Congratulations to the Newtown High School Nighthawks Football Team! A dramatic end to Saturday’s game — tied, with three seconds left — saw quarterback Jack Street throw a perfect pass to teammate Riley Ward, who in turn wasted no time in running the ball to the end zone for a Class LL State Championship for our Nighthawks! The win put Newtown on the books for the first time in 27 years, so super high five to every one of the team members for making this a remarkable, memorable season, as well as to Coach Bobby Pattison and the rest of the crew. Go Nighthawks!

Sen Tony Hwang had something to add in a statement released to The Newtown Bee: “This Saturday, the Newtown High School football team uplifted a whole town with their miraculous last second come-from-behind win over Darien High School for the CIAC LL state title,” said Sen Hwang. “It was a fitting display of community pride and resiliency on what will always be a somber day of remembrance for Newtown. The unbeaten team took the Newtown community on a magical journey and brought joyous celebration for the town, our community, and the state. I will be making a formal invitation to the team and their families to visit the State Capitol to celebrate their terrific victory with our entire state.”

The senator has a busy weekend planned, as well, when he hosts a food drive for FAITH Food Pantry this Saturday, December 21, at Edmond Town Hall. Bring a food/personal/home care item donation to the town hall lobby between 10 am and 1 pm — and then enjoy some more holiday cheer: free entry to Elf, the movie showing at 1 pm. Distressed recently by the bare shelves at FAITH Food Pantry, 46 Church Hill Road, Sen Hwang determined to make sure that those local people in need do not go without — especially during the holidays. Check out this video youtu.be/I_ctD_-7FlE of Sen Hwang and food pantry volunteers as they discuss the mission of this group and the great need. (Remember that FAITH Food Pantry will be closed on Tuesday, December 24. It will reopen for its regular Thursday session, from 6 to 7:30 pm.) You’ll find a list of the most needed items at newtownfoodpantry.org.

I’ll be popping over to Newtown Senior Center at 8 Simpson Street for their Pop-Up Holiday Shop. I hear their handmade items will be available for purchase this Saturday, from 10 am to noon, and again on Monday, December 23, from 10 am to noon; it’s the last chance to get a special gift from these handy Senior Center members this year.

(While you’re at Newtown Community Center, take some time to check out the NHS Art Portfolio exhibition there, on view through January 2.)

The Old Farmer’s Almanac was on the money this week, predicting “Rain or mixed precipitation, along with gusty winds,” for December 16-19. Well, we certainly got that mix on Tuesday, with a little snow and a lot of freezing rain making a mess of that day. Will the Almanac’s Christmas prediction hold true? “Wet and white for Christmas: Rain showers, (south), wet snow, (north),” predicted for December 24-27. The question is, will Newtown lean north or south? We’ll have to wait and see, I guess. I’m going to plan to curl up by the fireplace with some hot cocoa, at any rate.

“Grampa” Baggett has had some help in putting together The Newtown Bee and Antiques & The Arts Weekly the past couple of weeks....

Who’s a Good Egg? Well, there are a couple of people in town who will have the Good Egg Award bestowed upon them this week. First, the staff at The Newtown Bee thanks drone operator Julie vanderKroef for her wonderful drone photos shared this past year — but also for the gift of goodies she recently dropped by our office. Then, the gentleman at Caraluzzi’s who kindly paid for a coffee this week for one of our reporters in line there — what a kind gesture. Julie and anonymous coffee buyer, you are Good Eggs!

It’s that time of year, when The Newtown Bee starts looking for the First Baby of Newtown. There are lots of great gifts in store for the family who lets us know of the birth of a Newtown or Sandy Hook baby closest to January 1, 2020. If you know someone or if you are expecting as the year comes to an end and the new decade begins, keep us in mind. Contact shannon@thebee.com with the details if you think your baby is the first new citizen of our town.

You know what else is coming? The end of the year and the end of the Bee Abroad Contest. We will soon be tallying up the travelers’ information sent to us (along with a pictorial of all the entries) in order to find out who traveled the furthest number of miles from Newtown in 2019 — with a copy of The Newtown Bee in hand, of course — to be named winner of $100 from this hometown paper. Was your entry the furthest north or south from Newtown? Both of these entrants will win $50. Look for the announcement in the early part of January!

Too cold to eat an ice cream cake? Never. Don’t forget your child can win a cake from Ferris Acres Creamery — no matter the time of year — by submitting a photo of child, date of birth, and daytime contact information to eliza@thebee.com for our Birthday Cake column.

The Connecticut Arts Hero Awards honor and celebrate Connecticut residents who are doing extraordinary things in the arts, for the arts, and through the arts in Connecticut. If you know a special someone who has contributed significantly to the arts, go ahead and nominate this individual. The deadline to submit a nomination is February 3, 2020, at 11:59 pm. The Arts Hero Awards will be presented at an open-to-all, free evening event on Wednesday, May 6, at Infinity Hall in Hartford. Nominate your Art Hero at surveymonkey.com/r/2020heroes.

Still in need of a Christmas tree? Earlier this week, Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue still had just about a dozen trees left to sell at their 18-20 Riverside Road main station. Stop by any weeknight between 6 and 9 pm, or weekends, 9 am to 9 pm, and see if the tree of your heart’s desire can be found there. Offerings also include kissing balls, pine roping, cemetery boxes, and two sizes of wreaths. Sales benefit the SHVFD.

It’s a pileup of celebrations these next several days, starting with the Winter Solstice on December 21, the start of Hanukkah on December 22, and Christmas next Wednesday. Whatever and however you celebrate, may your days be filled with joy!

(And remember next week to... Read me again!)