I know it’s bonfire season, which means s’mores, and gathering with friends around campfires or fire pits. Right now, however, is not the time to be doing that. I’m sorry friends, but there are some very serious dry conditions out there, and there have been outdoor burn bans in place for weeks. Granted, maybe the rain that’s been talked about for Thursday and Friday since early this week will actually materialize as soon as this paper is printed or this column is published online (editor's note: of course it did!), but just in case please remember a Red Flag Warning has been in place in Newtown since October 27. That warning said there is to be no outdoor burning until further notice. It’s still in place because we haven’t had enough rain to keep the ground damp. No burning of trash. No construction debris. No brush. No leaves. Nothing!

The local ban came on the heels of a CT DEEP ban that says there are to be no fires within any state-owned properties until further notice. A well-intentioned hiker found themselves on one of the Lower Paugussett State Forest paths less than a week later, and they encountered someone in the woods, on a windy day, who thought it was a good idea to have a fire. CT DEEP and local firefighters had to go at least a half-mile into the woods to get to that location. That was just one of dozens of outdoor fire calls local firefighters have been chasing in recent weeks. Just look at the recent Fire Reports in print and online to count all the dispatches for brush fire and smoke/odor investigation. These bans are in place for the safety of everyone. Brush fires don’t always stay low and in the brush. Outdoor fires can spread and get out of control very quickly. Look at what happened this week in Great Barrington, Mass. A wildfire there — about 55 miles north of Newtown, as the crow flies — was discovered on Tuesday, consuming at least 1,100 acres within 24 hours, and we were beginning to smell it here by Wednesday morning. There is good reason outdoor fires are prohibited in very dry conditions. A single spark from a campfire or even a fire pit can set off a ground fire. These fires can start in brush or other small settings, but they don’t differentiate if they reach a forest or a flammable building. Please use your common sense and wait until we get some serious rain before starting any outdoor fires. OK, I’m climbing down off my catpost pedestal now.

On a much happier note, students and staff at Newtown Middle School had a fun start to their week when they were visited on Monday by Storm, the Bridgeport Islanders mascot. After Jenna Visca was done gathering information about this weekend’s fundraiser plans between the NMS PTA and the American Hockey League team that plays in Park City, Jenna even posed for her own picture with the big blue cat. My nose can’t even get bent out of shape over her palling around with another cat, because Storm is helping those groups raise funds for Ann’s Place. Everyone is invited to join Storm and the team for Saturday’s home contest. Please check out Jenna’s story for details.

Last week’s Veterans Day Service at the VFW was very moving for most of those who attended. Reporter Sam Cross covered the event this year. She was already thinking about the messages shared that day when she received an upsetting phone call on Tuesday and learned a friend of hers had completed suicide. David Cervellino was a friend from high school, she shared. He would drive Sam and other neighborhood kids to school after he got his license senior year and was a dedicated trumpet player. After his graduation from Watertown High School, David joined the Air Force and moved to North Dakota. He married his wife just five months ago, in June. After getting the phone call with the news about David, Sam said she immediately recalled some of VFW Post 308 Commander Phillip Lombardo’s words of the previous morning: All veterans, he said, “can come to a place like this. Befriend us, get our numbers, come to these events. … I want to make sure there’s a safe haven for all of us that have gone overseas … You’re never alone.”

Veteran suicide numbers are horrible. There are many reasons men and women who have served or who are still serving decide to take their lives. Please reach out if you are even thinking about hurting yourself. Whether you head to the local VFW Post or call the Suicide Crisis and Lifeline (988, then press 1), or find a mental health professional, the world truly is a better place with you in it.

The annual Newtown Ecumenical Workcamp Servants (NEWS) poinsettia fundraiser is nearing its order deadline. NEWS will be heading Down East in June, when they will spend a week working with Maine Seacoast Mission. To support that trip, all are invited to purchase a large, locally grown red or white poinsettia. Each pot will have three plants. Don’t wait too much longer if you’d like to help with this fundraiser. As mentioned in the paper a few weeks ago, orders need to be placed through newsworkcamp@gmail.com by November 29. Cost is $32 per pot, and delivery is scheduled for December 7. I’m sure they’d be thankful for any orders they receive.

Donna Miklaszewski is thankful for birthdays. The Newtown resident reaches a milestone celebration next week and while I won’t share which amazing birthday she and her family will be celebrating, I can tell you the previous sentence is a hint at when she’ll be celebrating. Happy Milestone Thanksgiving Birthday, Donna!

Bruce the Spruce is also looking forward to next week, as the second photo with this week's column illustrates. The three-foot-tall artificial pine in our Production Department is all spruced up, with his Pilgrim hat, seasonal decorations, and even a pair of boots to walk some of his dinner off after next Thursday’s big meal.

AAA this week said nearly 80 million American plans to travel this Thanksgiving holiday. The auto club offered its suggestions for the best time to head out if you’re planning to drive somewhere for a holiday gathering (early Thanksgiving morning), the worst times to head out (Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon), and the best time to return home (early Sunday morning). You know my thoughts on this: Travel to the nearest sunny spot and call it good. That works for me year-round, in fact.

Me, I’m always thankful for catnip, small treats, and joining friends and family for Thanksgiving. I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving, my friends, and remember to come back next week, when you can … to read me again.