Congratulations Faith Vicinanza! The former Newtown resident and current Southbury resident was the recipient last week of The David K. Merrill Lifetime Achievement Award. Faith received the honor from The Arts & Culture Subcommittee of the Southbury Economic Development Commission during an awards ceremony on November 29. According to the subcommittee, the award was presented to Faith for her decades-long contributions to the literary and artistic community, both locally and beyond.

Continued congratulations to the members of Newtown’s fire companies, including this guy (pictured). Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire member Jordan Cicchesi was among a few dozen people who spent four hours outdoors last Saturday morning, participating in the annual Fill The Fire Trucks collection for FAITH Food Pantry. Joined by a few family members and friends, the firefighters received everything from turkeys and sides to put on local tables for Thanksgiving to anything else the pantry’s clients often have the need for. Jordan was right in the thick of everything, from collecting and greeting people at one of the collection locations to unloading everything once the donations were all moved to the pantry a few hours later. I am thankful for folks like Jordan, whose positivity can be contagious.

FAITH Food Pantry President Lee Paulsen said she was thankful last weekend for everyone who donated to the annual Fill The Fire Trucks collection.

Fresh off that event, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue will begin its final fundraiser of the year this weekend. The Sandy Hook VFR Christmas Trees (& More!) Sale begins at noon Friday, November 29, at the fire company’s main station, 18-20 Riverside Road. Members of that company will have fresh-cut trees, wreaths, pine roping, cemetery boxes, kissing balls and tree stands available for purchase weekends until December 22 or while supplies last. The company will have 700 trees from northern Vermont delivered on Friday. The event has sold out in three weekends in recent years, so members are encouraging people to shop early if they want to support the company. The sale will run Thursday evenings, Friday late afternoon and evening, and Saturdays and Sundays; visit sandyhookfire.com for full details.

Newtown Parks & Recreation and The Brian Silverlieb Animal Control Center announced something new — and nice — last week. Effective immediately, Newtown Park & Bark will be closed for two hours each Wednesday between 11 am and 1 pm. This will be done to allow dedicated time for the dogs currently in care of the Town’s animal control center to have some off-leash play time. The dog park is otherwise still open every day from sunrise to sundown, and is available to all Newtown residents. It is located at 21 Old Farm Road. You do not need a reservation to take your canine for a visit. For additional information call 203-270-4340 or visit newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation.

I was so saddened to hear the news recently of Bruce Degen’s death. The longtime Newtown resident died at his home on November 7, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 79, and a very prolific author and illustrator. Generations of children, caregivers, and teachers have imaginatively buckled up and taken a ride on The Magic School Bus through the beloved nonfiction book series that sold more than 93 million print copies worldwide. Bruce illustrated those books, which were written by fellow Newtown resident Joanna Cole. He also wrote and illustrated Daddy Is A Doodlebug and the multiple award-winning Jamberry, illustrated the Jesse Bear series written by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated the Commander Toad series by Jane Yolen, among many other titles. He also did many programs at local schools over the years. It’s hard to imagine how many children benefitted from seeing his work and meeting that wonderful man. My condolences to his wife Christine, their sons Ben and Alex, and the entire Degen family.

It’s nearly time for the annual Folk Art Santas Open House. This tradition launched almost accidentally in 1987, after Frank Navone carved a folk art Santa as a Christmas gift for his wife Sandy. The following year Sandy and Frank began working together to create more of the handmade and hand painted carvings, sharing them as gifts for family and friends. By the turn of the century the couple had opened their studio at 165 Hanover Road to the public one weekend each year, when everyone was welcome to view the growing collection and, if they want to, buy a Santa — or snowman, or woodland creature, as the designs also continue to expand. The 23rd annual open house has been planned for Friday through Sunday, December 6-8. The studio will be open 9 am to 5 pm each day.

That same weekend will be a big weekend for holiday events in town. Tree lightings begin Saturday in Sandy Hook and continue Sunday night in Hawleyville. Newtown Rotary Club, Friends of C.H. Booth Library, The Garden Club of Newtown and Newtown Parks & Recreation also have annual events planned for December 7. Newtown United Methodist Church will host its second annual caroling event on December 7, and Connecticut Choral Society will offer an Evensong service at Trinity Church on December 8, when the Newtown Holiday Festival will also be happening (and Friends of C.H. Booth Library’s holiday sale continues). If all that isn’t enough, the 40th annual Ram Pasture tree lighting is scheduled for the following weekend, on December 13. If you’re having trouble keeping track of all things holiday, visit our Community Calendar in print — page A2 every week — or online under the Calendar tab at newtownbee.com.

Speaking of calendars, it seemed this week like many had skipped right over Thanksgiving and went right into the next holiday season. I kept hearing Christmas songs on the radio and seeing more and more holiday lights showing up around town. I like the final holidays of the year too, but there’s something very special about Thanksgiving gatherings. I hope everyone slowed down enough to enjoy a little bit of time with family, friends, or a combination of both.

If you need help keeping track of dates, we still have a supply of 2025 Newtown Bee calendars at the office. Readers are welcome to stop in and pick one up weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm. These are the same style we have been printing for decades, with the large, easy-to-read numbers for each month in the center of each page. The previous month and the next month are also shown along the lower portion of each page, which I’ve always found very helpful. There is no charge for a Bee calendar, although I wouldn’t tell if you were to drop a snack or toy for me in the front office when you grab yours.

I’ll use my Bee calendar to count the days until next week, when you can come back here and … read me again.