We offer a final reminder this week that entries for the inaugural Edmond Town Hall “Show Us The Love” Letter Writing Fundraiser are due in less than a week. The town hall Board of Managers has created the event to spur love letters — how you met your significant other, favorite date, etc — and suggested donations of $20. Letters can be dropped off in the pink mailbox of the ETH lobby, 45 Main Street, or done online via edmondtownhall.org. One lucky winner and their nominee will receive a private movie screening at ETH Theatre. The donations received during the contest entry period will be used toward completion of lighting and sound systems within the theater. See last week’s print edition, our website, or visit edmondtownhall.org for details. Toot sweet!

For those whose love interests lie closer to nature, the Newtown Forest Association (NFA) is running a contest to win a free native tree to be planted on your property the spring of 2021. To enter, send an e-mail and answer “Why I Love Trees,” no later than March 1. The contest is open to all local NFA members. Send your contest submission to harveypessin@gmail.com. If you are not already a member, visit newtownforestassociation.org and you can join the NFA for $35. The winners will be selected and notified shortly thereafter. Five lucky winners will have the best native tree for your site planted by a professional organic landscaping company.

A handmade sign that read “No Ice Skating” could be seen on posts next to Ram Pasture’s Hawley Pond on Saturday, January 30. While the freezing temperatures kept a layer of snow on the grass and a sheet of ice atop the water in most areas, ice skating was discouraged for the safety of residents.

What will your idle hands create? We want you to “Bee Crafty” with The Newtown Bee. The first ten people to submit a unique craft — with step-by-step instructions and a photo/photos — using only The Newtown Bee will have their craft printed in the paper and earn a special handmade face mask. Bend it, cut it, twist it, fold it: turn it into something fantastical! Send entries to eliza@thebee.com. (Crafts using The Bee Extra, Antiques and The Arts Weekly, or other newspapers will not be accepted.)

While I gazed out the window this past Monday at the flocks of birds at the bird feeder, I wondered, “How do these tiny creatures survive below freezing temperatures and high gusts of wind?” So I went to fwg.gov.com, the US Fish and Wildlife website, for some insight. Shivering is one way (something I think I’m good at, too). The website noted that birds “have much higher metabolic rates and burn more energy to stay warm than we do. Black-capped chickadees weigh less than half an ounce and can maintain a body temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit — even when the air is 0 degrees!” Fluffing feathers is another way. “All birds stay warm by trapping pockets of air around their bodies. The secret to maintaining these layers of air lies in having clean, dry, and flexible feathers,” I learned. And doesn’t cuddling seem like a good idea? Small birds will gather together in brush and trees to share body heat — and they slow their metabolic rate to conserve energy. Take a walk by Hawley Pond: You’ll see geese tucking in feet and bills to conserve warmth. Fish & Game explains that “Waterfowl species circulate blood through a countercurrent heat exchange, isolating the blood that flows in their legs rather than circulating it throughout their entire bodies. This helps to keep their body temperatures higher. Birds also have specialized scales on their feet and legs that help minimize heat loss.” Tucking in bills beneath the back feathers keeps the beaks and air flow warm. Pretty impressive ways nature has come up with for these spritely little things. I like to do what I can to keep the show of feathery birds happy, so suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower seeds are on the bird feeder menu for my birdwatching enjoyment. Bushes and trees that bear berries will help birds, too, when the weather is challenging. A source of (unfrozen!) clean water is a plus!

Resident Don Ramsey created this snowball structure following the February 1 snow at Old Orchard Park in Fairfield in honor of his past college professor and current supervisor of student teaching at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), Gregory Kane. I wonder what other residents created with all that snow?

Congratulations to Maplewood at Newtown, recently recognized as outstanding assisted living providers by SeniorAdvisor.com Best of 2020. The award is presented to the top 1% of senior care providers in US and Canada who have received high ratings from residents and their families.

Special Olympics Connecticut has a fun idea that is just perfect timing with this week’s snowfall —the #AngelsforAthletes Challenge. Here’s how:

*Make a snow angel and have a friend or family member take a photo or video;

*Sign up and make a donation by visiting soct.org and clicking on #AngelsforAthletes; and

*Post the photo or video of your snow angel on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #AngelsforAthletes and challenge three friends to do the same by tagging them in your post.

Special Olympics Connecticut has this advice, as well: Snow angels do not need to be created outside in the snow. “You can make your angel in the grass, on the beach, on the floor filled with toys or wrapping paper, or wearing a costume.” To find out more, go to soct.org or e-mail specialolympicsct@soct.org. Special Olympics Connecticut provides sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports partners.

Newtown Lions Club is planning for its next Treasure Hunt. According to longtime Lion Gordon Williams, the date and time of the next event has yet to be determined, but the Lions would like everyone to begin saving up their spare change again. The Lions Club Playground Committee has been filling a treasure chest with treasures to share. In December, families were invited to visit the lower parking lot of Newtown Congregational Church to donate any change they had at that time. Children were given chocolate coins in exchange for the currency they turned in. All of the change collected during these Treasure Hunt events will be used to fund additional playground equipment for special needs children or add to what is already in play at local playgrounds.

I’ll dig into the couch cushions to find my spare change and support the Lions, but I’ll be digging around even further next week for that news you treasure. Be sure to... Read me again.