State Senator Tony Hwang learned when he was visiting with St Rose of Lima School preschool students, last Friday, that the sand in the “sand box” wasn’t sand at all. St Rose’s brilliant preschool teachers discovered a recipe on Pinterest to make moldable “sand” using flour and baby oil. I looked it up myself, and found the recipe is very simple: eight cups of flour and one cup of baby oil. Not only is the end result moldable, I understand it also softens hands. Rumor has it, the senator and the students had great fun making shapes with it.

Something else is shaping up around Newtown, and Pete Wlasuk of Pete’s Plumbing is concerned about it. Pete has noticed ice dams taking shape on the gutters of homes, as he is driving from job to job. “The insurance claims on those ice dams [during the winter of 2011] were worse than after the hurricane,” Pete reminds me. “If you bought one of those roof rakes back then, use it,” he urged. I’ve been clawing at ice dams on my own roof, but I think Pete is right: time to get a roof rake and tackle the problem before water starts leaking down the inside walls.

Elaine Landau has been on officer of the tenants’ board at Nunnawauk Meadows, and is an active member of Newtown United Methodist Church, I hear. But it is her devotion to FISH, the local medical transport organization, providing free rides to those in need, that has earned her a nomination for the Good Egg Award. “As secretary,” says her admirer, “she prepares the complicated schedule of who is driving each day, each month; who is the back-up person; and the list of substitutes.” Her superior organizational skills serve the group well, “as this is a very time-consuming job. In addition to that, she is a driver herself, and frequently fills in of others when there is an emergency. She somehow always seems to make things work and she does it in a friendly, kindly way.” Elaine, you are a Good Egg!

If the thought of organic produce makes your heart pound faster than a secret valentine, this may be just the internship for you. The 2015 Farmers Market at Fairfield Hills is looking for an intern or two to assist in this year’s production. Market organizer Mary Fellows says the opening offers a great community service project, and promises it will be “a heck of a lot of fun!” How can you pass up on an offer like that? Send her e-mail at mflmf@aol.com for more information.

I love Newtown history. I happened to be sticking my nose into the E.L. Johnson history book of Newtown from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, and came across a mention of sidewalks being recommended to link Newtown’s center with Sandy Hook… that was in the late 1880s. It’s good to see the project is finally underway, and once the ice and snow relents, work will be able to continue on the Memorial Sidewalk Project. Foot by foot — no rush, I say.

Hey, you got wine in my chocolate! Hey, you got chocolate in my wine! Hey, if you want to learn about (and taste) wines from around the world paired with locally created chocolates, you’ll want to sign up for the special tasting at McLaughlin Vineyards this Sunday afternoon, at 4 pm. There is a fee of $45, and registration is required, so call 203-426-1533 for complete information.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Oh, that line’s been taken? Looks like I better register for the sonnet and poetry writing workshop coming up February 10, at Newtown Youth & Family Services. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can learn to put your original thoughts on love in writing. Call 203-270-4335 to sign up.

But what better way to say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day than a random act of kindness? Hawley School and other school projects this past year have proved how far-reaching a single act of kindness can be, whether it is big or small. Remember, in Newtown on Valentine’s Day — and every day — “We Choose Love.”

There are some cats and dogs choosing love and getting along just fine in C.H. Booth Library’s Young Adult department, as you can tell by the photo. Young Adult Librarian Kim Weber tells me the origami cats and dogs were made by library patrons using an origami kit. The kit is one of multiple kits available for public use, in the young adult department. There is also a duct tape kit, a knitting kit, and a Rainbow Loom kit, so feel free to stop by and let loose your creative efforts.

I’ll put my creative efforts to work scouting out news for next week. I hope you’ll make the time to… Read me again.