If you're interested in preserving a bit of Newtown history, Newtown Forest Association has extended its deadline for fundraising to purchase acreage at Cherry Grove Farm, to January 31. Well on its way to raising the $600,000 needed to gain the nearly 30 acres of the Platts Hill farm, donations are still needed for this open space effort. Find out more and donate at newtownforestassociation.org.info@earsct.org or call 203-941-EARS.to help Sandy Hook neighbor Paul SarnikJune Woolcock announced this week that the gofundme campaign launched a few weeks ago heavily damaged during an early morning fire on January 8, is about to be turned over to Newtown Social Services. Thanks to more than 100 people making donations, the fund sat at $5,323 as of January 24. The town department, with help from the American Red Cross, has been helping keep Paul comfortable in a local hotel. The gofundme funds will be used toward that new home. In addition, Paul reached out last week to let me know that we were a little off in our initial reporting of that fire. While a Sandy Hook resident named Don had given Paul a bicycle carriage back in August 2015 to make it easier to pick up returnables along the side of town roads, it was a different bicycle carriage that Paul had been using recently. "Bob and Lauren Elliott gave me a replacement one, and that's the one that was outside my house when it burned," he said. He was doing well, he added, and was grateful for the help he was receiving from everyone.Newtown Bee reader and past member of the Friends of Music Kit Brinkman recognized herself and other Friends members from a Way We Were photo that ran the week ending December 1, 2017. The original April 1984 photo noted that several people making phone calls were from the Friends of Music. Ms Brinkman phoned to say she is the woman standing at the left in the photo. Next to her is, per her best recollection, John Carle, a Gilbert and Sullivan artist, who had a home in Newtown; the woman seated is Joan Popovic; the man on the far right is Phil Lapat, an "invaluable nonstop working member" and eventual program chairman. The woman seated in front of Ms Brinkman is possibly Nancy Belanger. She remembers the special event where "We were all promoting a special fundraiser. We were rubbing nickels together and doing what we could to raise money." The Friends would host performances as fundraisers. "Some were wonderful sell-outs" by noted actors and well-known voice-over actors, she said.lel@se-ltd.com for information on joining.The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road. Many thanks, in advance. (Paws crossed for cat food donations...)redcross.org, or call 800- RED-CROSS to find out how you can help.nancy@thebee.com.The Newtown Bee to your exotic locale, and e-mail a high res photo of yourself with the paper to editor@thebee.com. We'll put your smiling face and The Bee Abroad in the pages of an upcoming issue. Be sure to mark the subject line "Bee Abroad."https://www.ctaudubon.org/It is tempting to think about days to come, though, when gardening once again becomes an activity to pursue. At The Newtown Bee; and that only print subscribers are privy to more news than is available at newtownbee.com. Send your friends and family to our Circulation/Subscriptions page for information on subscribing, or hand out this phone number: 203-426-3141. An informed public is a happy public, and we're happy to help!

Information received late last week tells us that "People and Animals Working in Spirit (PAWS), Griffin Hospital's pet therapy program, and Connecticut Emergency Animal Response Service (EARS) will host a Pet First Aid Class on Saturday, January 27, at the hospital, 130 Division Street, Derby. The EARS Team will be at the hospital from 11 am to 2 pm. From 11 am to noon, the team will talk about responding to medical emergencies and technical rescues involving animals in the community. The Pet First Aid class will be from noon to 1 pm, featuring a multimedia presentation and hands-on learning, followed by a Q&A session with the EARS team." Registration is required, but this program is open to all ages. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person, and contributions benefit EARS. To RSVP e-mail

, whose home was

Newtown Choral Society rehearsals began this Wednesday evening in preparation for the April "British Invasion" spring concert. The group welcomes all who love to sing. NCS meets each Wednesday at 7 pm in the Newtown Middle School chorus room. Contact NCS President Laura Lerman at

Red alert! FAITH Food Pantry is completely out of cat food! FAITH has been so busy helping families (and their pets) that they are low on many items. In addition to cat food, FAITH could particularly use donations of laundry detergent (also completely gone from the shelves); coffee, jelly, jam, prepackaged lunch snacks, and syrup are also needed. Donations can be brought to FAITH, 31 Pecks Lane, Tuesdays, between 10 am and noon, or between 6 and 7:30 pm on Thursdays; or drop off donations at the office of

Speaking of donations... Winter weather issues and a severe flu season mean that the Red Cross is in even greater need of blood and platelet donations than usual. If you are a healthy person, age 17 and over, please consider donating. You can find blood drives in the area at

We've got a Super Blue Moon on the way next week. Barring dense clouds, I don't think you'll be able to miss the huge, bright orb in the sky.

Are you looking for a "holiday" to give you a reason to indulge? Then you don't want to skip Chocolate Cake Day, this Saturday, January 27. Bake a cake Friday night, is my suggestion. You'll have all day Saturday to relish the result, and should any be left over, what's wrong with cake for breakfast on Sunday? A good cup of coffee at the side, The Bee crossword puzzle spread out in front of you... Sounds like a plan to me. (Or there is always "Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day," on Saturday, February 3.)

I know they are out there: the Good Eggs. If you know someone who flies beneath the radar spreading good will and good cheer, please let us know. It isn't super prestigious, but the shout-out and Good Egg Award bestowed in this column are given whole-heartedly to locals nominated by friends and families for the good deeds humbly performed. Let us know who is a Good Egg, at

With gloomy winter weather settling down about us, it would not surprise me to hear that residents are booking vacations to carry them away to warmer climes. Take a copy of

you can find a link to the best native plants for this area, and which ones will attract and help birds survive. Choosing the right plants is an ecologically sound plan, too, as native plants tend to require less upkeep - that is, less water, less of your time, and less money.

Are you aware that there are people in the community who do not know what construction project is underway on Route 302; who don't have an idea of what proposals developers have put forth in recent months; who have not heard that we have a community center underway, or that we need volunteers to fill town boards and commissions? If you're reading this, you're reading your hometown newspaper, where you will find in-depth stories about subjects that affect and interest you. Please spread the word that a variety of subscription options exist from

I'm happy to help each week with bringing you the news you want. Be sure next week to... Read me again.