibrary.org or call 860-354-6937 to reserve a spot.

Hot on the heels of last Friday night’s chilly round of St Rose Bingo, organizers are reminding us that the next session will be in just a few weeks. Sweethearts and singles alike are all welcome to the Monsignor Weiss Gathering Hall at St Rose School, 40 Church Hill Road, for Bingo on Friday, February 14. Doors open at 5:45 pm, and games will run from 6:30 until 9:30 pm. The per person fee of $17 covers all regular games; additional special games are also offered for nominal fees. Light refreshments are also available for purchase. Reservations are not needed but additional information is available by calling the school’s administrative offices, 203-426-5102.

You can show me your love by making a point next week to... Read me again.