As the end of the year rolls around, people are starting to make lists and talk about all the unusual and notable events of 2004. For example, the folks at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) working in the Wildlife Division in Burlington are citing 2004 as a record year filled with moose sightings (a total of 45 in Connecticut) and bear complaints (1,753 and counting).

It seems these denizens of the Far North seem increasingly prone to wandering south into Connecticut forests and backyards. Being a rather small cat of a retiring nature, I’m not hoping to run into any of them any time soon, so please remember to keep your outside trash tightly covered and to store the birdseed inside the garage. But don’t stop feeding the birds, because I enjoy watching them from my seat by the window. Of course, I would never consider doing anything else about those birds, only watch.

 The Knights of Columbus and members of St Rose, Adath Israel, and the Congregational Church will be sponsoring a Christmas dinner at St Rose again and also delivering meals to four area shelters. Knight Charlie Hettenbach said more than 160 people volunteered to help for the Thanksgiving dinner but he has only had three phone calls so far for the Christmas event. Drivers are needed to deliver meals from Newtown High School to the shelters at 8 am on December 24. Drivers also are needed to deliver meals from the St Rose parish hall to the homebound on Christmas Day at 11 am. Volunteers are needed to help serve the dinner at the parish hall from noon to 2 pm. Anyone who can help drive should call John Moulder at 426-4727. All other volunteers should call Charlie at 426-0732 or Frank Middleton at 426-0098.

Laura Lerman was at the transfer station, dumping her newspapers into the recycling bins, when she noticed a man inside the storage facility leafing through a large book. “Know anybody who went to Cornell University?” he asked. “Yes, yes I do; my husband went to Cornell,” she responded. “Was he there in 1964?” the gentleman asked. As a matter of fact he was. He entered Cornell in 1962 and graduated in 1966. “Maybe, then,” he said, “You’d like this,” and he handed Laura a 1964 Cornell University yearbook. It must be noted: Rod Serling was nowhere in sight.

Newtown Youth Services Director Tony Tozzi hit the half-century mark on Sunday, December 12. With a title like his, however, you know he may be 50 years old, but he’s plenty youthful.

The annual holiday celebration in the town clerk’s office this year is doubling as a farewell party for veteran staffer Carol Mayhew, who is moving soon to Arizona. The party is on Tuesday, December 21, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Don’t miss it!

It’s been a big year for Willie, the gorgeous chocolate Lab owned by Bob Pielli of Newtown. Not only did Willie have fun competing in The Bee’s King & Queen Dog Contest (and finished in third place), but now he’s going to be in a television commercial. Bob shared a rough draft of a commercial that will be airing in the near future for Wags, a “doggy day care” center in Danbury. The 30-second spot has a few closeups of Willie and follows him through a typical day at the daytime boarding facility. Willie mugs for the camera at the opening of the commercial and wags his tail at the end. Next stop Hollywood (and that’s fine with me — the fewer dogs around here, the better).

Edmond Town Hall has two special holiday events coming up. First, Tom Mahoney has arranged for the original Miracle on 34th Street to be screened for the upcoming week, December 17 to 23.

And on Saturday afternoon (December 18), the public — whether or not you’ll be attending either of the afternoon’s matinees at 1 and 4 pm — is invited to meet two of Santa’s reindeers. The reindeer will be hanging out, with their temporary keepers, in the courtyard near the town hall’s main entrance from 12:30 until 4:30 pm. Then they will be off for the North Pole.

As for me, I’m off for my favorite spot on the hearth, but I’ll be back, so be sure to…

Read me again.