Sandy Hook resident Diana Baxter, author of a series of romance/suspense novels (DuBois Manor, Windswept, and the soon to be released Tainted Glass) centered around a fictionalized version of an actual mansion in North Carolina, has been invited to take part in a two-day book signing in that Southern mansion. “The mansion is rented out for venues, and twice a year they hold this huge tourism event,” Diana tells me. After the event manager read copies of the book, our local author was invited to the Winter Gala. She was unable to attend that event, but will be attending the one in late April. “Two to three thousand people come from all over — even Europe — to tour the waterfront town in North Carolina, and 12 homes. I will be in Pembroke Hall [the real DuBois Manor] in the library,” she says, and she and her husband will be guests in a resident’s cottage. “They are so excited to have me down there. I even changed the book cover to the home’s original look.” Diana received permission for this new look, and the book signing will feature a photo of the mansion from 1910, a limited edition only of the book. Best of all, she says, she gets to dress in period attire. Diana was initially inspired to write her first novel after stumbling upon the mansion in 2009, when visiting Edenton, N.C., and getting some strange vibes from the place. Not surprising: Diana says that the mansion, which has been on the market for ten years now, is haunted. So if a trip down South looks inviting to you after every one of these snowy, freezing days, maybe you want to check out Diana’s page, with a link to the event. Go to www.dianabaxternovels.com to find out more.

Another book that will be on the shelves this year is What Pet Should I Get? the Dr Seuss book rediscovered by Ted Giessel’s (aka Seuss) wife, Audrey. It is scheduled for release on July 28. Probably written in the late 1950s, the late Dr’s book focuses on a brother and sister’s brain-wracking search to pick a new pet — in classic Seuss rhyme, of course. What Pet Should I Get? Sheesh. I know the answer. Meow.

What do you call a principal who is also a grandparent? Grandprincipal? My heartiest congratulations go out to Head O’ Meadow Principal Barbara Gasparine for her family’s new bundle of joy, Mila Grace Gasparine, born on January 23.

The late John Carmody’s daughter, Kate, gave me a call to say that he had been misidentified in a photo from the 1930s that ran with a recent Bee story about winter storms. John Jay Carmody, as identified in the file photo, was actually John J. Carmody, with the middle initial standing for Joseph.

U.S. News & World Report recently awarded Newtown High School a gold award in the online publication’s roundup of ranked schools. The gold award acknowledges the school as one of the top 500 based on “college readiness,” according to U.S. News. It also ranked NHS as at #16 in the state, and #446 in the country against other high schools. The overview for the ranking reads, “Newtown High School is ranked 16th within Connecticut. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement course work and exams. The AP participation rate at Newtown High School is 57 percent. The student body makeup is 51 percent male and 49 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 10 percent. Newtown High School is the only high school in the Newtown School District.” I guess that makes the school #1 in Newtown.

Added to the disappointment of losing the February 16 game to Mount Everett High School, the NHS hockey team also lost the services of Cam Fowler, who cracked the C5 vertebrae in his neck in the game. Under orders from the doctor, Cam is dialing it back a bit from practicing his stick skills to practicing his cooking skills while stuck at home. If you want to cheer on the sidelined NHS hockey player, you can send encouragement to him at fowskis@aol.com.

There are plenty of opportunities coming up for you to put in your two-cents worth about what our new community center should be like. If you missed the Thursday info session at the Senior Center at 3 pm, two more will take place at that location on Saturday, March 7, at 11 am and at 1 pm. If those dates don’t work, find out more at the Tuesday, March 3, info session at NHS, in the lecture hall, at 7 pm, or on Tuesday, March 10, at Town Hall South on Main Street (beneath the police department), at 6 pm. You’ll get the big picture on this project, and have the chance to provide input. The first phase of the community center is intended to house a new senior center and an aquatic center. Personally, I think an aviary would be a good addition… who doesn’t like birds?

I certainly hope you don’t think this column is for the birds. Be sure next week to… Read me again.