A parent of a Newtown Youth Football fifth grader reached out to The Bee to let us know that Will Arndt, a quarterback for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League, is working with the young athletes in town to help make them better players — and how much it is appreciated. Arndt played football at Newtown High School and continued his playing career at Western Connecticut State University. His CFL career is on hold because of COVID-19 and he is making good use of his time by sharing his knowledge with Newtown’s up-and-coming players. The Newtown teams are practicing without pads and contact and it is yet to be determined if there will be a game schedule this fall. At any rate, this cat thinks that Will is quite deserving of the Good Egg Award!

We’ll start out with this Bear of the Week and see how many more photos pop into my mailbox this week! Patricia Laurans’ and Jacqueline Adams’ bear visitor enjoyed a drink from the bird bath, and Jacqueline says the bear stayed on their Mt Pleasant Road patio for over an hour this past Saturday morning.

Church Hill Village has a pair of special events planned this weekend and next. Local senior citizens who need their car washed should call ahead if possible (203-745-0968), and then visit the 2 The Boulevard assisted living facility on Friday, September 18, between 10 am and 2 pm. During those hours, volunteers will scrub down vehicles free of charge, thanks to the Village’s ongoing Pay It Forward Friday program. Just remember to call ahead. Next weekend, the facility will be open for three days of open house events. Friday through Sunday, September 25-27, everyone is invited to visit the recently opened location for a weekend open house. Reservations are also requested, and can be done by calling the number above. The open house will run 2 to 4 pm each afternoon, and will give visitors a chance to view the buildings and grounds, and meet staff and maybe even a resident or two.

We wish the best to longtime District Director of Finance Ron Bienkowski, who recently retired from that position. Thank you for all you have done for Newtown over the years, and enjoy your retirement!

Congratulations to Nick Waaler, by the way, who challenged himself to his own Ironman competition on September 5, finishing way late at night, after a run, swim, bike ride that took him through Newtown, Monroe, and other towns on his way to and from Stamford. The Ironchase benefited CMAK Foundation and Nick dedicated it to Chase Kowalski, one of 26 people killed at Sandy Hook School in 2012. Check out the article in the September 11, 2020 edition of the paper, if you missed it.

Maybe you’ll see young Clare Danner’s letter in this week’s Letter Hive, but sometimes, seeing the script carries the message more powerfully, so I share a photo of the 9-year-old’s letter here. Clare has taken the time to write about a subject that should be year around: litter. As summer wanes, the amount of trash that has accumulated along roads is nothing of which to be proud. I thank Clare for pointing out that every one of us (and I’ll use my pointy little claws to help) can do our part to make the environment better.

What does one offer as a gift for a 65th anniversary? We’re not sure either, but members of The Garden Club of Newtown have a few more months to add to their stash of raffle and silent auction prices. Like so many other groups this year, the local club had hoped to host a special event — this time celebrating the 65th anniversary of its founding — but COVID-19 changed those plans. A few times. Originally planned for March, then June, and then this month, the 65th Anniversary Luncheon at Rock Ridge Country Club has been postponed once more. The club’s members are now looking at April 20, 2021. The public is welcome to join the celebration. Tickets are $55, which includes a full lunch, ten raffle tickets, and the presentation by planned guest speaker Ellen Ecker Ogden. A silent auction and the presentation of honors and accolades will complete the 11 am-2:30 pm gala. For additional information contact club co-president Peggy Jepsen at peggyjepsen@frontier.com.

The high holy days of Rosh Hashanah begin at sundown this Friday, September 18, for those of the Jewish faith. This begins the days of penitence that end with Yom Kippur, celebrated this year on September 28. We wish a good year to all who honor these days.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, please remember those who are suffering from food insecurity. The novel coronavirus has only exacerbated the ongoing problem right here in our community for those who are unable to make it through each month with enough food to set the table. If you can, arrange to drop off donations of nonperishable foods and household items like paper towels and cleaning products to FAITH Food Pantry, 46 Church Hill Road. You must make an appointment to do so by calling 203-837-0816 or 203-426-5604. Donations of cash help this organization to help others; donate at newtownfoodpantry.org. The Newtown Bee also hosts a FAITH Food Pantry collection box, located just inside our front door at 5 Church Hill Road. (Please wear a mask when you pop in!) Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market in the Queen Street plaza also collects for FAITH.

This reminds me, as well, that our Newtown Farmers Market continues each Tuesday from 2 to 6:30 pm, at Fairfield Hills, through October. You’ll find delicious Connecticut-grown produce, jams, baked goods, and other Connecticut produced items. In need of reading material? You’re in luck! While weaving my way about the market in recent weeks, I’ve spotted the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library selling books, games, and puzzles at their booth — another reason to put the Farmers Market on your “to do” list every week!

Here’s something else to put on your “to do” list: The Newtown Bee Friday Forum. So far, Rep Raghib Allie-Brennan and 2nd District challenger Dan Carter have been featured on our noontime production, sharing their thoughts on a variety of issues they face going into this election season. On Friday, September 18, at noon, you can watch on The Newtown Bee’s Facebook page the Zoom interview with Senator Tony Hwang and District 28 challenger Michelle McCabe — or watch later, at your leisure, on Facebook or on the Newtown Bee YouTube channel. Coming up on September 25, also at noon, viewers will hear from 106th District Rep Mitch Bolinsky and challenger Rebekah Harriman-Stites. October 2, the Friday Forum will feature uncontested Rep JP Sredzinski. These forums, with candidates responding to questions generated by community members and staff of The Newtown Bee, are a great way to find out where candidates stand on a range of subjects, and who you believe will best represent the needs of our community.

You know where I stand each week, so be sure to... Read me again.