Newtowns fire companies will conduct the annual Fill The Fire Truck campaign this weekend. On Saturday, November 19, from 9 am to 2 pm, firefighters will be accepting donations for FAITH Food Pantry. Financial and food donations will be accepted, and then delivered to the food pantry that afternoon. Members of Hawleyville, Hook & Ladder, and Sandy Hook will be outside Big Y, at 6 Queen Street, and members of Botsford and Dodgingtown will be at Stop & Shop, 228 South Main Street (Sand Hill Plaza).

We received a copy of a new book published by Arcadia Publishing at the office, this past week. (Arcadia is the publisher of several books by Town Historian Dan Cruson.) It is of interest that Abandoned Asylums of Connecticut, by L.F. Blanchard and Tammy Rebello, devotes a chapter to Fairfield Hills State Hospital, along with several interesting photographs. Seaside Sanitorium, Knight Hospital and Mansfield Training School, and Norwich State Hospital are the other historic asylums featured in this book, available at amazon.com.

Little Grace Taylor has her finger on the pulse of Newtown The Newtown Bee, that is. The 21-month-old was mesmerized by some of the sports articles and dog news last week; or maybe she was checking out ads sold by Grampa Taylor, a sales rep at the paper.

Safe and Sound Schools, the nonprofit organization founded by parents who lost their children during the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy and dedicated their lives into creating safer school environments, launched the Change for School Safety campaign in October. With Change for School Safety, the organization encourages families, educators, and students to create their own school safety donation jar to collect loose change that will be donated toward improving school safety in underfunded schools nationwide. Safe and Sound Schools is also among numerous local charities that has joined #GivingTuesday.

If you adopted one of the 60 families being assisted by Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) this year, remember that items for the adopted families should be dropped off at the hall of Newtown United Methodist Church (entry through the buildings lower level), 92 Church Hill Road, this Friday, November 18, between noon and 4 pm. Call Mandy Monaco at 203-426-5600 if you have questions.

Chips Family Restaurant in both Southbury and in Trumbull will be hosting on Thanksgiving morning, November 24. For $12, diners receive two pancakes, two eggs, two strips of bacon, and coffee and 100 percent of the bill will be donated to Make-A-Wish. Southbury Chips is located at 775 Main Street South; Trumbull Chips is at 57 Monroe Turnpike.

Hows that writing coming along? If you took on the National November Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) challenge 50,000 words over the course of November and still have a few phrases to polish, remember that C.H. Booth Library is offering writing space from 6 to 8 pm, in the meeting room, Wednesday, November 30. Even if you didnt commit to the whole month, but want a peaceful place to put some of your thoughts on paper, you are welcome to come.

Youll recognize the names of Newtown artists like Ros Liljengren and Karen Pinto among those taking part in ARTique in Ridgefield this weekend. Newtown musician Mat Kastner and his friend Bruce Elder are scheduled to entertain with their guitars during the opening party on Thursday evening, November 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at this event to benefit St Stephens Mary Brewster Fund. The art show/sale continues Friday and Saturday, from 10 am to 5 pm, at St Stephens Church, North Hall, 351 Main Street, Ridgefield.

November may be half over, but it is not too late to recognize that this month is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Pet lovers should know the warning signs of cancer: difficulty chewing or swallowing; significant changes in appetite and weight; lack of interest in exercise; strong body odor; lumps or sores that do not heal; and any discharge or bleeding. When any of these symptoms show up in your furry friend, please give your veterinarian a call, pronto. The life you save may be that of your best friend.

If youre looking for some entertainment and want to take a ride, former Newtown musicians Lucinda Rowe and Michael Connolly will perform Wednesday, November 30, at the Winery at St George, 1715 East Main Street, in Mohegan Lake, N.Y. Theyll perform in the Songwriters Round, featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd, formerly of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Grammy-winning producer/writer/musician Mark Hudson. Enjoy original music, as well as tales of their lives and music making. Lucinda and Michael are award-winning songwriters who have toured with artists that include Pat Benatar, Patty Smythe, The Monkees, and Stevie Nicks. Tickets are $10/general admission or $15/reserved table. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show at 8 pm. Go to thewineryatstgeorge.com or call 914-455-4272 for tickets.

We are not trying to rush Christmas no one likes that but we would like to offer a reminder for anyone who would like to become involved in this years Holiday Festival. The Festival of Trees will need decorated miniature trees of varying shapes and sizes (live and artificial), to be raffled off as part of the annual event that raises funds for Newtown Youth & Family Services. The 31st festival is being planned for Sunday, December 4, and Cynthia Hughes is still looking for people to donate those trees (or wreaths, or wall decorations). If you are interested, Cynthia can be reached via e-mail to cynthia.hughes@coldwellbankermoves.com. House tour organizer Brid Craddock is also looking for help: she needs docents (who will be given plenty of details about each location) to answer questions and guide tours through the private homes on this years tour. If you are interested in that, contact Brid at 203-448-0758 or bridcraddock@gmail.com. There is a perk for this volunteer position. Anyone who does one of two available shifts will be given a complimentary Holiday Festival ticket, allowing them to explore the rest of the festival free of charge.

A gingerbread house contest will also be part of this years festival. Entries need to be delivered to C.H. Booth Library on Saturday, December 3. The contest this year will follow the theme of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. For additional information and entry forms, visit newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org; click on Upcoming Events, then Holiday Festival, and then Gingerbread House Contest.

Bens Bells, formerly located in Newtown but now at 32 Stony Hill Road in Bethel, is hosting a Girls Night Out, Thursday, December 8, from 7 to 9:30 pm, in case you are feeling a need to surround yourself with kind people and reduce some holiday stress. The $15 registration for this over 21 event includes light refreshments (BYOB), Be Kind raffle prizes, and a chance to mingle with old and new friends. For information contact ct@bensbells.org or call 203-501-9999.

Youll probably be stuffing a turkey or stuffed with turkey by the time next weeks issue rolls around. Whichever it is, may it be a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving.

Dont you worry. Ill be pushing back from the table in plenty of time to gather more good news. Be sure next week to... Read me again.