I like nothing better than to curl up with a good book after all of the holiday hoopla is over with, and an autographed copy always makes the reading a little more special. (Try that with a Kindle….) This Saturday, December 19, UConn graduate and Newtown resident Kyle Lyddy will be signing copies of his book, From My Seat, at the Newtown Youth Academy, up at Fairfield Hills, from 10 am to 3 pm. UConn sports fans will enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the 2008–2009 UConn men’s basketball team. On Tuesday, December 22, Kyle will be at Newtown High School, starting at 5 pm, to sign books, and $5 from each book sold will support the NHS boy’s basketball program.

I have to urge you to get in line at Our Healthy Pet on South Main Street (just before Sand Hill Plaza), Saturday, December 19, for the book signing going on there. From 1 to 4 pm, authors Dr Sharon Eisen and Linda Francese will sign copies of their new book, Cat Tales: True Love Stories. The book examines “How cats come into our lives,” say the authors. And if you’d like to make a cat come into your life, get your book autographed and then consider adopting one of the cats that will be available at the pet store that day from The Animal Center. How can you resist?

All this talk of books reminds me that I can’t resist this opportunity to put in a plug for one of my favorite local spots to pick up a gift. The Book Nook on the second floor of the C.H. Booth Library always has fabulous new and very gently used books for sale, and such a good selection that there is no problem finding the perfect book for someone on your list. The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library run the Book Nook, and book sales benefit library programs year around.

The patients treated by the Newtown Ambulance Garage EMTs will have good reason to be a little confused when they see 18-year member Joe Ylannes respond to a 911 call. That’s because Joe has been joined by his son Wesley, who is a junior member. Wesley graduates from Newtown High School next month and will be a full member in August.

Reed Intermediate students will once again be heard on this year’s World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Tribute To The Troops. According to WWE, the Tribute To The Troops program will be the seventh annual show, which features matches from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW Superstars’ live performances in the Middle East. This is the second year Reed Intermediate students were asked to write letters, and their letters were delivered to the troops by WWE stars. Last year when the school was contacted to write and send letters over with WWE stars to Iraq, the school agreed. Two classes wrote and sent letters, and students were recorded reading their letters. This year the school participated again. Make sure to tune in to NBC to watch WWE’s Tribute To The Troops this Saturday at 9 pm.

Salvation Army bell ringers in Torrington received a nice donation in one of its red buckets this holiday season. On November 27, someone dropped a $5 “half-eagle” coin into one of the buckets in that town. While the coin’s face value is $5, the coin — which was the first gold coin minted in the United States and has been out of print since 1929 — may be worth anywhere between $250 and $400. Newtown residents don’t need to be that generous, but anything will help if you drop some change or a few bills into the red kettles that will be stationed outside Yankee Discount Wine & Liquor, Stop & Shop, Dunkin’ Donuts, Lexington Gardens, and Ace Hardware at different points this Friday afternoon and most of Saturday, the final outing this season for the kettles and bell ringers. Remember, money collected in the local Salvation Army kettles is spent solely on Newtown residents who are in need of help. Food, dental and doctor bills, fuel, and clothing are just some of the ways this money is used.

Plus, at Stop & Shop at Sand Hill Plaza this Friday night, December 18, you get a lot more for your loose change. For the third year in a row, nine members of the NHS band will add some jazz to the Salvation Army holiday happenings. From 7 to 8 pm, members from the alto sax section of the Newtown High School Marching Band will be playing Christmas music for the Salvation Army at the bell ringing station. NHS Marching Band drum major Michael Tuccio has organized the musical entertainment this year.

When I walked into the police station this week — just to check things out, I assure you — I saw what appears to be a Christmas tree hiding beneath a slew of knit apparel. The raft of new mittens, hats, and scarves that people have donated and have festooned upon “The Mitten Tree” makes you realize how generous people are when it comes to helping those in need. This is the ninth time that police have held the Mitten Tree collection project. During the eight past collection projects, more than 1,000 items of small apparel have been donated to needy people in the area. The police department is still collecting new items of small apparel as part of its Mitten Tree holiday gift program for needy people in the area. People interested in participating are asked to provide donations of new mittens, hats, and scarves for the Mitten Tree, located in the police station lobby at 3 Main Street.

I know that next week is going to be a crazy rush of gatherings and celebrations, but I promise to make it worth your while if you make time to…. Read me again.