Shirley Ferris is hoping someone can help her sister, Dorothy Cole Earl, who is wondering if there will be a 70th reunion this year for the Class of 1950 from Hawley High School. Dorothy is a resident of California now, and is hoping anyone will call her with information. She can be reached at 951-870-5412.

Thanks to all who have already taken time to submit The Newtown Bee survey. We hope that more of our readers will fill out the survey, printed again in this week’s edition of the paper on Page A10. What do you love most when reading the print edition? Do you find us on our website, as well? What is the value of a community newspaper to you? Let us know — we look forward to hearing from you!

The Winter Survival Skills program originally scheduled for this past Saturday at the Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Road, in Washington, Conn., was postponed due to the heavy rain. The program on how to survive in the Eastern Woodlands without 21st Century technology is now scheduled for Saturday, February 1, beginning at 1 pm. Join museum educator Griffin Kalin to learn how to find shelter, make food, and stay warm when the weather is cold and your resources are diminished. An unusual highlight will be a demonstration of how to tan a hide in order to make leather for clothing. Fee for the Winter Survival program is adults $10, seniors, $8 and children $6.

Congratulations to the sixth grade girls’ basketball team for winning the A division championship in the New Castle Martin Luther King Jr Weekend Basketball Tournament in New York!

I’m told seniors from Heritage Village Companion Animal Club were at our animal shelter on Wednesday, reading to the animals. Fun!

We offer our best wishes this week to the Reverend Andy Vill, parochial vicar at St Rose. Father Andy just began his tenure at St Rose last summer, and it is our understanding that he is about to take a huge step away from Newtown … overseas, in fact. We understand he will be heading toward Spain, and life in a monastery, as of the beginning of the month. The parish hosted a special Farewell Reception for Father Andy last weekend. We’d like to add our fond farewells as well. Best wishes on your new journey!

Bart Smith did not have the name of the little boy in the Way We Were photo of January 24, but he did offer a thought on the location: “...facing southbound on Deep Brook Road, just past the cemetery showing the bridge that crosses Deep Brook. Not positive.” Thank you for your thoughts, Bart. Now for that young child ... anyone?

I reminded you last week of our C.H. Booth Library’s offerings for this Saturday’s “Take Your Child To The Library Day” celebration (chboothlibrary.org). If you’re in neighboring Shelton on February 1, by chance, and want to take part in TYCTLD there, Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster Street, tells me of their program for children 5 to10 years old and caregivers, in that library’s meeting room. Ice princesses, “The Snow Sisters,” will read a story, play interactive games, and have a sing-along. The program runs from 1 to 2:30 pm. Registration is required in person or by phone, 203-924-1580, or at sheltonlibrarysystem.org.

There’s a lot of music happening around town this Saturday — something for everyone, I’d say. You’ve got the “Echoes of Sinatra” at NYA, at 6 pm — call 203-426-0088 for reservations for this Frank Sinatra/Dean Martin tribute; and beginning at 8 pm, the Newtown United Methodist Church Coffee House offers the blues and banjo music of Newtown’s Roger Sprung. It’s $4 if you go to the earlier pasta dinner there, or $5 for just the music. Find out more by calling 203-426-9998. Also making music at 8 pm on Saturday is Stella Blue’s Band at Edmond Town Hall. Tickets at edmondtownhall.org are $30 to enjoy music of the Grateful Dead. Decisions, decisions...

By the way, if you have been a longtime and much-appreciated supporter of the NUMC pasta dinners, please note that the dinner price has taken a little jump by $1/meal; so, adults $11, seniors $10, children $5, take-outs $11. The oversized meatballs and sausage remain an additional $1 each, if you care to add that to your pasta and sauce.

Maybe art is more your thing. We hear from Brookfield Craft Center that it will host visiting metalsmith Nicholas K. Downing this weekend, February 1 and 2. A blacksmith, jeweler, and custom metalsmith, Mr Downing will conduct a class where students will forge their own silver rings. Students will first cast their own ingots from grain and then file and polish them into personal, beautiful rings. Mr Downing lives in Maine and is a graduate of the university of Southern Maine. He has taught at the New England School of Metalwork, Snow Farm, Adirondack Fold School, and the Maine College of Art. Go to brookfieldcraft.org or call 203-775-4526 for information.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual Shamrocks fundraiser kicks off next week at Newtown’s Wheels, 47 Church Hill Road, one of 60 Wheels, Price Choppers, Highland Park Markets, and Henny Penny convenience stores in the state taking part. From February 3 to March 17, Wheels is adding a paper Shamrock pinup to purchases at checkout for a $1, $5, or a larger contribution. The MDA Shamrocks will be displayed on ceilings and walls, declaring support to fund research and care for children and adults living with neuromuscular diseases that severely weaken muscle strength and mobility.

Finding a really special valentine for a very special someone every Valentine’s Day is a challenge. But the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation is ready to help you out. For a $100 sponsorship, you can register to have your true love be a Beautiful Butterfly. Your Beautiful Butterfly will have his/her name displayed at the annual Catherine’s Butterfly Birthday Party on June 6, 2020. The love of your life will also get a lovely card — and know that you are helping support animal adoption through the sponsorship fee. Visit cvhfoundation.org for details. Sign up by February 7.

Are you one of the rare birds celebrating your birthday — finally — on Leap Day, February 29? Do you know someone who has a February 29 birthday? The Newtown Bee would love to talk to those with true birthdayless years and this year’s plans to celebrate. Contact andyh@thebee.com or call 203-426-3141 and ask for Andy Hutchison, no later than February 20.

And while I’m at it ... Remember that we would love to add to our series about longtime residents in Newtown/Sandy Hook. Do you have four or more generations of family living in town? What keeps you here? We hope you’ll share your stories with us. Contact alissa@thebee.com to set up an interview.

What? Another Bee opportunity? We are currently seeking residents ages 16 to 40 to add to the roster of those interested in taking part in the next Newtown Bee Community Buzz. The casual, one hour moderated conversation is tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, February 22; topic: What would make Newtown a more livable community for all ages? If you would like to take part, send your contact information to editor@thebee.com, subject line: Community Buzz.

Happy Groundhog Day! Reed Intermediate students weigh in on whether we will have more winter weather or not in this week’s Bee Lines (see Page A10 in this week's print edition), but it is up to Punxsatawney Phil, the Pennsylvania groundhog, to provide the real prediction on February 2. Will Phil see his shadow for six more weeks of winter? Or is spring on its way early this year, if Phil fails to see his shadow when he pops from his burrow? Only time will tell.

I don’t need to see my shadow to tell you what I think: “Weather” or not you’re ready, plan to hunker down for a few more weeks of chilly days and nights. And don’t forget to ... Read me again.