It was a theme of “Super Heroes and Villains” last Friday at The Bee office, during the early celebration of Halloween. So if you stopped by and couldn’t figure out who was who, or what was what, it’s okay. There was Super Administrator in the front office, and the Statue of Liberty drifted gracefully from one part of the building to the other (think Ghost Busters II), and Underdog put in his appearance. Cat Woman poked her whiskers out (actually more than one Cat Woman prowled around) and The Phantom haunted the layout room. Mojo Jojo terrorized the “powerpuff” room (where else?) and Wonder Woman’s Cousin did a super job at the front desk. Rouge was terrifying in her own subtle way… Oh, and did I mention Poison Ivy was trailing her vines around editorial? All in all, it was worth sitting on top of the cabinet and observing.

Halloween reminds me of bats, and that reminds me of how useful (and fun to watch) those little high fliers are, whisking about in the night time, devouring incredible amounts of insects. So I was pretty disappointed to receive a DEP press release this week stating that white-nose syndrome, responsible for the deaths of a million bats throughout the Northeast since 2006, continues to spread across North America. The DEP is soliciting information from state residents to help monitor white-nose syndrome in Connecticut bats. “Report bats found outdoors from November through February. While the characteristic white fuzzy fungal growth may not be readily visible on a bat’s nose bats seen flying during the day or clinging to the outside of a building during late fall and winter are a sign that white-nose syndrome may be at work,” says the release. Submit details including date, location, what you observed, and photos if possible, to Wildlife Technician, Christian Kocer, at Christina.Kocer@ct.gov, or call the nearest Wildlife Division. And please — if you like to cave, it is critical that none of the same gear or clothing worn in a cave of an area affected by white-nose syndrome be used at other sites. That’s one way this deadly syndrome is spread.

Moving right along to another holiday, one far less frivolous… Veterans Day is coming up on November 11. Please take a moment to thank any veterans who have served our country and keep in mind all of those who have died in service to the United States. In a gesture of honor, Newtown Car Wash on Simm Lane will be one of 939 nationwide locations offering free car washes for veterans on Veterans Day. Contact the car wash at 203-426-1333 for more information.

You have to squint a little, but if you come across the cover of the July 20, 1946 Saturday Evening Post, you might just recognize the young baseball player sitting on the curb to the far left in the painting… except he’s a little older now.

Newtown resident Dick Baker is that youngster, and he tells me that it was common for area artists to use the kids in his Westport neighborhood as models when he was growing up. He also knows the people featured on the November 12, 1949 Post cover, and in the background of that painting is the house that belonged to Dick’s grandfather. Dick’s stint as a child model is even more impressive: the little boy clutching his sick puppy in the iconic “Waiting For The Vet” by Norman Rockwell was posed by none other than Dick Baker. You just never know what you’ll find out when you poke around a little.

The Bee poked into the past with a story about local Sandy Hook character Birdsey Parsons a few weeks back. This week I got a call from Birdsey Joseph Barth of Watertown — Birdsey Parsons’s grandson and namesake. “The name ‘Birdsey’ is very much alive and well,” Mr Barth says, although he did confess that until five years ago, when he turned 65, he always went by ‘B. Joseph’ rather than Birdsey. “I took back my given name, though, and now I’m kind of fond of it,” he tells me. Birdsey Joseph is the son of Mr Parsons’ eldest daughter, Isabelle, and nephew of Mr Parsons’ only surviving child, Sylvia. Incidentally, this Birdsey said that 85 people attended the 75th anniversary party for Sylvia and her husband, Howard, on October 16 — and 79 of them were direct family members.

NMS eighth grade students tied on their sneakers the week of October 18 to run the mile with some “amazing effort” this year, says NMS Phys Ed teacher Matthew Memoli. Students were hosted by Newtown Youth Academy for the run, and Mr Memoli wants to be sure that Ken Good and everyone at NYA knows how appreciative he is of their help and support. The first place boys’ runner, with a time of 5:40, was Blake Jarvis; and Gabbey Perpignand took first place for the girls’ mile run, with a time of 5:59. Congratulations to both of them!

Two Newtown artists — Martha LaMarche and J.K. Williams — and former Newtowner Gwenann Reid Higham, join with several other area artists for the Reflectionist Art Exhibition the next two weekends at Arts on the Lake, 640 Route 52, Kent Lakes, N.Y. “17 Seconds” is an exhibit of Reflectionist paintings, open for viewing Saturday and Sunday, November 6-7 and 13-14, from 1 to 4 pm. The public is invited to attend the opening reception and meet the artists Saturday, November 6, from 1 to 4 pm. For more information and directions, visit www.reflectionist.org. Seems like a great way to spend a lovely autumn afternoon, if you ask me.

This week is a double celebration for entertainer Billy Fellows and his Newtown home. Billy will celebrate his 75th birthday on November 6, as well as the anniversary of moving into his unique residence 40 years ago on October 28, 1970.

Originally built in 1941 the property was the Parker Dairy Farm for many years before Eleanor Mayer became owner. In 1970 Billy and his partner Ralph Young (of Sandler and Young) took ownership and it became YoungFellows Farm, until 1990 when the name was changed to Topaz Farm, where Billy and his wife Kathleen are still living busy and happy lives. Where have the years and the lower taxes gone, wonders Billy?

Birthday girls Liz Arneth and Ginger Humeston are wondering the same thing. The two women, who have been friends for 40 of a certain number of other years that they celebrated last week, were feted last Friday afternoon at the home of Marty LaMarche by their many friends. Liz and Ginger both commented on the “vibrant” and “creative” group gathered there. I say, like attracts like. Happy Birthday, to both of them!

I’ve broken many a flea collar in my day, but I suspect that’s not quite what the Newtown Woman’s Club GFWC Inc is looking for next month when they have their Gold/Silver Jewelry sale. If you have retired necklaces (or collars), bracelets, earrings, or other baubles made of gold or silver, you can take part in their Gold/Silver Jewelry Exchange to be held Saturday, December 4, from 11 am to 3 pm, in the library of Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street. The sale is a fundraiser for the woman’s club, which provides financial support to many, many local organizations and charities every year. The club would also like to remind people that the annual pewter ornament — which this year depicts The Little Theatre — is still available. Contact Lorraine VanderWende at 203-426-4855, or look for them on sale at the C.H. Booth Library.

I’ll be skulking about this week for bits of news that fall on the widespread floor that is Newtown, so don’t forget next week to…. Read me again.