To the Editor:

Happy Holidays to all.

I was surprised and disappointed to note that last week’s Community Calendar highlighted the FIRST DAY OF WINTER, CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR’S EVE and NEW YEAR’S DAY, but did not mention Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, both of which are important observances during this same period.

While I am certain this was an unintentional oversight, the oversight illustrates just how easy it is to see the world through only the historic majority lens.

In a year with way too much hate speech and recent awful examples of antisemitism, I’m encouraged by civility, inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives in Newtown and beyond. I hope the year ahead will be one of continuing work on inclusiveness in Newtown and that The Newtown Bee, which has taken a leadership role in promoting inclusivity, will continue to be a good example.

Ned Simpson

Sandy Hook