You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking Newtown Meeting House looks both a little naked and a little more dressed this week. Workers at the historic location on Main Street have returned to roof and steeple repairs, which included the addition of a few new levels of scaffolding. More recently, Paul Bastiaanse from Valley Restoration was atop the building. Paul’s family-owned business has removed the antique weathervane and is in the process of doing repairs and regilding. We have no doubt whatsoever that the rooster is in good, safe hands. Valley Restoration has done work on that rooster, the ball atop the Main Street flagpole, and even Newtown Congregational Church’s dove of peace weather vane, among other notable locations. It’ll be good to see the meeting house rooster when it returns, but the steeple does seem a little bare these days.

Rotary Club of Newtown returned to a great tradition last week, celebrating the first Students of the Month of the 2023-24 academic year. St Rose School eighth grade student Kaitlin Vesey and Newtown Middle School seventh grader student Jake Fattibene were the guests of honor last Monday night. Kaitlin and Jake were joined by their parents, and a staff member from their respective school, for dinner and the celebration with the Rotarians. We look forward to reading about future Students of the Month.

The Newtown Middle School PTA is looking ahead to Veterans Day with something new this year. The public is invited to join that school’s students and staff in building a Field of Flags. The school will be hosting a veteran next week, when they will talk with students about flag history and flag etiquette. Students will then be sent out to the lawn in front of the Queen Street school to place flags in the ground ahead of the federal observance. The PTA is inviting the purchase/sponsorship of those flags, which can be ordered until November 7. They’re $5 each, and there is no limit on the number flags a person can sponsor. Visit nmspta.memberhub.com/store to place an order, or send a note to Janet Kuzma at JanetMKuzma@yahoo.com ASAP for additional information. Proceeds will be shared by the PTA and Disabled American Veterans.

If you’re interested in being part of the electoral process — beyond voting, of course, which everyone reading this column plans to do, right? Right??! — The Newtown Registrars of Voters often has opening for residents age 16 and over to apply to work at the polls on an election day. Positions at polling sites generally include Checkers, Ballot Clerks and Tabulator Tender. Benefits include a stipend for the day. Contact the Newtown Registrar’s office ASAP at 203-270-4250 or registrar.of.voters@newtown-ct.gov.

Ken Schaefer has updated his Head To Toe Marriage video offerings. Ken is the Newtown resident who offers free marriage enrichment education. He and his wife Stephanie were marriage enrichment workshop facilitators before the COVID pandemic; she has stepped away from that, but he continues to rely on his graduate studies and theology, building upon a career he had before the Schaefers moved to town a few years ago. Visit youtube.com/@60SecondDevotions/playlists and then click on Head to Toe Marriage to see the latest, and even the full series, which we introduced readers to last month.

Nunnawauk Meadows Residents Association has been busy during and between its monthly meetings lately. The men and women who live in the Nunnawauk Road community have had special guests and regular business meetings during their collective events. Many have also been busy handcrafting holiday items ahead of the first Nunnawauk Meadows Holiday Craft & Bake Sale. This new holiday offering is planned for Saturday, December 9, from 9 am until 3 pm, and will feature decorative holiday items such as table runners, tree skirts, stockings, and tableware, gloves and children’s ponchos, pet items as well as vintage and classic and handcrafted unique Christmas ornaments and decorations. Baked holiday goodies will be available to purchase to enjoy while shopping or to take home, or even to gift. The fundraiser for the residents association will be in the Nunnawauk Meadows Community Building, at 3 Nunnawauk Road.

I’m not sure about hockey myself — cats and water don’t do well, after all, and ice isn’t much better on these paws of mine — but hey, when there’s a happy bobcat involved, I’m all in. I know there are students and alumni, along with faculty members, of Quinnipiac University who live in town. How exciting it must be for all of you to have watched the QU Bobcats pick up the 2023 NCAA Division I title in April with that 3-2 overtime victory over Minnesota. Exciting! As if that wasn’t enough, now The National Bobblehead Fall of Fame and Museum has released a limited edition bobblehead celebrating that win. Wearing a gold No. 00 Quinnipiac jersey with his name on the back, the bobblehead features Boomer the Bobcat giving the No. 1 signal with his right hand (paw?) and holding a hockey stick with his left hand. Boomer is standing on a blue and gold base which reads 2023 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Champions along with the Quinnipiac logo. Each is numbered, and there will be only 2,023 of them made. The bobblehead was introduced last weekend ahead of Quinnipiac’s two home games with New Hampshire, and now everyone can take a look at the cool cat and order one for themselves. The bobbleheads are expected to ship in February. They’re $40 each plus $8 shipping per order (visit store.bobbleheadhall.com). The museum itself opened in Milwaukee, Wisc., in 2019 and I’m serious: if you’re heading in that direction any time soon and have some space in your suitcase, please let me know. I can’t think of too many places where a cat would have more fun than rooms filled with bobbleheads.

We had a little bit of snow on Wednesday, did anyone else notice? It wasn’t nearly enough to stick to the ground, never mind freeze and skate on, but it was there. Heck of a first day of November: chilly, spitting rain in the morning; heavy snow later in the morning, and then the sun tried to peek out around mid afternoon. For those who keep track of such things, you can make a note that we had our first snow of the season on November 1. I wonder how long it will be before we see our first measurable snow. I’m in no rush, but there are folks out there who are looking forward to it.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says most of the country is heading into a cold, snowy winter. The northern Eastern Seaboard, however, will be mild and snowy. Connecticut is part of the Almanac’s Atlantic Corridor, which is looking at “above normal” winter precipitation and snowfall, but not a white Christmas. The snowiest periods will occur at the end of December, late January, and mid-February, again according to the experts in Dublin, N.H.

My head keeps bobbing on my little shoulders, still thinking of bobblehead possibilities. I may need a neck rub soon if I keep daydreaming about that museum in Milwaukee. I hope you’ll enjoy a daydream or two before next week, when it will be time to come back and … read me again.