Issuu

50th Holiday Shopping Tradition

BROOKFIELD CRAFT

CENTER

Handmade gifts from over 150 local & national artists for your holiday tradition.

Can't decide?

Purc hase a gift certificate for the gallery or for a class .

Monday -Friday 12PM-SPM

Thur sdays 12PM -7PM

Saturdays 11AM -5PM

Sundays 12PM -5PM

As a thank you, through 12/31/25, new and renewing members receive a one-time 5°/2 discount on Gallery Shop purchases at the time they join or renew their membership.

Sandy Hook VFR Tree Sales, Santa Sleigh Rides Returning

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue (SHVFR) will present its annual Christmas Trees (& More) Sale this holiday season.

Fresh-cut trees will be delivered to the firehouse at 18-20 Riverside Road early Friday, November 28.

Sales that day will begin at noon.

The trees come from a tree farm in northern Vermont and range from six feet tall to cathedral height.

The sale also offers cemetery/ Christmas boxes, wreaths, pine roping, kissing balls, and tree stands.

Sales will continue weekends through December 22 or while supplies last.

Hours on November 28 will be noon-9 pm. Regular sale hours will then be 3-9 pm on Fridays; 9 am-9 pm on Saturdays; and 9 am-6 pm Sundays, while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the fire company.

Santa Sleigh Rides

Firefighters from Tolland will be returning to Sandy Hook

Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s main station on Saturday, December 13.

Santa and his sleigh — an antique open sleigh atop a flatbed trailer towed by a Tolland Fire truck — will be back that day, offering rides from 12:30 until at least dusk. Santa always stays until everyone in line enjoys a ride.

The rides are free; donations are accepted and also benefit the fire company.

Light refreshments will be served by Sandy Hook VFR’s Ladies Auxiliary.

Trees from a tree farm in northern Vermont ranging from six feet tall to cathedral height will again fill racks at Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s main station later this month. The fire company’s annual holiday fundraiser will run weekends, November 28-December 22 or while supplies last.

—Bee file photo

40th Newtown Holiday Festival Planned For December 7

Newtown Youth and Family Services (NYFS) has announced Newtown Savings Bank will serve as the Premiere Sponsor of the 40th Newtown Holiday Festival, returning to locations along Main Street on Sunday, December 7, from 11 am to 4 pm.

A community tradition, the festival offers familyfriendly activities, festive performances, and holiday cheer. Signature attractions include Holiday House Tours, the Festival of Trees, performances of The Nutcracker Suite at Edmond Town Hall, Historic Trolley Tours, and the Holiday Market. Families can also enjoy Stories with Mrs Claus, cookie decorating, and arts and crafts, along with seasonal surprises.

Hundreds of community members are expected to gather and celebrate the holiday season while raising critical funds for the programs and services of NYFS.

NYFS Executive Director Candice Bohr says Newtown Savings Bank “has been an incredible partner in our mission. We cannot thank them enough for their continued support and commitment to giving youth, adults, and families access to quality mental health care, as well as the many youth services we provide — from mentoring and employment programs to life skills and social skill clubs.

“Their investment makes a true difference in the lives of those we serve,” she added.

Holiday Festival organizers are still looking for a few more homes to join this year’s Holiday House

Tours, according to Bohr. Homeowners interested in participating are asked to contact NYFS Event Coordinator Susan Smith at ssmith@newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

The Holiday Festival is NYFS’s largest annual fun-

draiser, with proceeds directly benefiting mental health services and youth programming that strengthen the greater Newtown community.

Tickets will be available the day of the event. They are already available online, with general admission tickets $40 for adults, $38 senior citizens, and $25 per child. Tickets are also available for a Nutcracker ballet performance, for $20 each; and House Tour only, for $30 each.

For more information about the 40th Newtown Holiday Festival, sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase early tickets, visit newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

For over 40 years, Newtown Youth and Family Services has provided high-quality mental health, youth, and family support services to the greater Newtown community. NYFS is committed to helping individuals and families build resilience, foster healthy relationships, and thrive at every stage of life.

Newtown Savings Bank is a community bank headquartered in Newtown, with over $1.8 billion in assets. For more than 170 years, the Bank has been deeply invested in the customers and communities it serves.

The Bank has branches in Newtown, Bethel, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Danbury, Monroe, Oxford, Shelton, Southbury, Trumbull, and Woodbury, along with the New Haven Regional Lending Center in Hamden.

Holiday Budgeting 101: Financial Advisors Share Their Top Tips

(StatePoint) Holiday season expenses are a given, but with a bit of planning and effort, they can easily be included in a budget. Amid inflation, however, some shoppers may have concerns about balancing a merry holiday season with good money management.

Certified financial planner professionals are sharing their top tips for keeping finances intact throughout the season.

Prioritize Expenses

Examine your winter budget and see how much extra is left for holiday-specific spending (e.g., gifts, decorations, hosting and travel). A financial advisor can help adjust for these additional expenses, as well as fit a holiday budget into longterm plans.

It’s important to keep expectations flexible so that if overspending occurs in one area, reductions in spending can be made elsewhere. For example, if seeing family is a priority but visiting involves pricey airfare, consider suggesting a Secret Santa so that everyone is responsible for buying just one gift.

Or, if friends and/or family want to gather to celebrate but need to trim expenses, consider hosting a potluck. Guests might love a chance to contribute their favorite dish.

Find Deals

Leverage technology tools to find deals when online shopping. Consider using a browser extension to automatically test coupon codes and ensure the lowest price possible or to learn when the price of an item has dropped.

Practice Self-Care

Give yourself the gift of a stress-free season by setting spending boundaries. This means being guided by intentions, not peer pressure, when it comes to gift-giving, charitable giving, and other areas where spending can become competitive.

Plan For Next Year

Get a head start on next year’s festivities by setting aside a little money from each paycheck into a high-yield savings account, starting now.

Make this an annual habit to help ensure each holiday season can be enjoyed comfortably and to the fullest.

For help examining income and expenses during the holiday season, visit letsmakeaplan.org to find a CFP professional near you.

It takes planning and care to have a financially healthy holiday season, but entering 2026 without additional debt will make it well worth the effort.

From routine preventative maintenance to more extensive repairs, we have the knowledge and experience to keep your car, truck or SUV running smoothly

• 16 Fully Equipped Bays

• Oil Changes, Batteries, Bulbs, Brakes, Suspensions & More!

• State Certified Emissions Failure Repair

• Alignment, Balancing, Repairs, Tire Inspection, Rotation & Most New Tires

Complete Foreign & Domestic Automotive Center

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am–6pm; Sat. 8am–1pm; Closed Sun. Emissions: Mon–Sat • Repairs: Mon–Fri

3 Commerce Road, Newtown (next to post office) 203-426-7145

• Comprehensive Eye Exams

• Contact Lens Evaluation & Medically Necessary Contact Lenses

• Monitoring for Medical Conditions including cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, all forms of dry eye and red eye, eye injury/trauma, and neurological ocular conditions

• Eye Strain - Overuse of computers (eye discomfort, dryness or headaches)

• Myopia Control

• Binocular Vision/ Double Vision

• Floaters/Flashes of Lights

• MySight Contacts

SHOP BETHEL

Keeler Tavern Museum To Host Holiday Boutique In The Barn

RIDGEFIELD — Keeler Tavern Museum’s annual Holiday Boutique in the Barn will return this month and continue weekends through December 21 with curated gifts, décor, and one-of-a-kind offerings from local artisans.

The boutique will be open Thursdays through Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm.

Shoppers will find holiday merchandise, from fair trade ornaments to festive paper goods; home décor, including hand-loomed pillows, wreaths, candles, and ceramic bowls; eco-friendly Bee’s Wrap and Swedish dishcloths; items for pets; accessories like jewelry and scarves; and toys for kids.

Also on sale will be the museum and history center’s famous cranberry chutney, a decades-long tradition with an award-winning recipe. Chutney is available for sale exclusively at the Holiday Boutique and in the Visitor Center, while supplies last. No pre-orders will be taken this year.

New this year, visitors can enter to win a curated selection of Holiday Boutique gift highlights. There is no cost to enter; entries will be accepted at the Boutique register during open hours throughout the event.

The drawing will be at 1 pm Friday, December 19, and the winner need not be present to win.

Dec. 6th 9-12 pm

The Holiday Boutique will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will reopen for Black Friday.

During Ridgefield’s Holiday Stroll on Friday, December 5, Keeler Tavern Museum will be offering free open house tours of the historic tavern museum, and the Boutique will have extended hours, remaining open until 7 pm.

Ample parking is available on-site at 152 Main Street/Route 35 in Ridgefield. Visit keelertavernmuseum.org, email info@keelertavernmuseum.org, or call 203-4385485 for additional information.

Light The Lights Winter Festival

DANBURY — CityCenter Danbury, in partnership with the City of Danbury, announces its third annual “Light the Lights-Winter Festival” will be presented on the Green, 1 Ives Street in Danbury, on Saturday, December 6, from 3 to 7 pm.

All are invited to enjoy downtown Danbury’s own 40-foot tall holiday tree. Downtown Danbury will be transformed into a winter wonderland, with fun festivities for all ages.

Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves will do the official “light up” of downtown, and Santa will arrive by fire truck. A fire truck parade will also be part of the event. Enjoy some holiday shopping from various vendors, as well as free cookies and hot chocolate for all.

There will be holiday music, live entertainment, and more.

Visit citycenterdanbury.com for additional information.

holidayWarmestwishes

Troop 270 Holiday Fundraising Effort: Tree Pick-Ups Returning

Boy Scouts of America Troop 270 will conduct its Christmas Tree Pickup Project the first three weekends in January.

The fundraiser will begin the weekend of January 3-4, and continue the next two weekends, January 10-11 and 17-18. Pickups are done in Newtown and reservations will open in December.

There is a suggested $10 donation for each pickup. Proceeds will support the scouts of Troop 270.

To sign up for tree pickup, visit troop270newtownct.org/xmastreepickup.

Readers should note that due to the popularity — and therefore the size — of the annual campaign, all residents are asked to make advance payments

Garden Center/Facebook photo

online. The troop has waived the processing fee for all orders.

For additional information, the troop can be reached at troop270trees@ gmail.com.

The annual Christmas Tree Pickup Fundraiser is an important fundraising campaign that allows the scouts to raise funds they can use for scouting events, such as summer camp tuition

and fees for leadership training or high adventure trips. As the costs of membership and activities continue to rise, fundraisers like this help ease the burden on the scouts and their families.

Trees picked up through the annual campaign are donated to Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited to support its conservation project.

Kyle Boughan sorts through a pile of donations received during the final weekend of the Troop 270 2023 Christmas Tree Pick-Ups. The local Scouts collected 296 trees and received approximately $5,500 for their efforts that year. —photo courtesy Alan Blatter

Boy Scouts of America Troop 270 is working with a regional garden center for its 2025 Wreath Campaign, one of two holiday fundraisers returning this season.

Generator Model #77150

• PowerRush™ ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY –Delivers over 30% more starting capacity allowing you to do more with less.*

• Electric start model for easy operation. (Battery Included)

• Large-capacity steel fuel tank with incorporated fuel gauge provides durability and up to a 11 hour run-time at 50% load.

• Low-oil level shutdown automatically safeguards engine from damage.

Start promise. Now let’s get the job done.

• The Right Fit For You. Ideal for medium-sized driveways that can hold up to 4 or more cars and 2 - 9” of snow at a time, with limited garage or shed storage.

• 1 ¼” steel-tube cradle for added durability and strength.

• Hour meter tracks maintenance intervals

• Heavy-duty, never-ﬂat wheels allow for easy portability.

• Fold-down handle for sturdy portability and compact storage.