There will be books galore at the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library book sale this Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, in new and like-new condition. But the Friends also receive many new gift items that are offered at amazingly wonderful prices, as well as donations from local merchants. As you browse the books in the Meeting Room at the library this weekend, check out merchant donations such as dog and cat gift items, gift certificates from Your Healthy Pet, Simply Baby & Kids, and Butcher’s Best, tools from Newtown Hardware, a bucket of painting supplies from The Color Center on Queen Street, a gift from The Toy Tree, flowers from Hollandia Gift & Garden, and goodies from UK Gourmet, to name just a few. Sounds like one-stop shopping for the holidays, to me.

You’ll want to check the calendar at newtownbee.com for all of the other holiday events in town this weekend, including Breakfast with Santa at NMS, the Rotary Club pancake breakfast at Edmond Town Hall, historic house tours on Sunday, and three tree lightings: one at Ram Pasture, Friday night, one in Sandy Hook Center, Saturday evening, and the Hawleyville tree lighting, Sunday evening. Newtown High School students will be adding their musical flair to the Sandy Hook tree lighting festivities. Members of the high school’s saxophone band plan to do some “saxo-caroling” in front of Sandy Hook Hair Co., 102 Church Hill Road, beginning at 5 pm, Saturday. Tree lighting fun will also begin around that time, with Santa arriving on a fire truck, and one lucky tree lighting family given the honor of flipping the switches a short time later.

The Newtown Fund Holiday Basket Program is an annual way for all of Newtown to get in on helping neighbors in need. You can help by adopting a local family — all the food for a holiday meal and gifts. Call 203-270-6481 for details. A financial donation to The Newtown Fund can be sent to Newtown Fund, PO Box 641, Newtown CT 06470, or donate items, calling number above for details on specific needs. Items should be dropped off at Fraser Woods School, Route 25, Friday, December 11, after 5 pm, or on Saturday, December 12, no later than 9 am. (Gifts for the elderly can be dropped off by December 18.) The Tag-A-Gift Program sponsored by the Newtown Junior Women’s Club has wreaths and trees set up in various locations. Choose a tag and purchase the wish for a Newtown child, or elderly person, and return it to the location where you got the tag, no later than December 9. Call 203-364-0466 or see last week’s story in The Newtown Bee for Tag-A-Gift locations. If you’d like to lend a hand sorting, wrapping, packing and delivering, on December 12, call 203-270-6481 or e-mail lclescault@hotmail.com. It’s such a little effort to bring a huge amount of joy to someone this holiday season.

Bus drivers and firefighters have recently held food drives to support local food pantries. If you missed any of these events, don’t be shy about donating directly to the town food pantry, located in the Social Services Department, Town Hall South, or by giving to FAITH Food Pantry, Tuesday mornings between 10 and noon, or Thursday evenings, from 6 to 7:30. There are many neighbors in need, but especially during the holidays.

It’s been a rainy week, but that isn’t stopping the elves at Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company from sharing their new holiday offering. The fire company’s computer-controlled show is operating every night until January 8, from 5 to 11. Visit the firehouse at 34 Hawleyville Road, roll up your windows (so as not to disturb nearby residents), tune your radio to 91.9 FM, and enjoy the show. Firefighters have also planned a few special nights, including a Fill The Fire Boot event on Saturday, December 5. Firefighter Dan Cragin says members will be collecting donations that evening while wearing their gear, and candy canes and plastic fire hats will be available for children that night. Additional Fill The Boot nights are planned for December 11 and 12. On Monday, December 14, the musical selections will include the version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” that was recorded by The Children of Newtown in January 2013. “That night we’ll be collecting money to support organizations that promote kindness, and we’ll be giving kids who attend a candy item,” Dan noted. There will also be an overnight presentation on Christmas Eve, when the show will begin at its regular time but continue until at least 7 Christmas morning.

Through December 10, shoppers at Bottle Stop Wine & Spirit Superstore are finding more than the usual inventory. The colorful paintings of Newtown artist Glen River are being featured in a special pop-up exhibition hosted by the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown. Business owners who would like to host a show can call Suzanne Molineaux at 203-270-0762. Glen River’s show popped up on November 29. It can be viewed any time the store is open: Monday through Saturday, between 9 am and 9 pm, and Sunday, between 10 am and 5 pm. (On December 12, you can wander over to the Meeting House on Main Street, where SCAN members will have their Small Works Show, from 10 am to 4 pm.)

I perked up when I heard there were mice at Hawley Elementary School, but I didn’t much need my cat instincts to help me catch this bunch. Hawley kindergarteners painted and put up a display of some very colorful mice in the hallway, this week. Just as well; my belly is still so full from Thanksgiving, I don’t think I could actually have caught the real deal.

I’ll tell you, the real deal is when you open the pages to my column, next week, to… Read me again.