Halloween reminds me that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Day are not far off. And at least three people in Newtown are already focused on Cupid’s holiday. Newtown State Representative Chris Lyddy hosted Dr Anthony Salvatore, RIS vice principal, and St Valentine’s Day Project Chairperson Donna Monteleone Randle, Wednesday, October 28, at the Connecticut General Assembly. Dr Salvatore and Ms Randle were there to present the Valentines For Our Troops project, in hopes that the program that began five years ago in Newtown schools can become a statewide project. The Newtown project, headed by Ms Randle, has grown from 50 cards and letters sent in January 2006 to 2,500 letters and cards mailed this year to the troops. “We hope that by sharing our experiences, Newtown schools will be seen as a leader for the state of Connecticut reaching out to support our troops,” said Ms Randle.

The Bee will be open beginning at 4:30 pm on Halloween, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, until we run out of candy. Hope to see you and your wonderful costumes. While the lower parking lot at The Bee will be open for people who need to park for trick-or-treating, a small area of the shoulder in front of our building at 5 Church Hill Road will be blocked off for easy access to the sidewalk, and so that cars traveling up and down Church Hill Road will see everyone in front of the building. Moms and Dads can also find a parking spot at Trinity Church, if visiting Main Street, October 31. The church’s Music@Trinity and the choirs will be collecting freewill donations from anyone using the church parking lot on Saturday.

Thank you to everyone who has already responded with donations to The Bee’s Three Weeks of Caring. We are collecting items for FAITH Food Pantry and the Salvation Army Food Pantry at Newtown Social Services, providing one convenient drop-off spot for nonperishables or financial donations (checks please) for either pantry. Our collection runs Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, until Saturday, November 7. That Saturday, Governor Rell will be hosting a Day of Caring & Compassion, collecting food for Connecticut Food Bank at 15 fire stations. Newtown’s fire companies will not be participating, because they will all be working together two weeks later for the annual Fill The Fire Truck campaign, to again help FAITH Food Pantry. We will be delivering all donations to FAITH and Salvation Army during the week of November 9. For information about Newtown’s Three Weeks of Caring, contact Shannon at The Bee at 426-3141 or shannon@thebee.com.

Speaking of Three Weeks of Caring and The Bee being open for trick-or-treaters this weekend, why not combine two stops in one? Why not bring a donation for the food pantries with you when you’re out trick-or-treating?

Couldn’t resist this photo from early this fall of Dr Bob Grossman going sky-high on a ladder to reach the tops of his 20-foot cornstalks.

The corn is long gone now, but Dr Grossman reports that every bite of the corn was delicious.

I’m sipping my cream from a custom “smug mug” these days — and you can, too. Check out the new Bee merchandise available at our website, newtownbee.com. Select the Bee Photo Gallery in the News section, and it will bring you to a wide selection of photos that have appeared in The Bee. Pick your fav photo, click on Buy, select Merchandise, and choose from T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, playing cards, aprons, and all kinds of cool items that can display your photo. Holiday gifts, anyone?

Mike Hurley is feeling pretty “fed up,” I hear — “fed up” with lots of delicious French food, that is. His wife, Lorraine, who is the owner of The Hurley Kitchen and has taught numerous cooking classes here in town, recently returned from a trip to France with her daughter, Micaela McMurrough. While there, Lorraine attended the famous Les Petits Farcis School of gourmet cooking. And while she was learning the art of French cooking and strolling through the open food markets, Micaela was busy refining her French language skills at Villefranche-Sur-Mer. She was awarded the Highest Achievement in her class at the end of the four-week session. Looks like NYC lawyer Micaela can get busy translating French recipes for her mom, now. I’m hoping Lorraine will put me on her dinner list — and maybe share her new knowledge with some more cooking classes in town. Oui?

As I’ve said before, I like an animal story with a happy ending. Two of three dogs stolen from a Currituck Road property on August 8 were found wandering along Edmond Road on August 14. These dogs were part of a rescue program from Georgia and awaiting adoption. The good news is, they have found new “forever” homes. This photo shows one of the dogs, Quincy, with his new owners Sydney O’Donnell, left, and Kylie O’Donnell of Naugatuck.

It looks like a good life lies ahead for Quincy, and that’s something to purr about.

Newtown’s VFW Post invites residents to sponsor small American flags that will be posted around the grounds of the VFW in time for the Veterans’ Day ceremonies on November 11. Between now and November 10, flag sponsorships are available at the VFW on Tinkerfield Road any time the post is open. For a $5 donation, sponsor a flag to honor any current or former soldier. Forms are available so that donors can supply the name of the person they would like to honor, along with their service branch, and any other information. The flags will be placed in the ground near the flagpole and cannon, by the post building. If enough flags are sponsored, some will also be placed along South Main Street. The donors can pick up flags after Veterans’ Day, or the post will keep them for future use. Call Debbie Sturges, one of the project coordinators at the post weekdays, at 426-9316, or stop in any time and talk to any member of the Ladies’ or Men’s Auxiliary.

You can stop in anytime to see me and share some town news, or become a fan of The Newtown Bee on Facebook and share your news with me there. I always want plenty of reasons for you to… Read me again.