Former Newtown resident Stan Shadwell sent me a note last week, just touching base and saying "Hello" prior to the new year. Stan and his family used to live on Robin Hill Road, and when they moved into town in 1976, Newtown Newcomers Club welcomed them with all kinds of goodies. Among them was a little bee charm. That bee, it turns out, is a pretty well-traveled little critter. Stan and his family moved out of Newtown in 1979 and have since lived overseas, in Sydney and then Jakarta. They returned to Connecticut for a quick spell, living in Trumbull for about a year in the mid-80s, and have been moving around the Cincinnati area (four times, he said), since 1987... and that bee has traveled along with them. chboothlibrary.org and click "Support the Library." To donate by check, mail to C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.Bee reporter Alissa Silber happened to be at the Animal Control Center when Jean Aulicino, who belongs to the Heritage Village Companion Animal Club in Southbury, was there to donate items for the dogs and cats at the shelter on behalf of her group. The Newtown Animal Control Center received multiple donations on Wednesday, December 28, from generous members in the nearby community.redcrossblood.org for the 8:30 am to 6:30 pm drive, or walk in when you have time that day.The Newtown Bee over the years. Now you'll be impressed by her photography skills. "Travels Within A Small Radius" is on exhibit at the Roxbury Senior Center, 7 South Street, Roxbury, from Sunday, January 8, through Saturday, March 25. The center is open Tuesdays through Fridays, from 10 am to 3 pm. Celebrate with Kim at the artist's reception on January 8, from 2 to 4 pm.The Old Farmer's Almanac, the January full moon received its name because it was when hungry wolves prowled and howled outside of towns during Colonial days. While we might not have wolves outside our doors here in Newtown, we do have rambunctious coyotes that will be happy to point their snouts skyward and sing. This particular full moon is also called the Old Full Moon, but why it would be older than any other, I cannot tell you.Poor Man's Feast) Elissa Altman will be at the United Jewish Center, 141 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, at 2 pm, to discuss her newest book, Treyf: My Life As An Unorthodox Outlaw. Contact hadassahnewtowndanbury@gmail.com for information and to RSVP. newtowneducationfoundation.org.The Newtown Bee, on January 27. Tips, tales, and great connections for all of your wedding plans are found within the pages.chboothlibrary.org, you can find some reviews by these young critics, as well. What a great way for younger readers to discover the best reading material. Find out more by calling the library at 203-426-4533.

The C.H. Booth Library annual fund drive is underway. Please consider donating to support the many workshops, educational programs, art programs, children and adult events - and the purchase of books and e-books - all of which makes our library outstanding. To donate online, visit

Speaking of donations... Blood donations are needed by the American Red Cross. If you are 17 years of age or older, weigh 110 pounds or more, and are healthy, consider signing up for the January 10 blood drive at Newtown Congregational Church. Appointments can be made at

Congratulations to our Newtown Youth Wrestling team. These young grapplers took home the First Place Team Trophy at the recent Warwick, N.Y., Tournament. Way to go!

We've seen Kim Proctor's immense artistic talent in the three Christmas week covers she has provided to

Get ready to hear some howling next week, which brings the Full Wolf Moon on January 12. According to our friends at

Take some time on Sunday, January 15, when Newtown author and blogger (

A good belly laugh always helps chase away the winter blues, and the Newtown Education Foundation has just the recipe for that. Tickets to an Evening of Comedy at Edmond Town Hall, January 21, are still available. Comedians R.C. Smith, Tony Liberati, and our own Hawley Elementary Principal Chris Moretti are set to bring you chuckles and guffaws. Ticket information is at

Dum, dum, da, DUM! Dum, dum, da, DUM! If a wedding is in your future, keep your eyes open for the upcoming Brides supplement to

There are lots of book clubs for adults, but did you know that our library hosts a Young Critics' Club for students in grades 6-8? The group meets the first Wednesday of the month to talk about books they are reading. I see, too, that at

There's plenty of good reading material on the way for next week, if you will just... Read me again.