I seem to have pretty good track record when it comes to happy endings for animal tales, so I’m keeping my paws crossed that my luck will wear off on Kona. Kona is lost. The little dog has a face like a fox and is approximately the same size. He weighs about 35 pounds and has a fluffy tail that curls up over his back. He wandered away from home Saturday morning, November 14, near Lorenzo’s restaurant at the end of Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. As of Monday morning he still has not returned to his owner. His owner and friends have searched everywhere and have posted signs — maybe you have seen them in the grocery store? Two calls from people who think they may have spotted Kona have provided mixed information — one sighting was on Berkshire Road in Southbury and another was between Treadwell and Shortt’s Farm & Garden Center on Riverside Road. Please help find Kona. If you see him or have him with you, call 860-808-8187.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the LetsSayThanks.com website seems the ideal place to visit. Originated by the Xerox Corporation in 2006, the program that allows people to send free messages of thanks to active duty service men and women continues to be a successful and widely appreciated program. Senders can choose one of 500 postcards designed by children all over the United States, write a message, and it will be distributed to a deployed military person. It’s free, it’s quick, and who wouldn’t want to thank someone who has committed to serving our country and is far away this Thanksgiving and holiday season?

FAITH food pantry and the town food pantry at Town Hall South continue to need donations to keep the shelves stocked. There are a lot of generous individuals and businesses in town working to do so — including the many who shored up The Newtown Bee “Three Weeks of Caring” drive. Members of the five Newtown fire companies will split up shifts between Stop & Shop in Sand Hill Plaza and the Big Y in the Queen Street Plaza this coming Saturday, November 21, to collect food, toiletries, and monetary donations for the FAITH food pantry. The firefighters will be at the supermarkets between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm. If you’re out doing some early Thanksgiving shopping, please consider buying a little something extra to donate. You can work out some good will if you are at Graceful Planet or Club Newfit, too. Both places are collecting items for the local pantries, as are many other businesses. If you are in a position to help others, why not consider having a “care package” in your car, so that when you drop into a business collecting donations, you are able to help on the spot?

I know the Salvation Army bell ringers will be tuning up soon, but if you have a band instrument gathering dust in your closet, maybe it is time to clean it up and belt out a few tunes. The Community Band, under the direction of Bob Nolte, is moving along nicely and looking forward to some upcoming performances for the public. But high school age and older instrumentalists can still join in the fun, says Bob. They are always looking for new members. Contact him at Reed Intermediate School, where he leads the bands, or at nolter@newtown.k12.ct.us. Is the caterwaul considered an instrument, I wonder…?

A sweet, olden time melody has made its way from Berkshire Road to The Bee’s office here on Church Hill Road. Reporter Eliza Hallabeck brought back two recordings to the office on Monday after attending a Singers’ rehearsal. If I could train my paws to play a lute and play along with the Newtown High School Singers group who will be performing for their fifth annual Madrigal Dinner on Saturday, November 21, at the Stony Hill Inn in Bethel, I would. The students have been practicing songs from the Renaissance and some of The Beatles songs. Saturday night’s event, along with dinner, will include jesters and performed skits. Tickets for the evening are $38 for adults. Children 12 years and younger are $17. All proceeds from the Madrigal Dinner go to the Choral Parents Scholarship Fund. To order tickets in advance call 203-426-0678 or email madrigaltix@aol.com.

The word is out: Tom D’Agastino of Newtown Savings Bank is a Good Egg!

“He is always there to lend a hand. Even to lift a car,” says one of the banker’s fan. “He organized a team of business-suited bank employees to go out and help dislodge my daughter’s car from the island that runs along the bank’s ATM. He did not make her feel any worse for her poor judgment. He helped her as if this is the kind of thing that happens every day. I also know Tom as a lacrosse coach. He makes kids feel they have contributed something, while not advancing them until they had mastered the rudimentary skills. Everyone ended up playing to the best of their ability, and the teams benefited.” Congratulations, Tom!

Congratulations, too, to four young men from Newtown attending Norwich University in the Corps of Cadet program. Chris Starky, Judd Baggett, Michael Coyle, and Doug Makl have graduated from Rook status, and were recognized this week as Privates. I guess that means they get yelled at a teeny bit less now.

As someone with nine lives, I can’t help but be impressed with the news that Dr Bob Grossman’s mother, Bella, is celebrating her 104th birthday on November 19. Happy Birthday, from all of the Bees!

I just can’t seem to stop with the congratulations this week: Connecticut Magazine this month listed the outcome of a three-year survey of all 169 towns in Connecticut, and Newtown is ranked the third best place to live (squeezed out by first ranked Westport and Glastonbury in second place) for towns our size. The survey rated towns on education, economy, cost of living, crime, and leisure/culture. I’m not really surprised. We all know it’s… Nicer in Newtown.

The nicest thing for me is working up my appetite for next week’s Thanksgiving Day feast. Don’t forget to pull yourself away from the table, though, in order to…. Read me again.