The Bee’s Don Miner, in layout, is usually the one baking delicious goodies to celebrate co-workers’ special occasions, but this Monday, the tables were turned. The table was groaning beneath a load of bagels and fixings, and pumpkin bread, and apple pie contributed by his friends, to fete Don on his birthday. Happy Birthday, Don!

There are a lot of people out there who think that our five volunteer fire companies should have egg in their faces: the Good Egg, that is. With food donations way down and the number of people utilizing the local food pantries way up, the Fill The Fire Truck drives held at Big Y and Stop & Shop this past Saturday will go a long way in assisting FAITH Food Pantry in St John’s Episcopal Church, Sandy Hook, to help those in need. So here’s to the volunteers who staffed the annual food drive — You are Good Eggs! (And if you donated to Fill The Fire Truck, please feel free to include yourself as a Good Egg!)

The area on the south side of the C.H. Booth Library is becoming quite the gathering place — weather permitting — thanks to the addition of a new picnic table, and a beautiful stone bench donated by Dr Parviz B. Mehri in memory of his late wife, Bahijeh Mehri. The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library will be sprucing up the area further, come spring, and look forward to book discussions taking place out there or even patrons enjoying pleasant weather and using the library’s Wi-Fi for their laptops. I’ll be checking it out, too. It sounds like a perfect place for an afternoon cat nap.

Newtown High School is preparing for not one, but two visiting delegations from China in the next few months. The first, a group of dignitaries from the Chinese Ministry of Education will visit both Yale University and Newtown High School in December. NHS, according to Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson and NHS Assistant Principal Jason Hiruo, was selected for the honor by the state. The school is planning to welcome its esteemed guests with a lunch, along with a tour of the high school’s facilities. I’ll be working on my, “Ni Hao.” Hopefully other Newtowners will have more luck with their pronunciation of the standard Mandarin “hello.” Mine keeps coming out, “Me—ow.”

The second group, is a delegation of 12 high school students, ten lower grade level (sixth through eighth grade) students, and representatives from NHS’s sister school, Liaocheng Middle School #3. As Mr Hiruo tells me, the school is looking for help with hosting its 32-plus visitors from February 5 through February 13. He says the visiting students have command of the English language and are familiar with many facets of American culture, and the Newtown China Initiative team will provide a cultural workshop for hosting families. If you would like to volunteer or have further questions, direct them to Mr Hiruo, the program coordinator, at 203-426-7648 or by e-mail at hiruoj@newtown.k12.ct.us.

Other news from the high school is putting me in the holiday spirit! The Newtown High School’s Ecology Club, “in an effort to reduce the amount of paper wasted and the amount of garbage generated this holiday season,” will be wrapping gifts using recycled materials, December 18, at Edmond Town Hall, from 2 pm to 4 pm. The service is free, but donations are welcome. The club is also collecting donated materials, including twine, ribbons, bubble wrap, paper bags, and old cards, before the event. All donated items can be dropped off at the school, and left for Mrs Baumgartner, in the science office.

My loyal readers know I enjoy reading more than the average feline, but students at Middle Gate have me beat. (Having opposable thumbs probably helped.) Students at the elementary school responded to a reading challenge to read at least 30 minutes a day during an eight-day contest, and ended up logging 122,308 minutes reading — that’s 22,308 past their goal. All that reading, I’m told, was enough to feed Middle Gate Principal Christopher Geissler’s superhero ability, and he transformed into a Super Hero, Tuesday, November 23, to celebrate “Reading is a Superhero’s Superpower!” I hope he shouted a nice catch phrase before blasting home after school, like, “Up, up, and away!”

That old Christmas song kept going through my head all week: “Silver and gold, silver and gold, everyone wishes for silver and gold…” Then I remembered why: the Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC, Inc is holding a silver and gold fundraiser, Saturday, December 4, from 11 am to 3 pm, in the Newtown Congregational Church great room. Bring in your gold, silver, or platinum jewelry, or sterling silver items, and receive top dollar. The broker will return 15 percent of each sale to the Woman’s Club. Proceeds benefit numerous local organizations and charities. For more information, call 203-426-1035.

I’ll be needing something to restore my senses after the Thanksgiving feasting is done. Luckily, Koenig FrameWorks at 97 South Main Street (Route 25), has a photography collection of landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes, taken from around the world by artists near and far, showing from December 3 through December 24. The opening reception for “Scapes” is Friday, December 3, from 6 to 9 pm. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 to 5 pm, in case you need a break from the festivities.

 “…and Bingo was his name-o!” Well, at least, that’s the name of the game coming up for family fun at St Rose. The St Rose Home School Association will host three special Bingo nights, on Friday, December 10, February 1, and April 8, in the St Rose School Gathering Hall. Doors will open at 5:45 pm, and Bingo will begin at 6:30 pm. There’ll be cash prizes for all games, a concession offering delicious dinner items and homemade baked goods, as well as complimentary coffee. Admission fee will include 12 regular game sheets, with special game sheets sold separately. Sounds like a winner to me!

Like you, I’ll be counting my blessings this Thanksgiving, and counting on you to…. Read me again. Happy Thanksgiving!