I hope you caught Dr Margaret Reed’s inaugural column in the Horse, Dog, and Pet section of last week’s paper. Dr Reed will be contributing columns to The Newtown Bee, and I’m sure you will find them as enlightening as her first. Dr Reed is the author of Dogs of Camelot (about the Kennedy dogs), and she is an AKC dog show judge and principal with Canine Training & Behavior Services LLC. She also serves on the board of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health. (I’m secretly hoping Dr Reed has plans for a column or two on cats, of course...)

Congratulations to recent EverWonder Children’s Museum visitors Caitlyn Doenges and Kayla Newman. Caitlyn won the Halloween Spooktacular Passport Raffle following last weekend’s Halloween-themed event at the Pecks Lane museum. She won the choice of a Family Day Pass or $40 off a family membership. Meanwhile, Kayla won the Candy Corn Guesstimate Contest. Hers was the closest guess to the 567 pieces of the seasonal treat that had been placed into a container.

Staff of The Newtown Bee was not about to be left out of Halloween festivities. Among the pun-inspired staff members’ costumes were The Grateful Dead, Top Banana, Spy-der Web, Pig in a Blanket, Peace of Mind, Sand-witch, Spice Girl, Bee’s Knees, Time on My Side, and Smart Cookie.

Nobody knows better than SCAN how many talented artists we have in our area. You’ll find out, too, if you stop into the lower level of the Newtown Meeting House, Friday through Sunday, November 2 to 4, between 10 am and 5 pm. That’s when members of the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown present their works for show and sale. From 6 to 8 pm on Friday, you can mingle with those artists and partake of refreshments — whether you are there to purchase or simply peruse. Admission is free, whether you visit the show during one of the three days it will be on view or you attend the party. Reservations are not needed, but additional information is available from show chair Adele Moros at 203-744-7690.

Then, look for the public reception hosted by Flagpole Photographers for further proof of artistic talent. The reception for the ninth annual presentation of photographs by members of this group takes place from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday afternoon, November 4, at the Newtown Municipal Center at Fairfield Hills. Can’t make it that day? Not to worry — their works will be on view there, weekdays, until December 28.

Craft beer lovers may want to head to the Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield this Saturday, November 3, when the brewery will celebrate one year of business, from noon to 10 pm. The party will feature a number of special beers, an expanded tap list, and cask ales. Nod Hill is at 137 Ethan Allen Highway. For more information, visit [naviga:u]nodhillbrewery.com[/naviga:u] or call 203-617-1191.

Spaghetti and coffee? Sure! Following a one-month hiatus, the NUMA Pasta Dinner and Coffee House events resume this weekend at Newtown United Methodist Church. All are invited for a pasta dinner served between 5 and 7:30 pm, Saturday, November 3, and/or the live music and desserts that will follow from 7:45 until 10 pm. See page A-12 for a press release with full details or our calendar listings on page A-2 for additional information.

Newtown resident Alan Karng and his band, the Alan Karng Band, will be playing at Murphys’ Pub, 71 South Main Street, on November 9, beginning at 9 pm. Joining him are three other musicians, one of which is another Newtown resident, Rachel Borne. (Alan owns Stony Hill Laundromat in Bethel, but I’ve already checked: it’s not a washboard band...)

For those who find themselves up at the Fairfield Hills campus on Election Day next week, Simpson Street will be closed on Tuesday, November 6, for gas installation for the new community center, from 7 am to 4 pm.

Beginning on November 10, FirstLight Power Resources (FirstLight), the owner and operator of the Rocky River pumped hydroelectric station, will conduct a fall drawdown of Lake Zoar at the Stevenson Dam to conduct its maintenance and inspection activities. The drawdown will lower lake levels to minimum pond levels and return to normal operating elevations on November 24. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to remove their structures, boatlifts, and docks from the lake prior to the winter season to prevent ice damage along the shoreline. Any and all work planned to occur along the shoreline requires prior permitting from FirstLight.

Former First Selectman Pat Llodra, Monsignor Weiss of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, and Newtown Bee Editor Nancy Crevier served on a panel at Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va., by invitation, Monday, October 29. The trio was asked to reflect on community resiliency at the Leadership and Ethics Conference, “GRIT and the American Character.” VMI Cadets and guests attended the conference, focused on growth, resilience, integrity, and perseverance.

Cleaner Tails — A Place for Dogs, which is a self-service dog wash and grooming services facility at 32 Stony Hill Road in Bethel, owned by Stephen and Tamara Kaponyas, is hosting an adoption event with Companion Pet Rescue on November 25, from 10 am to 1 pm, in case you have been seeking the perfect furry companion. There are so many lovely animals seeking forever homes through places like Companion Pet Rescue and our own animal shelter on Old Farm Road.

I envy you if you are unaware of the midterm elections coming up next Tuesday, November 6! This is a time to honor your right to vote, so please take the time to learn about the many candidates at our local, state, and national levels, then choose the best people to make us all proud. You’ll find voting information at newtown-ct.gov, if you are still uncertain who is on the ballots and where you can cast your vote. Your voice counts, so take a moment between 6 am and 8 pm to be part of this important process.

I do hope you’ll cast a vote for this column each and every week. Be sure to... Read me again.