The postseason just got underway this past weekend and Newtown High School experienced championship success right off the bat with girls’ track winning the conference crown. Weston had won the title eight consecutive times before Newtown’s success this time around. Newtown’s cheerleaders had their conference championship on Sunday and the girls came in second – way to go Nighthawks! Newtown’s reigning champion dance team competed in their conference championship competition Tuesday (check the sports section to see how they did), and the gymnasts were slated to have their championship meet on Thursday (after The Newtown Bee went to press). Wrestling finals are this coming Saturday, and the rest of the winter sports have tournaments coming up soon. Check out the sports section for coverage this week and throughout the action-packed month of February.

From jumping with joy at all the sports now to a JumpFest... That’s right. In case you missed an announcement in the January 28 print edition, I’ll remind you that Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) will host the annual ski jumping competition JumpFest and the US Eastern Division Ski Jumping Championships this weekend. The event draws jumpers and spectators from all over the East Coast. This marks the 96th anniversary of Salisbury’s ski jumping tradition. JumpFest offers many exciting competitions to watch, including warm-up and target jumping, junior jumpers, and the expert jumpers participating in the Eastern US Ski Jumping Championships on February 13. There will be a unique Human Dogsled Race following the Target Jumpers on Friday night, February 11, after a hiatus last year due to the coronavirus. The Human Dog Sled Race consists of six people, five pulling, and one rider. At this in-person, outside winter event, there is plenty of room to social distance and still have an excellent view of the ski jumps. Tickets will be available at the gate and are $15 for adults on each weekend date, February 11-13. Children 12 and under are free all three days. The ski jump complex is located at Satre Hill on Indian Cave Road. Before setting out, check jumpfest.org for updates, scheduled changes, or more information, or e-mail the SWSA at info@jumpfest.org. SWSA is complying with all State COVID-19 regulations to keep spectators and athletes safe. Like cats, I hope to see all the jumpers landing on their feet.

Dick Zang and the Mad Hatter Chorus is available to book a singing valentine in the Newtown area on Monday, February 14, between 8am and 9pm. The cost is $50 for a personalized valentine and video can be created for $25. To book, contact 203-426-5413.

A lot of people are already talking about the fundraiser happening to build a new turf field behind NHS that was featured in last week’s edition of The Newtown Bee and at newtownbee.com over the weekend. But did you know that local food company owner Dave Ackert, whose son plays lacrosse on one of the teams that would end up using this field, has stepped up providing donations in exchange for purchases through his Maple Craft Foods? Through February 28, visit MapleCraftFoods.com/Turf, make your purchases, and 30% of what you spend will go to the turf field fundraising efforts. You can even set up to pick up your order at B.D. Provisions and skip the shipping. Just don’t forget to use the code ‘TURF’ when you check out. That’s a sweet deal!

Is your child celebrating a birthday soon? Don’t forget to e-mail a birthday announcement to Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck for the Birthday Wishes printed weekly in our Education pages. Each week we publish photos and a birthday announcement for children with upcoming birthdays. One lucky winner is then drawn from the submissions to receive a basic vanilla/chocolate ice cream cake compliments of Ferris Acres Creamery. The submission deadline is Tuesdays at noon. To include your child’s name in “Birthday Wishes,” send name, address, phone number, age, and birthday, along with an original head and shoulders photo to Birthday Wishes, The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or e-mail information and a JPG photo to eliza@thebee.com. Please send the photo as an attachment to the e-mail. Birth dates must be within one month of submission.

Newtown Rotary Club members are currently selling tickets for the 2022 Newtown Rotary Winter Raffle. Tickets are $20 each, with all proceeds to benefit the local chapter and its ongoing outreach efforts. This year’s raffle offers $3,000 in three prizes: $1,500, $1,000, and $500 Visa gift cards. Tickets can be purchased online through NewtownCTRotary.org. They are also available in person at Newtown Florist, 111 South Main Street — flower shop owner Judy Grabarz was good enough to serve as our hand model recently for this photo — or by contacting Newtown Rotary President Alex Villamil, 203-223-3524. Just 1,000 tickets are being sold. Ticket sales close at midnight Friday, February 18. The winning ticket will be drawn Tuesday, February 22, at 7:30 pm, at MaryGold’s on Main, 19 Main Street.

A few Save The Date notes arrived at the office this week, including one new announcement and one event being rescheduled. Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company has reached out to let us know that Saturday, April 30, will be a good day to visit their main station, especially if you like food truck treats and/or craft beer. The fire company will be presenting its 2022 Spring Food Truck Festival that day, from 11 am until 5 pm. Additional details TBA, we’re told, but we are definitely putting that event on our calendar!

Also, Raymond Scalzo has rescheduled his return performance at Edmond Town Hall. The local drummer had been on the calendar for another Friday night performance in March, but has pushed that show out to Friday, August 5. The show will still begin at 7:30 pm, it will be in the Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall, and partial proceeds will again benefit “children’s hospitals and veterans,” according to Raymond. Visit our online calendar for details and the link to reserve tickets.

Our Community Calendar is the best place to find out what’s happening in town, whether this week or later this year – meetings, concerts, special events, etc are all included. If you are planning an event, send the details as soon as you have even the date and name of the event available. We will put it online and into our print edition files right away, and will update as additional information is provided. Deadline is noon Tuesday for that week’s print edition. Send everything — preferably name of event; day, date and time; location, including street address; cost, if any, or clarification if it’s free; a brief description and contact information including at least a phone number or email address for the public to contact organizers — to shannon@thebee.com and Associate Editor Shannon Hicks will take care of it from there.

Are you brand new to town? Are you a lifelong resident? Whether you are either of those — or anything in between — you are eligible to be in The Newtown Bee’s Snapshot profile. If you are interested in being featured or have someone you would like to recommend, e-mail reporter Alissa Silber at alissa@thebee.com. Also, be sure to check out this week’s Snapshot profile on page A-Two.

I’ll still be hoping to read all about you in our Snapshot profile along with hoping you will promise next week to ... Read me again.