Halloween is coming soon (only 17 more candy-shopping days) and I’m beginning to get in the mood. The front door decorations at historic Hillhouse, the antique blue colonial at 76 Main Street, home of the Richard Mulligan family, seems fairly tame right now. But we’re sure there are dastardly preparations going on behind that door concerning a certain spider we’ve come to know from past years.

Speaking of haunts, Newtown native Jeff Belanger will be returning to his former haunts this weekend. Jeff has been living near Boston for the last few years and has become very active in the world of the supernatural. For the past six years he has been running GhostVillage.com, a website dedicated to ghost research, evidence, and discussion. He has also been busy writing books related to this subject, including his latest, The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places.

For those who are getting into the spirit of the season (this black cat’s favorite time of the year, of course) join Jeff on Sunday afternoon when he is the guest at an author program at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Danbury. He will be talking about the new book and I’m sure he’d be happy to see friends and fellow ghost enthusiasts. His program starts at 3. The store is in Danbury Square, on Backus Avenue (next to the mall).

Another way to set the Halloween mood would be reading Stephen Dobyns’ scary tale, The Church Of Dead Girls. Another writer by the name of Stephen (his last name is King) says of this book, “If ever there was a tale for a moonless night, a high wind, and a creaking floor, this is it.” It’s subtle horror, but powerful, says a member of the Booth Library’s Evening Book Group reading it right now. The group will discuss Dead Girls on Thursday, October 20, at 7:30 pm. Anyone is invited to the discussion, but you’ve got to read the book first. Don’t be late, watch your back, and be sure to close the door behind you. Unfortunately, black cats skulking in the shadows are not welcome.

Another library program we shouldn’t miss if we have a high school junior or senior in the house is “Navigating The College Process,” on Tuesday, October 18, at 7 pm. Advanced billing promises this will be a “free, informative, and interactive presentation” that delves into the “anxiety-ridden college admission process.” An expert in the admissions field will be on hand to offer a few helpful hints about ways to defuse the angst. If knowledge is power, this program looks like a winner.

On Saturday, October 15, presuming the Great October Deluge has ended, the Newtown Forest Association is having its final Tercentennial Trail Walk at the Holcombe Wildlife Preserve at 55 Great Hill Road. The hike steps off at 11 am sharp from the parking area in front of the big red Holcombe barn and is estimated to take between one and two hours depending upon your pace. Fall foliage colors should be at or near peak for this event.

When the Economic Development Commission’s annual Salute To Business was ending last week at the Fireside Inn, Chet Hopper was seen looking everywhere for the pen that he had loaned the commission members for the sign-in table. It wasn’t the slim gold Cross pen that Chet usually uses. He couldn’t find that pen when he left his house for the event. So his wife loaned him her pen with the stern admonition to “bring it back.” Chet eventually found it, saving him from having to make inadequate explanations to Paula.

There was some great music at the New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert last week at Edmond Town Hall. Even theater manager Tom Mahoney could be seen toe-tapping in the back of the auditorium.

Local efforts continue to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Newtown Savings Bank is sponsoring a blood drive next Friday, October 21, from 11:15 am to 4:45 pm at the United Methodist Church in Sandy Hook. The bank will pay $10 for each presenting donor to the American Red Cross Hurricane Fund. The bank also asking its employees to contribute to the Hurricane Fund and will match their contributions up to a total of $5,000.

Now that she’s finished producing the Tableaux Vivants for Newtown’s Tercentennial, Amber Edwards is ready to get back to performing. She already has a cabaret performance scheduled. “Cocktails for Two,” a special event featuring Ms Edwards and the pianist Andrew Rubenoff, will be performed at The Cabaret at Chow, 964 Chapel Street in New Haven, on Sunday, November 13, at 8 pm. Reservations are required (call 203-772-3002), and preshow dinner reservations are also available.

I’m saving the last Saturday in National Fire Safety Month, October 29, to check out the open house at Dodgingtown Fire House. Kids (and cats?) can climb aboard the fire trucks on display that day, there will be a vehicular extrication demonstration, door prizes for everyone from local businesses, free 9-volt batteries for your smoke detector and lots of other cool stuff. There will even be tours of the firehouse. I’ve always wondered if they have a cushy couch in there for a cat to curl up on.

Unfortunately, I need my afternoon nap now, so I guess I’ll just sack out under the desk as usual. But I’ll be back and wide awake next week, so be sure to…

Read me again.