Congratulations to Stephen Hutchinson of Byrd's Books in Bethel. A press release from the American Booksellers Association (ABA) states that on December 18 author James Patterson announced the names of more than 300 independent booksellers receiving grants totaling $350,000 (up $100,000 over previous years) as part of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program. Among those booksellers is Byrd's Books. Patterson partnered with the ABA to distribute the funds, which were awarded to individual booksellers in amounts ranging from $750 to $1,250. The release goes on to note "The grant application asked one question: Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus? Patterson personally selected winners from bookstores all across the country, and many of the recipients come from areas hard hit by natural disasters, including Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Copperfield's in Napa, and various stores in Florida. Nominated booksellers were praised for their perseverance in the face of these hardships, as well as for their contagious enthusiasm, skilled hand-selling, innovation, and, most importantly, dedication to books and reading." Well done, Byrd's, with added kudos to the only other Connecticut recipient on the list, Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot.Daily American newspaper copy. Stop by and cozy up to our new pillow anytime! You may have seen some of Julie's high flying photography in pages of The Newtown Bee this past year; or if you're curious, visit her website, www.dronephotographyct.com/ another musical event. Newtown Parent Connection (NPC) and Families United in Newtown (FUN) are sponsoring a free "Winter's Concert for Our Community," on December 29, at 7 pm, at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road. The concert and candlelight remembrance celebration is in recognition of the local people who have succumbed to addiction related issues.The Newtown Bee or visit Lisa Unleashed: Recent Sale Means Finding A New Future For Cherry Grove Farm and NFA Seeks To Preserve Cherry Grove Farm  for details.) Visit www.newtownforestassociation.org to donate. What a holiday gift this could be!NBCnews.com story regarding "Headline Stress Disorder," by Nicole Spector, had some advice I like: "Pick up a paper, not Facebook - you'll get a better balance." The thought is that by reading a print paper, you are more apt to see the headline news, but it is easier to find positive news stories interspersed within - and that might lower stress levels if the national news is stirring you up too much. Hmmm. I hope this column is emitting calm and peace to you... if only I could inject some purring in between the lines.The Newtown Bee, all reporters are stirring... hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. (We hope you are stirring up warm drinks and warm moments with the people you love, as well.) Merry Christmas to all - and be sure to... Read me again.

Kindergarten students in Deborah Pond's class at Hawley Elementary School may have melted my feline heart with these precious school projects, but thanks to them, no snowman will melt. The students finished the prompt, "A snowperson should never, ever…" with their own warnings. One student wrote, "A snowman shud [sic] never get a pizza." Another wrote, "I won't ever go srfing [sic]. I am a snow grl [sic]!" One wrote, "A snowman shod [sic] nevr [sic] go in a pool in the sun." Another student made a snow cat and another made a snow dog. The snow dog sentence reads, "A snow dog never goes to Hawie (Hawaii) to a dog prc [sic]."

A special thank you to drone photographer Julie vanderKroef of Aerial Imaging who took the time in this busy season to make Bee staff a cushy pillow with material imprinted with the 18th Century

Take a break from the holiday rush with a special concert by the local eclectic musical group NENME (New England New Music Ensemble), and support Newtown Congregational Church's food pantry at the same time. This Friday evening, December 22, the musicians consisting of Kristen Provost Switzer (cello), Scott A. Provost Switzer (bassoon), Phil Crevier (piano), Robert Rabinowitz (flute/saxophone), and Gregg Baimel (clarinet/saxophone) will present music to lift the spirits, beginning at 7 pm. The entry fee? A donation of a nonperishable food item or cleaning or toiletry items for the church's Hospitality Hall, which is open to anyone in need. Newtown Congregational Church is at 14 West Street, with plenty of parking.

The following Friday offers

I bumped into Bob Eckenrode from the Newtown Forest Association this past Saturday at Paproski's Tree Farm on Hattertown Road. He happily reported at good turnout for the Cherry Grove Farm community walk that morning. While he is pleased at the response so far to assist NFA in purchasing 30 acres of the historic farm off of Platt's Hill and Palestine Roads for open space, there are just a few weeks left to meet the $600,000 goal and still a long way to go. Lisa Peterson, who regularly writes the "Lisa Unleashed" column for the paper, has provided us with a couple of very informative stories these past few weeks, as interest in this effort ramped up. (See recent print editions of

A pine tree up at Fairfield Hills held a few hand painted stars this past weekend. The stars are meant to be not only admired when found, but taken home if desired. According to a brief printed note on the back of this star, it commemorates Las Vegas, and was made by Jaime Chinceon-Williams.

The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown's (SCAN) Small Works show at the Meeting House was snowed out earlier this month, but you'll find those works of art among those in the "Winter Offerings," SCAN show at C.H. Booth Library (lower meeting room), 25 Main Street, January 5 through February 2. The works by members of SCAN About Town Artists will be available for purchase, with partial sale of each work to benefit the library.

A recent

'Tis the weekend before Christmas, and all through