Ahh, now that Thanksgiving dinner is under control, I can turn my attention to the upcoming holidays. Check out the Newtown Bee Calendar page, because there is so much in the works, I can’t even begin to list it here. I do want to remind you about the Shop Local campaign on Saturday. We have so many great stores right here in Newtown and Sandy Hook. You don’t have to wander very far to fulfill your holiday shopping list.

Joan Pollak, a longtime Newtown resident and local artist specializing in animal art created from locally sourced, hand painted driftwood, will be opening her home studio to the public for a special holiday open house. Joan’s unique hanging and freestanding animal sculptures — ranging from the barnyard variety to those of the African veldt to the tip of Antarctica — can be viewed Saturday, November 28, from 10 am to 4 pm. Most animals are available for adoption from the artist, who lives at 38 Bear Hills Road.

But I don’t want to forget the good old days when Halloween was on our minds, just yet. Great Pumpkin Challenge creator Mackenzie Page announced on the challenge’s Facebook page on November 19 that this year’s campaign benefiting Paul Newman’s Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, raised $75,400. It looks like the campaign’s “OpZomism” (referring to Mackenzie’s friend, Zoe, who first inspired the Main Street resident’s Great Pumpkin Challenge) is continuing to spread, however, because Mackenzie also posted on Monday, November 23, that thanks to Jenn Webb Jarlan, the Larson-Juhl Custom Frame company donated another $1,000 to the effort. What an amazing outpouring of generosity from those near and far.

The box office at Edmond Town Hall needed only one hour to give out all of the tickets for two special screenings this week of The Good Dinosaur. Newtown residents who still follow SHAC on Facebook were told about the special event on November 21. Tickets, according to the post, were going to be given away between 10 am and 2 pm on Monday, November 23, and then starting at 10 am, Tuesday, November 24, until show time, or while supplies lasted. Well, the supplies were gone by 11 am, Monday (although organizer Andy Clure of SHAC discovered early Tuesday afternoon that some tickets were unclaimed, which opened up another opportunity for a few more animated dinosaur loving moviegoers). The Disney/Pixar movie, which had an opening date of November 25, was given a sneak peek at ETH Theatre on November 24, thanks to a special arrangement by Andy. We hope the movie was wonderful, and that the Social Services food pantry was nicely supplemented: in exchange for the free movie screenings, ticket-holders were asked to bring a donation with them for the food pantry.

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company is bringing light to the holiday season this year. Members of the company have been stringing lights, and choreographing them to twinkle, blink, and flicker to music, and are ready to debut the results. A Holiday Light Show will be offered at the Hawleyville Firehouse, 34 Hawleyville Road, from 5 to 11 pm every night, November 25 to January 8. More than 16,000 lights have been put into the display, which encompasses the firehouse, trees around the building, and more than 40 miniature trees on the grounds, according to HVFD Firefighter Dan Cragin. Guests just need to roll into the HVFD parking lot and tune their radio to 91.9 FM, and then enjoy a portion of the show, which has reportedly been synchronized to 100-plus songs. There is no charge for the show, but firefighters are asking guests to consider bringing with them a new unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots, or make a donation to the all-volunteer fire company.

Ho, ho, ho! Who remembers the days when what to our wondering eyes did appear, but… a helicopter and Santa Claus? The Chamber of Commerce, from about 1958 to 1966, invited the North Pole’s most famous citizen to Newtown each year, and provided him with helicopter service to the rear lot of Edmond Town Hall. I can’t imagine that this was not a pretty exciting event (even though arrival by “miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer” would also have been an impressive feat). If you have a story to share about Santa’s high-flying entry into Newtown back in the day, please contact nancy@thebee.com before December 14. There has been no news of how Santa plans to enter town this year, but I do know that he will be at a special breakfast, hosted by Parks & Rec, Saturday, December 5, from 9 to 11 am, at Newtown Middle School. He’ll be happy to meet with kids, big and small. Don’t forget to bring a donation for the food pantry.

A belated congratulations to Sandy Hook resident Rebecca Kowalski, and Susanne Navas, B2B and Race4Chase Kids Triathlon coach, who on October 28, received the local Power of Running to Inspire Award, presented by Fleet Feet in cooperation with Mizuna. This award honors runners that inspire others in their community. Ms Kowalski’s son Chase was a young triathlete, before his death at age 7 on 12/14. The Kowalski family founded the CMAK Foundation in his memory, supporting community healing through family and children-focused initiatives and programs, such as Race4Chase events. At the October ceremony, Fleet Feet announced that Rebecca was submitted by Fleet Feet West Hartford to be considered as one of the five recipients of the national award, and subsequently she was selected as a National Winner. Fleet Feet and Mizuma will make a video describing Rebecca’s story to be played at all Fleet Feet locations nationally. Prior to 12/14, Rebecca was not a runner, but in inspiring others to follow in her son’s footsteps, she, too, has challenged herself. Rebecca took part in the Women’s Sprint Triathlon this past summer, at Winding Trails in Farmington, a course consisting of a half-mile swim, followed by a 12-mile bike ride, and a 3.1-mile trail run.

Weaving Newtown workshops are held regularly on Monday nights at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street. Taught by Hanna Roehrs, all of the looms, tools, and yarns were donated in early 2013 from private weavers and weaving guilds to create a weaving program in Newtown. Anyone interested in learning more, including the schedule, is invited to contact Newtown Cultural Arts Commission member Jen Rogers at jrogers.festival@gmail.com.

I’ll be weaving my own magic in this column, so be sure to… Read me again.