Monica and Mark Sievel were sitting at their kitchen table reading the January 8 edition of The Bee when someone else in the household had to take a look. It just so happens the paper was flipped open to a truly wonderful column - Top of the Mountain - where the LaPorta family's kitten, Lucy, was pictured lounging on a holiday copy of The Bee. "All of a sudden our cat, 'Mrs Groucho,' jumped up on the table (where she is not allowed)," the Sievels tell me, "and decided to settle down and enjoy Top of the Mountain."

My humble opinion is that Mrs Groucho could teach Lucy a lesson or two about a certain section of the paper not to be missed each week. Now, you might have the idea that Mrs Groucho is a cranky sort of kitty, but this other picture sent to us by the Sievels, explains it all:  "We adopted her from the Brian J Silverlieb Animal Shelter in August 2013," say the Sievels, and her mustached face may have appeared in The Bee's adoption column.

Sky watchers should be all smiles for the next month, as the heavens display five planets shining above the horizon. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter will all be visible to the naked eye - but you'll have to rise and shine. The best view of the planets will be about 45 minutes before sunrise. Don't groan - sunrise is not until nearly 7:20 am these days. Grab your cup of coffee, pop on a warm cap and mittens, and head to a good viewing place. You might just catch a spectacular sunrise while you're at it, making this doubly worth the effort. (Of course, if clouds cover the sky, stay snuggled under the blankets a little longer, and wait for a brighter dawn.)

Nancy Slocum Bunch thinks the young man on the far right of the picture that ran the week of January 15, in The Bee's "Way We Were" column, looks like her dad, William Bunch, who went to school in the Palestine district. The photo shows quite some interesting homemade costumes worn by children attending the Palestine district school, but Nancy could not shed light on what the occasion might have been. Sometimes, it's nice to have a little mystery.

We moan about little annoyances in our daily lives, forgetting that many confront much greater issues with grace, every hour of the day. Bucknell University in Pennsylvania announced that Sandy Hook parents Mark Barden, Ian Hockley, Jeremy Richman, and David Wheeler, who each lost a child at Sandy Hook Elementary School, took part January 19 in a moderated discussion, as part of activities being held for Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, Week at the school. "Four Fathers, Four Journeys: Sandy Hook - Violence, Loss & A Way Forward," offered advice from these men on how to "move forward and turn an unimaginable loss into a transformational journey."

Newtown's Café Xpresso is participating in Food for Thought Restaurant Week, benefiting the hunger relief efforts of The Salvation Army, January 24 through January 31. "The goal of the program is to help raise awareness of how The Salvation Army relieves hunger right here in our backyard," said Jim Keenan, program director. A ten percent donation is made on each check when customers present the program coupon. You can download and print the coupon at www.FoodForThoughtRestaurantWeek.org, then present the coupon when you are at Café Xpresso. In case you have not had the pleasure of dining at Café Xpresso, the café is located at 150 South Main Street. You'll find Bob and Marie Schlump and staff happy to serve you up espresso, coffee drinks, sandwiches, soups, and salads as well as plenty of baked goods made on premises. According to Feeding America, 48.8 million people face the threat of hunger daily in the US. The Salvation Army serves over 60 million meals nationally to anyone in need through its many soup kitchens, sit-down meal programs, food pantries, mobile meals and community gardens. To learn more about The Salvation Army's hunger relief efforts and for additional information on Food For Thought Restaurant Week, go to www.FoodForThoughtRestaurantWeek.org.

Connecticut authors Sandra Rodriguez Barron, Elizabeth Hilts, Sonya Huber, and Heather Webb will be at the C.H. Booth Library this Sunday afternoon, from 2 to 4 pm, to read from their works and share insight on the art of writing. What a great opportunity to hear about challenges writers face, and how those obstacles are overcome - as well as a chance to ask questions. Hosted by Sandy Hook author Sophfronia Scott, this is one in a series of programs featuring writers from our state. The free program does request registration by calling 203-426-4533, or by going to www.chboothlibrary.org.

We don't want to forget that while the holidays are a difficult time for families struggling with finances, putting food on the table is a year-round problem. Please continue to support the food pantries in town with donations of food and toiletries. FAITH Food Pantry at St John's Episcopal in Sandy Hook and the Newtown Food Pantry located inside the Social Services Department on South Main Street are always appreciative of donations. FAITH accepts donations Tuesdays, between 10 am and noon, and Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 pm. Donations can be dropped off at Social Services, Monday through Friday, during office hours.

Runners, take note that registration for the April 23 Sandy Hook 5K starts this Sunday, January 24, beginning at 4 pm, on the race website, www.5krunforshf.org. There is also the option of joining the event as a virtual runner. The April 2 race includes kids' fun runs, too. The registration fee for the 5K and the virtual runners is $26, $6 for the kid runs. Additional fees may apply. Registration is first come, first served, and limited to 1,800 runners/walkers.

Welcome, to the club - The Bee passed 9,000 followers this week on Facebook. I find that pretty impressive for a town of 27,000.

Through the end of the month, you still have a chance to view the artwork of local artists on display at Avance Esthetiques Day Spa in Sand Hill Plaza, 9 am to 5 pm, weekdays. The special exhibit features watercolors, glasswork, oils, acrylics and more. Schedule a lunchtime break to wallow in some beauty for the soul.

Just in case we end up with a few inches of snow this weekend, I'm fluffing my fur and preparing to spread my paws like little snowshoes. There's no stopping me when news is out there, waiting to be discovered. Be sure next week to… Read me again.