Newtown Holiday Decorating Contest judges are looking forward to checking out the nearly 40 entries in this year's contest, organized by Sandy Hook resident Lois Barber. Started last year to bring some magic to the holiday season in town, so many people expressed interest on the Facebook sign up page in recent weeks, says Lois, that she had to cut off entrants "or the poor bus driver will be driving all night." Judges will be out and about the weekend of December 16, bestowing stars in a variety of categories to the winners. Look for homes and businesses with a big star on the property to see who the judges deem "Best of." I'm hoping Lois will share a photo or two and list of the 2017 winners, later this month. Best of luck to all who entered!Newtown Bee Associate Editor John Voket will be outside of Yankee Wine & Spirit in the Big Y plaza this Friday, December 8, and next Friday, December 15, from 4 to 6 pm. Get your holiday cheer and spread some cheer via a donation. Then look for State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky, Will Duff, and J.P. Sredzinski to be ringing the bell for the Salvation Army outside of the Bottle Stop, 5 Queen Street, Wednesday, December 13, from 4 to 6 pm. If you don't happen to make it by while the reps are ringing the bells, they invite you to text CTREP to 71777 to donate to the House and Senate Republican Red Kettle campaign - with all proceeds going directly to the Salvation Army.The Newtown Bee welcomes sports intern Paul Samberg to the staff. Paul, a junior at NHS, is going to be covering various sporting events about town this winter - and maybe you already caught his first feature in the December 1 issue of The Newtown Bee. We're excited to have him with us and hope he receives a warm welcome from all who catch him on the job.

Check out who is ringing the chimes to support the Salvation Army.

If all that decorating and bell ringing don't get you in the holiday spirit, I'm sure the Newtown Choral Society winter concert will do so. The concert is this Sunday, December 10, at 3:30 pm, at the Newtown Meeting House on Main Street. Tickets are $10 at the door. From toe-tapping "La La Land" to the moving "Bright Morning Star," you're sure to hear music pleasing to your ears. See you there, I hope.

FAITH Food Pantry tells us that there are some items they are more in need of right now than others. The community food pantry at 31 Pecks Lane is running low on small cans of coffee, small bottles of laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, jelly, and snacks for school lunches. If you are able to help, FAITH is open Tuesday mornings from 10 to noon, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7:30.

Ohio resident Bob Votruba, who has visited Newtown more than once with his Kindness Bus, spreading the word of the importance of kind acts through his One Million Acts Of Kindness program, sends us a note: "On Dec 14th 2017, the fifth anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I am hoping to inspire you to perform 26 acts of kindness to honor the 26 souls who lost their lives." It's a great suggestion, and goes hand in hand with the Hawley School's month of kindness now underway.

Here's another good way to spread good feelings: I was inspired this week by this display at Head O' Meadow Elementary School that reads, "Be the reason somebody smiles today!" All those paper dolls with emoji faces certainly perked my whiskers up this week.

Congratulations to Malcolm McLachlan, longtime resident of Borough of Newtown and now a resident of Southbury. Malcolm, past and current president of the Trustees of Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association, Inc, is being inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor held at the CSGA annual meeting at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury.

Bob Morehouse has an inkling that the woman perched on the desk in the December 1 "Way We Were" photo of members of Friends of Music might be Mrs Popovich, a retired Middle Gate music teacher. We thank Bob for his insight - anyone else recognize a familiar face?

With holiday parties underway, the ASPCA has some pet tips to share: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't fall - this also avoids water spillage that can cause stomach upset if ingested; avoid mistletoe and holly, as well as varieties of lilies; kitties love sparkly tinsel, but a nibble can lead to a swallow, and an obstructed digestive tract; don't leave lighted candles unattended; keep wires, batteries, and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach.

So far as treats go, skip the sweets for pets, especially chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol; and fatty, spicy, bony leftovers. Don't leave alcoholic drinks where pets might get them. Be sure to put the meds away.

Not all animals are party animals. Give your pet his/her own quiet space to retreat to - complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. And remember that New Year's noises are not fun for sensitive ears, and can be scary to pets. It's all good advice!

I'm just enough of a party animal, though, to be making the rounds. Be sure next week to... Read me again.