Belated congratulations are due to all of the Newtown restaurants who made it into January 2017 issue of Connecticut Magazine. Local chefs seem to have really kicked things up recently, judging by the number of Newtown and Sandy Hook locations that are listed in the magazine's annual Best Restaurants issue. Readers who decided to participate in selecting their top picks in 49 categories deemed Sal e Pepe Contemporary Italian Bistro the winner of Overall Excellence honors. The South Main Street restaurant also picked up honors for Best Italian and Desserts. Also winning categories, as selected by readers, were King's (Best Breakfast), Toro (Best Chinese, Best Sushi) and Tazza Cucina & Bar (Best New Restaurant, Best Appetizers). Runners-up included Coromandel Cuisine/Kolam (Indian), Cover Two Sports Cafe (Pub Grub and Chicken Wings) Mexicali Rose (Mexican), Nouveau Monde Wine Bar & Bistro (Bistro, Wine Selection, and Hidden Gem), Tazza (Brunch and Value) and Toro (Japanese). Meanwhile, a panel of 16 experts also gave good marks to many Newtown favorites. The jury selected a number of their favorites for each of their 36 categories, and Dere Street Restaurant Bar Bakery was among those named Best New Restaurant. Also earning honors were Botsford Drive-In (Road Food), Coromandel Cuisine/Kolam (Indian), King's (Breakfast), Mexicali Rose (Cheap Eats and Mexican), My Place Restaurant (Beer Bar and Chicken Wings), New Wok (Chinese), Thai Delight (Thai) and Toro (Sushi and Japanese).newtown-ct.gov. Select "Public Safety" tab, then "Emergency Management" for information on CodeRED and Smart 911. Sign up your home phone, cellphone, and e-mail to receive important information during an emergency. If you do not have internet access or need help, call the fire marshal's office at 203-270-4270 or the Senior Center 203-270-4310 for assistance. And don't forget, plan ahead for any pets' needs during an emergency. In addition to a carrier, leashes, bowls, and food, proof of licensing and/or vaccinations will be required if you must go to a shelter. Have these ready. What a great opportunity seniors had to learn on a subject about which all residents should be well informed.lel-choir2@se-ltd.com to find out more about joining this community choir.sreilly24@gmail for registration information. newtown-ct.gov, has a new look to it; navigating it will be a learning curve, as with any change. I'm sure we can all be patient as any kinks are worked out, and appreciate the effort that has gone into making a more up-to-date website to feature the many facets of our town. cvhfoundation.org website. The Northshore Animal League America's mobile unit will be onsite from noon to 3 pm, in case you are looking to give a pet a forever home. Register by e-mailing info@cvhfoundation.org, indicating which workshops you are interested in attending, and how many will attend. I have to ask, what about the cat days of winter...?The Newtown Bee when you travel abroad? The Morehouses shared a recent photo of themselves with The Bee - in Australia (check it out in the print edition of this paper). You are welcome to share your travel photos taken with The Bee - send them to editor@thebee.com, and we'll try to print them as space allows. Please send the actual size when e-mailing photos, and include a daytime phone number, in case we have questions.

Deputy Emergency Management Director and Director of Communications Maureen Will had some great tips and information in the event severe weather impacts our community for members of the Newtown Senior Center, Wednesday, January 11. Her special presentation shared tips on preparing a "Go Bag" and a Shelter in Place kit, along with information on the CodeRED notification. If you have not already done so, sign up for CodeRED and Smart 911 at the town website,

Speaking of "emergencies," Newtown police received a call last Thursday, January 12, from a Founders Lane resident informing them of two large aircraft flying very low in that area, near the Lower Paugussett State Forest. Apparently, the planes were flying so low to the ground - treetop level - that some of the people who saw them thought they were on the verge of crashing. Checking on the situation, police found the two aircraft were C-130 Hercules military transport planes based at Bradley Air National Guard Base, near Bradley International Airport. The turbo-prop engines produce enough noise to be startling, we hear, and while we know which aircraft they were, it is still unclear why the aircraft were flying so low.

There was a good crowd at the Newtown Choral Society winter concert this past Sunday. If you had to miss it, don't fret. The group is starting up rehearsals on February 15 for a spring concert. If participating, not just listening, is more your style, you can contact NSC president Laura Lerman at

I'm going to toss this out again: the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Competition takes place Sunday, January 22, at St Rose School gym. It's a free, one-hour program for kids ages 9 to 14, and runs from noon to 1 pm. Contact

The town website,

FAITH Food Pantry is in need at this time for donations of bottles of fruit juice (apple, cranberry, mixed, and grape). Juice boxes are also helpful, according to the group's Facebook page, because it makes it easy for parents to send juice with their children to school. Donations can be dropped off at the pantry's new location, in the separate building at 31 Pecks Lane (the former EverWonder Children's Museum location), on Tuesdays, from 10 am until noon, and Thursdays, between 6 and 7:30 pm.

It makes me smile when I see what good hearts are being cultivated in our schools. One thing caught my eye this week when I walked by a bulletin board at Middle Gate Elementary School. Down the fourth grade hallway, the board was decorated with "random acts of kindness" suggestions from students. Some of the suggestions read, "make somebody's bed for them," "shovel for your parents or a neighbor," "set the table for dinner," "give someone a hug coupon," "collect money for a cause," and "bring flowers to someone for no reason." Good advice, all of it, no matter what your age.

And it's always nice to be appreciated. A sign was posted at Newtown Middle School by the school's Interact Club on Wednesday, January 18. The handwritten sign reads, "Thank you security guards for keeping us safe. Thanks for all of your hard work. Thank you. We appreciate you!"

Is it too soon to talk about Valentine's Day? I'm thinking that here is an opportunity to shop locally again. We have so many stores in town that stock amazing gift items and treats that are perfect for celebrating those you love, from jewelry to chocolate to hardware and spirits. It is a whole lot simpler and a time saver to get in and out of our hometown shops than to trek out to the mall or big box store. If you are seeking something special for someone special this coming Valentine's Day (a new collar or catnip mouse, perhaps?) I think you'll find the most unique gifts close to home. Remember, too, that dollars spent locally tend to stay in the community, which is a plus for all.

Mark your calendar for Sunday at the Sanctuary, sponsored by the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation. Actually at Edmond Town Hall on Sunday, January 29, rather than the Old Farm Road property, the "Celebrate the Dog Days Of Winter" program will include a visit from students of Cornell University's Veterinary Shelter Medicine, for the Vet 101 program, noon to 1 pm; trainers from Canine Training and Behavior Services, LLC, with tips, Training 101, 1 to 2 pm; and the Mutt-i-grees Program, 2 to 3 pm, to teach social and emotional competence and reinforce critical skills, along with pups to help students connect. The activities "integrate social and emotional learning," according to the

Do you take

There's no need for me to travel much further than my own back yard for the news you want to know. Be sure next week to... Read me again.