A flock of turkeys passed beneath my window the other afternoon. Strange how I see them every year at this time, and then they disappear…. Don’t look at me. I’m pretty sure any one of those giant birds could take me.

A new CD is always welcome and Steve Danyew is celebrating his latest career accolade this week, now that Kansas City-based vocal octet Octarium has released its new CD. Called Modern Masters, the collection of music chosen and/or written for the group by living composers features Steve’s award- winning “On Green Mountains.” That work won the 2009 Octarium Composition Competition, and drew particularly positive attention from KC Independent reviewer Paul Horsley following Octarium’s CD release performances in Kansas City earlier this month. Horsley wrote in part “The piece that stood out most on this program was the dazzling ‘On Green Mountains’ … this startling piece evokes autumn in Vermont … though its images of fragrant morning chill and small-town America are something most of us can connect with. ‘On Green Mountains’ is a seven-minute gem of sensitivity, skill and tremendous sophistication, fully worthy to appear on a program of the best living American choral composers.” If you bump in to Steve’s parents, Janice and Craig Danyew, who still live in Sandy Hook, give them a high five, handshake, or even a hug. We’re all pretty proud of what their son continues to do with his talent.

Congratulations, too, to all of the high school students who joined in the fun at NYA this past Sunday afternoon for the Kevin’s Community Center fundraiser dodgeball tournament. Following three hours of intense ducking, diving, dipping, and dodging, it was Team White Castle that dove for the championship. High five to the NHS team, made up of seniors Alex Miller, Nate Crevier, Andrew Buonoccore, Dan Greenwood, Tyler Davenport, and Ryan Daly.

A Newtown High School alum has started her own website to showcase some of her photography. (I particularly like looking at her photo of jelly beans, and now I am hungry.) Wendy Elizabeth Borst’s website can be found at www.wendyelizaphoto.com. After graduating from Newtown High School in 2005 she attended Temple University where she majored in photojournalism. Thanks for sharing, Wendy.

As if we will even be thinking of food after overdoing it this coming Thanksgiving, along comes the “One For One Hundred” Gift Certificate Program from the Connecticut Restaurant Association. This plan allows consumers to purchase a gift certificate valid at more than 100 restaurants statewide, all members of the CRA. Gift certificates are available in the amount of $25, $50, or $100. A list of participating restaurants can be found at www.ctrestaurant.org. Order the gift certificates online, or purchase them at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford. Seems like the perfect gift idea for the hard to buy for friend or family member, and it’s not too soon to think about holiday shopping.

The tree lighting at Ram Pasture this year, Friday, December 4, will include a food drive. Residents can begin gathering at 6:30, and the tree will be lit at 7. Residents are encouraged to bring a nonperishable donation to benefit Newtown Social Services with them when they attend the event. Hook & Ladder firefighters will collect the food, and they will have one of their trucks on hand to receive donations. Now there’s a good way to light up someone’s holiday.

The “5 of the Best” art exhibition opens at Wilton Library on Sunday, December 6, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, and along with just the sheer joy of appreciation, offers another opportunity for holiday shopping as the majority of the group’s works will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library. The artists featured during the monthlong exhibition are C.J. Guerin, Marisa Taddei, Beverly Ward, Laura Wilk, and Newtown’s own Ruth Newquist. Ruth is known for her oils and watercolors of New York cityscapes as well as New England landscapes. She is an elected artist member of the National Watercolor Society, the Connecticut Watercolor Society, and Allied Artists of America and the Salmagundi Art Club in New York City. The “5 of the Best” exhibition runs through Tuesday, December 29, during regular library hours, which are Mondays through Thursdays, 10 am to 8 pm, Fridays, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturdays, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays, 1 pm to 5 pm. The library will be closed on Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25. Wilton Library is at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For information and directions, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-3950.

While you’re doing that post-Thanksgiving Day shopping, don’t forget it’s time to decorate for the next big holiday. Boy Scout Troop 770 will be outside Oberg Insurance on Main Street, near the flagpole, selling wreaths this Friday, November 27, from 10 am until 4 pm, according to Randy Oberg. The scouts will also be selling the 24-inch balsam wreaths for $20 on November 28 and 29, and December 5 and 6. The wreaths will be decorated by the scouts themselves. How festive!

I’m heading off to the table for a Happy Thanksgiving Day feast. Hope your holiday is full of many reasons for which to be thankful. I will be thankful if next week, you…. Read me again.