Ben’s Bells has been sharing its ceramic windchimes locally since 2013, first from its Newtown studio on Church Hill Road, and now from its new home in the rear of 32 Stony Hill Road, Bethel. Join volunteers at the new Ben’s Bell Studio for a grand opening event, this Friday evening, from 5 to 7 pm. The new space offers room for larger parties, and an onsite kiln, and continues to welcome drop-ins during its studio hours. For more information, call 203-501-9999 or visit www.bensbells.org/Connecticut.

Former Newtown resident Cindy Lynch is pleased to announce the publication of her new book, Bye For Now: Gramp’s Camp. The tale begins and ends in Newtown, Cindy tells me, so how can you resist reading this romance? If you like this novel, and don’t want to say “Bye” at all to reading Cindy’s writing, keep your eyes open. She says that this is just the first of a trilogy of books. You can find her book at www.amazon.com.

Want to make sure your Halloween costume is good to go? Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) will give everyone that chance on Saturday, when the business organization presents the fifth annual Halloween Walk in Sandy Hook Center. Costumed guests of all ages are welcome to visit the businesses in the area of the Church Hill Road-Washington Avenue-Riverside Road-Glen Road intersection on Saturday, between 11 am and 2 pm. Also participating will be the Ladies Auxiliary of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company. The ladies will be handing out treats to costumed guests, and are hoping that they will receive treats in return: a donation or two for FAITH Food Pantry. The auxiliary filled four large boxes with food during SHOP’s Passport event a few weeks ago, and received about $80 in donations. They will be set up in the parking lot of 102 Church Hill Road, and are hoping to repeat that success on Saturday.

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission is also getting into the Halloween spirit, with a special event planned next week. Young Frankenstein, the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy starring Gene Wilder and Made-line Kahn, will be screened at Edmond Town Hall, Wednesday, October 27. Showings will be at 1 and 7 pm, for the regular ticket price of $2. There will be free medium popcorn for each ticket-holder, and costumes are definitely encouraged.

So, avoiding snacks and (and big) ghosts and goblins will be hauling in plenty of goodies, from now until the end of the month, it seems. If your trick-or-treater comes home with a bountiful harvest of candy, make plans to stop in to The Smile Spot Children’s Dentistry, in Southbury, when the holiday has passed. From November 2 through November 7, this office will buy back Halloween candy for $1 per pound, up to $5 per child. The dentists are not hoarding it for themselves, not to worry. The Smile Spot team will ship the candy — and toothbrushes — to US troops stationed overseas. Children must be accompanied by an adult to the Annual Halloween Candy Buyback, and will each receive a goody bag with prizes and coupons. Each child will also be entered to win a grand prize, an iPad Mini. Now that’s pretty sweet.

Still looking for an excuse to dress up? Kids (and kids at heart) are encouraged to come in costume to the library, to take part in the life-size version of that popular childhood board game, Candyland. All three floors of the C.H. Booth Library will be transformed into Candyland, Friday, October 30, from 1 to 4 pm. Follow the arrows to the Licorice Castle, the Peppermint Forest, and the Lollipop Woods and complete simple challenges for small rewards — and even a few sweet treats. Call 203-426-4533 for more information.

Another kind of “costume” event occurs this Sunday, October 25, when Newtown United will present a special Fall Fashion Show & Boutique. The event will take place from 1 to 4 pm, in the lower meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. Lunch will be served, and there will be shopping opportunities (including, rumor has it, a basket filled with Tastefully Simple goodies) and door prizes. The Fashion Exchange of Newtown will provide fashions and accessories. Tickets are $20 per person, and can be purchased at the door, or in advance at Avancé Esthétiques Day Spa in Sand Hill Plaza, 228 South Main Street; or The Fashion Exchange, 109 South Main Street in Newtown. Proceeds will benefit Regional Hospice & Home Care of Western Connecticut, as well as Newtown’s food pantries. For additional information call 203-740-2733 or 203-426-2226.

Did you love the page one photo last week in The Bee? Middle Gate Elementary School PTA President Debbie DeBlasi revealed during two school assemblies, last Friday, that a framed photograph of the full school community gathered for that aerial picture, forming the words “Be Kind” and the shape of a heart, will be hung at the school next to a 2013 aerial photograph of the school community forming the word “Peace.” The framed photograph is a gift from the school’s PTA.

It must be something in the water they drank, growing up in town. Former NHS graduates Eddie Small, Louis Ritzinger, Brendan O’Connell, and Alyssa Robinson all took part in the Baltimore Marathon this past Saturday, and their times can make our hometown proud of them. Eddie finished the marathon — that’s 26.2 miles — in 3 hours, 26 minutes. Louis finished in 3 hours, 30 minutes. Brendan O’Connell and Alyssa Robinson both finished the half marathon in 1 hour 51 minutes. I heard that Kevin Hoyt and Eric Macknight tore up the Hartford Marathon recently, as well, and Katie Rose Grigg has nothing to be ashamed about in her Hartford half-marathon time. At this rate, these young people won’t need to buy plane or train tickets anymore; they’ll just run wherever they need to go.

It makes me feel like I better step up my pace this coming week, or I’ll miss some important news. You’ll find out what I find out, though, if you… Read me again.