Now that you’ve had time to pick up and peruse a copy of Andrea Zimmermann’s latest novel, A Legacy of Lies, A Rock Ridge Mystery, which Eliza Hallabeck had a feature about in print and online last week, it’s time to show Andrea some hometown support. A longtime resident of Newtown, Andrea will have one of her first author events for the new novel next week. She is scheduled to be at The Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Road (Route 25) in Brookfield Center, on Wednesday, January 5. From 5 to 6 pm, Andrea will be signing copies of the book (which will be available for purchase if you still need to buy one), and talking about her writing process. Tell her Mountain Cat sent you. We’re old friends.

Congratulations to Lynn Zapf, who was named winner of the 2nd Annual Parks & Recreation Mason Jar Holiday Decorating Contest last week. Lynn’s creation encompassed a small village on one paper plate, with Santa inside a jar, surrounded by gingerbread men, Santa hats crafted of peppermints and gumdrops, and another Santa — perhaps one of those who make the rounds during the holiday season while the real Santa finishes his work at the North Pole? We don’t know, but we do know Lynn’s creation — which also featured a reindeer atop the Mason jar — was indeed a clever work of art. Entries were displayed at Newtown Community Center, and the winner was selected by ballots cast by those who visited the display.

Another impressive mason jar was part of The Newtown Bee’s DIY Secret Santa exchange this year. I noticed Associate Editor Shannon Hicks was particularly impressed when she unwrapped her gift to find a painted mason jar with a solar light as a lid — the perfect gift for an avid camper. Each year my coworkers exchange handmade gifts with one another. Check out the tree before all the gifts were passed out, pictured. I hope everyone who received gifts this year, tangible and otherwise, felt the warmth of the season.

There has been a change of plans for January’s blood drives at Newtown Congregational Church. An American Red Cross event planned for Thursday, January 20, has been cancelled, and a new one has been planned for the following Thursday. The new date will run from 10 am to 3 pm, and there were appointments available as of earlier this week. If you had an appointment for January 20, you should have heard from the Red Cross by now; if not, or if you’d like to schedule one for the new date, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. The church is at 14 West Street and signs are always set up to help donors find the correct entrance for the blood drives.

Also this week a reminder that the Rochambeau Bridge Reconstruction Project is expected to take another big step beginning Monday, January 3. The shifting of I-84 West traffic, according to project publicists, is scheduled to occur during the night shift beginning next week. For a few months, traffic will return to one direction on each of the two spans that carry vehicles over Lake Zoar. Eastbound traffic will remain in its current alignment until April.

After seven months of being presented at the St Rose Holy Innocents Faith Formation Center, the COVID vaccination clinics being done in town through Griffin Hospital will be moving to a new location. St Rose Parish Nurse Nancy Rhodes contacted us this week to let us know that as of next month the clinics will be done at NYA Sports & Fitness Center, 4 Primrose Street. She even has the first three already scheduled: Thursday, January 6, from 10:30 am until 3:30 pm, for ages 12 and over who want their booster shots; Friday, January 21, from 3 to 8 pm, for children ages 5-11 (first or second shots); and Friday, January 28, from 10:30 am until 4:30 pm, which will be another adult booster vaccine clinic. The clinics are still free and open to all. Those attending for second or booster shots should have their COVID vaccination cards available for updating. Appointments are not needed, but additional information is always available from Nancy, who can be reached at 845-641-7277. Nancy said the move to Fairfield Hills is because the clinics have outgrown their original space. She offered “a big thank you to St Rose of Lima Church and its constituents for allowing [herself] and the vaccinator of Griffin Hospital to facilitate this project for the community.” She also offered thanks to NYA Board President Maggie Conway and Executive Director Ian Yorty “for allowing our community to expand into” NYA.

We wish New Haven’s Acting Police Chief Renee Dominguez well as she exits the New Haven Police Department into retirement. She began her law enforcement career as a patrol officer in Newtown in 2000. According to her online bio, in her career with the New Haven Police Department, she served on patrol, as a canine officer, in the Narcotics unit, and she was a sergeant and a district commander. She was promoted to Assistant Chief and was responsible for the Patrol Division, and in 2021, Chief Dominguez was elevated to interim chief for an initial 8-month appointment, according to the bio.

The two weekends earlier this month when people volunteered their time to participate in the local Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign were very beneficial to Newtown. According to Newtown Salvation Army Committee member Steve Bennett, the December 2021 campaign raised over $8,900, with $7,300 of that through ringing! Those funds will be used by the Town of Newtown Human Services Department, which administers local Salvation Army monies, to help Newtown residents pay oil and electric bills, rent and other housing payments, and expenses including food, clothing, medical, and auto. The recent escalation of oil and gas prices, according to Steve, is an added strain in being able to meet local needs. Well done to those who volunteered their time, as well as those who donated what they could into those red kettles.

As we look forward to ringing in 2022 this weekend, I am reflecting on all the “Year in Review” stories in this week’s print edition of the paper. While I am still unsure what to make of 2021, I remain impressed by this community. So many efforts were accomplished, memories were made, and, despite the raging pandemic, I have hope for the new year. And that hope is thanks to you. Our readers are one of a kind. This paper exists for and thanks to you. I am pondering all of the miles my coworkers and I have logged this year to cover stories and capture photos, of you raising money for good causes, educating local youth, debating the town’s future, and rising up through it all. We will continue buzzing, for you, our readers. 2022, here we come.

I promise to still be filled with hope as long as you promise next week to... Read me again.