‘Tis the season! No, not that season … Girl Scout Cookie Season! Girl Scouts of Connecticut officially launched its 2024 Girl Scout Cookie Season on January 20. The public can now purchase cookies online. In-person sales in front of local grocery stores and other locations are reportedly coming in March or April, when it’s a smidge warmer. There are nine flavors available in the state this year, and boxes are $6 each ($5 online if you order them for the Cookies For Heroes program, which donates cookies to men and women in the military, veterans, and local first responders). Many local Girl Scouts have online pages set up to help them start their cookie sales. If you know them or their parents, check in to see if they have a Digital Cookie site running. Otherwise, contact Girl Scouts of Connecticut through gsofct.org (click on the Cookie icon near the top of the page) or call 800-922-2770 to be connected with one of the local troops.

We had a press release about this a few weeks ago but I want to make sure anyone who enjoys singing is aware that Newtown Choral Society will begin rehearsals next week for its spring concert. Founded almost 40 years ago, NCS is a community chorus and welcomes singers from all area towns. The choir performs two concerts a year, and welcomes both novice and experienced singers. It continues to be directed by Mary Andreotta and accompanied by Susan Anthony-Klein. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at Newtown Middle School and begin at 7 pm. The spring concert is set for May 19 at Newtown Meeting House and will include music inspired by Shakespeare drawn from the worlds of opera, Broadway, and pop. Curious? Stop in on January 31, or reach out to NCS President Laura E. Lerman at 203-426-3769 or e-mail lel@se-ltd.com.

As we count down the final days of the first month of 2024, how many readers are still good on their New Year’s resolutions? I’m still working on mine, which was to have a generally better outlook toward life. Countless others went another traditional route, going on diets or at least trying to do better with their food intake. According to a note I received last week, one of the biggest things to overwhelm people are recipes with many ingredients. Try cooking with no more than five ingredients at a time. Also look for recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less; incorporate healthy time-savers such as low-sodium/no-salt added frozen or canned vegetables, microwaveable rice and/or pasta, and bagged salads are some ideas; use appliances like an Instant Pot and/or an air fryer to save time; aim for less mess with one pan/pot meals that are flavorful and easy to make; incorporate vibrant colors by adding plenty of fruits and vegetables to your meals; and don’t forget to add flavor with things like garlic, onion, citrus, and spices.

Newtown Community Center and The Better Day Café are teaming up again for February 14, offering readers DIY Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating Kits. Each kit is $5 ($7.18 with Eventbrite fees) and includes everything needed to decorate your own cookies, which will be baked by the good folks at the café. Kits must be ordered by February 7, and they will be ready for pickup by February 10. To order or for additional information visit newtowncommunitycenter.org/valentines-day-cookie-kits. For additional information the community center can also be reached at 203-270-4349. Pick-up instructions will be sent back to each person who places an order.

Speaking of the community center, organizers there have added another date to the Winter Farmers Market. The first season — which opened in November and was originally going to run until March — is going so well, the monthly market will now continue until at least Tuesday, April 9. It runs from 2-6 pm and features at least 18 vendors.

The iced-over Hawley Pond welcomed some guest skaters last weekend, when five members of the Danbury Hat Tricks Jr team spent time there. Josh Erickson, Aiden Farro, Ivan Korodiuk, Pierre Larocque and Michael Minchello reportedly enjoyed time on the local ice. Sandy Hook resident Dawn Singer said the athletes were good sports about being joined by her two dogs. An abundance of hot chocolate for everyone also added to the afternoon gathering.

You hear about groups and organizations conducting annual meetings all the time, but I have to say it’s very impressive to note the 292nd Annual Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Meeting is scheduled for this weekend. The second oldest church in town, Trinity’s members will gather in their Glover Community Room following Sunday morning’s worship service to elect a slate of officers, vestry members, and delegates and alternates for the convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Trinity was founded in 1732, just 27 years after this town was formed. Its building wasn’t even located where we’re so used to seeing it. Trinity’s first location was a 28- by 24-foot structure near the corner of Main Street and Glover Avenue (there’s a reason for that large boulder with the bronze plaque on it on the northeast corner there … take a closer look at it the next time you’re in the area). A larger building was constructed on the east side in 1746 on Main Street (or Newtown Street, as it was known until a few decades ago). Bishop Samuel Seabury consecrated a third building in 1793, which served Trinity until the present stone structure at 36 Main Street was built in 1870.

Meanwhile, parishioners of St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church are preparing to say Farewell to one of their longest serving leaders. Monsignor Robert (Father Bob) Weiss will be stepping down as pastor of the Church Hill Road community of faith as of January 31. He will celebrate his final Mass on Wednesday, and then enjoy many new things he hasn’t been able to do while serving as the head of that parish for the past 25 years. I truly wish him the best in his semi-retirement. I know he has some tentative plans for the months and years ahead but my big wish for him is to put his feet up and just exhale and relax a little.

Reverend Peter Cipriani has been announced as the next pastor for the St Rose parish. I’m sure he’d like to know this cat’s pulling for him.

If you haven’t already realized it, Easter will feel early this year, falling on March 31. You know what will also be early because of that? The 2024 Newtown Bee Peeps Diorama Contest! Our in-house contest will be back for its 13th offering. Lynn Remson, a member of our Production Department, has been hosting the Peeps Diorama Contest Trophy at her desk for two years. Her diorama last year, called Campfire Tails, depicted a small group of Peeps (with arms, interestingly) seated around a campfire and creating s’mores. The Peeps were within a dark forest scene, complete with spooky eyes. Lynn won the trophy and Peep-le’s Choice bragging rights for that work. We’ll be counting on readers to help us with those Peep-le’s Choice votes again this year. We’d also love to see your own creations! Our entries will arrive, be photographed, and posted on Facebook by midday Thursday, March 28. If you’d like to join the fun, create your own Peeps Diorama and post it as a comment that day. There are very few rules for our contest. One, you must include at least one Peep; and two, try to be original with your design. I suppose there’s also a third rule: keep it family friendly. That’s it! Hope to see some reader creations this year.

Groundhog Day is next week. Winter is my favorite season, although this one isn’t living up to my preferences. We haven’t had much snow, just some miserable sleet and rain. I’m still hoping for a good storm or two — nothing damaging, of course, but something that makes our area as pretty as it can be during this potentially lovely season. Don’t be too angry with Punxsutawney Phil if he responds to my wishes next Friday morning.

I heard a great word for the first time earlier this week: voluntold. That’s what happens after you miss a meeting or gathering and are volunteered to take care of something like a project or event planning. You are then voluntold that you will be doing something.

I’m going to avoid being voluntold about anything by closing here for the week. I hope you’ll remember to return next week to … read me again.