The roar of generators has pretty much been replaced by the sounds of power saws and wood chippers making short work of the piles of brush and branches along our roads this week, and that is music to my (now warm) ears.

Last week I mentioned Lina and Gordon Williams’s interview appearance on NPR. NPR Marketplace reporter Kai Ryssdal was stunned to learn how much money the couple — and other Main Street residents — spend each year in order to treat the 3,200-plus trick-or-treaters. This weekend I bumped into Lina, who told me she had one interesting response to the interview. “We received a check for $10 from someone in San Diego,” she said. “It was so sweet. It came with a note that said they had heard the interview, and wanted to help.” Lina hastened to add that she was going to return the check, however, with a Thank You note. “With Halloween being cancelled, we didn’t use the money,” she said.

Like the Williamses, other Main Street residents have been left holding the bag (of leftover candy, that is). But Reed Intermediate School has big plans for the candy from the “Hallowasn’t.” The school’s Interact Club is collecting the candy in a box located in the school’s main lobby, through November 18. The sweet treats will be delivered to the Dorothy Day House, a shelter for homeless and low-income residents.

The inaugural Fairfield County Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk has been reschedule to this Sunday, November 13, at 11 am, at Bethel High School. The preregistration fee for the walk is $50, or $60 for walk-ins the day of the event. Go to www.fairfieldwalk.kintera.org to preregister. Onsite registration Sunday opens at 9:30 am.

After a bit of a storm delay, Dr Baum’s hay monster in front of his Church Hill Road office finally has a name. The winner of the name game sponsored by Dr Baum and staff, came up with the title of “Mrs Haykenstein,” and received a $25 gift certificate for her efforts. There’s no need now to yell out “Hay lady!” when you go by.

Newtown resident and New York Times’ Breaking Views editor and columnist Rob Cox wishes that CL&P had been a little bit better at brightening the days of Connecticut residents, both during Tropical Storm Irene and again, following Storm Alfred. Rob wasted no time in taking the power company, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, to task in his November 3 New York Times column, asking if state residents maybe shouldn’t be taking a closer look at the municipally owned power companies in the state that seem to fare so much better during disasters. On November 7, Rob co-authored a column with Wayne Arnolds, looking closely at the proposed sale (merger?) of Massachusetts’ Nstar electric utility company to Northeast Utilities. Check out newyorktimes.com to read “The Troubling Connecticut Power Failure,” and “Big Paydays In A Merger” for some enlightening reading, from Rob’s point of view.

I’m a curious cat, so I had to find out how the home I spied, roofed with solar panels, fared during Storm Alfred. Sadly, said owner Cindy Hedrick, when I gave her a jingle, the solar panels do not directly supply power to the home she shares with husband Stephen and son, Adam. The energy from the panels is sent back to the grid, and the Hedricks enjoy a credit each month, based on the power that is generated. But when there is no electricity, they are in the same boat as their solar panel-less neighbors. Just like everyone else on their street, the Hedricks relied on the kindnesses of friends for hot showers and warm meals during the recent storm. “Our 16-year-old slept a lot, and we played a whole lot of Scrabble,” said Cindy.

If we knew who it was, maybe we could support Newtown HR director Carole Ross and several Newtown municipal employees’ idea: the last local resident to have his or her power restored after Storm Alfred could be the 2012 Newtown Labor Day Parade Grand Marshal. If you think this is a good idea, contact Ms Ross at 203-270-4246.

All of the birthday kids in The Bee Birthday Cake each week are special, of course, but if you look closely this week at “Just For Kids” in the B section of the paper, you might notice that one of the birthday kids is extra special. Jack McDonnell celebrates his 11th birthday on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 2011. Now that is one outstanding birthday! Congratulations and have a super birthday, Jack.

Can I slip in a happy birthday to Newtown Congregational Church organist, Phil Crevier, as well? He also celebrates a birthday on 11-11-11… He is not 11, in case you are wondering.

Newtown Congregational Church is looking for performers interested in sharing their talents, Saturday, November 12, when the church hosts an open mic coffeehouse. The event, rescheduled from last weekend, will start at 7:30 pm. Send Rich Collins a note at RCollinsPCU93@gmail.com if you would like to perform. There will be a signup sheet at the coffeehouse, so you won’t be left out if you decide to take part at the last minute. The program is a public event and the only admission being requested is a canned good or other nonperishable food item for FAITH Food Pantry. Members of the church are baking goodies, and the event will also feature Simply Smiles Coffee. The church is at 14 West Street; call NCC at 203-426-9024 for additional information.

The Black Box Theatre at Pomperaug High School in Southbury will present a new play by Newtown resident Paul E. Doniger. Cassandra, based on the Trojan War legend and the struggles of the title character, will be performed at the high school November 11–20. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30, Sunday afternoons at 2:30, and tickets are $10 for adults, $5 students and seniors. Call 203-262-3247 or visit www.Pomperaug.com/organization/theatre for details.

Each year, Women Involved in Newtown members ask residents to donate nonperishable food items, hygiene products, dry goods, and monetary donations to fill Thanksgiving Baskets to help local families in need. This year, between 75 and 80 Newtown/Sandy Hook families are expected to be on the receiving end of this holiday cheer. WIN members will collect donations at the United Methodist Church, around the back, Friday, November 18, between 9 am and 4 pm. Please be sure to check any expiration dates on goods donated. Items that are past date must be tossed.

Social Services Director Ann Piccini reminds senior citizens that the 2011 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which opened October 15, continues only to December 7. Senior citizens must once again go through the process of comparing Medicare Part D (prescription) plans and choosing the plan that best fits needs for 2012. “It is very important that you analyze your current plan’s benefits for the upcoming year,” says Ann. Most important, she points out, after December 7, you will not be able to change Part D plans for the upcoming year. Residents who need additional assistance are encouraged to call Newtown Social Services at 203-270-4330.

The storm is behind us and the elections are over, but I’ll still be out and about collecting all the news that fits in print. So next week… Read me again.