Newtown Bee's Holiday Gift Guide 2022

The Newtown Bee’s

Warmest Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season!

At this time of year, we pause and reflect on all of the things we are grateful for. We are grateful for you - our friends and neighborsand this great community we live and work in. We appreciate your business and are thankful for your friendship. We hope you take time to enjoy this holiday season and we look forward to continuing to provide great service to you for many years to come.

Gifty by Nature

1. The Coffee Lover

Try 1 lb of coffee that was freshly roasted right in our Newtown store!

2.Your Special Honey

You can’t go wrong with some local Connecticut honey.

3.The Nut Lover

Go nuts! We have over two dozen varieties to choose from.

4.The Health & Beauty Fan

Indulge them with some relaxing bath salts or all natural spa treatments.

5.The Bourbon, Vodka, & Gin Lover Choose from dozens of chocolate treats and candies, sure to bring a smile.

6.The Gourmand

Our artisanal olive oils or vinegar will be sure to impress.

7.The Chocolate & Candy Lover

Over 40 chocolate & candy options sure to delight.

8.The Cook or Baker

Choose from dozens of baking mixes, flours, soup mixes, beans, and pasta for them to use in their next creation.

9.The Tea Aficionado

Tree Lightings Again Planned This Holiday Season

Newtown residents have three tree light ing events across two weekends to look forward to again this holiday season.

The 38th Annual Tree Lighting at Ram Pasture has been scheduled for Friday, December 2, at 6:30 pm.

The Ram Pasture event is centered around the trees at the corner of Elm Drive and Hawley Lane. Hundreds of luminarias will again surround Hawley Pond and line streets in the immediate vicinity, leading those who are walking from nearby roads (and homes, for some) to the trees.

Caroling and live music led by Newtown High School Singers, and a dance perfor mance by local students, will begin at 6:30.

The tree will be lit at 7.

The evening then continues with visits from Santa and Mrs Claus, and cider and donuts.

Donations are sought ahead of time to cover the costs associated with the annual tree event.

The fundraising effort will continue through the end of the year. Donors may contribute $10 for a bulb or luminaria to honor someone special. Readers are invited to use the coupon offered here to indicate whether they are choosing a luminaria or bulb to honor or memorialize someone and to name who they are honoring.

Checks should be made payable to Newtown Parks & Recreation Park Gift Fund, and mailed to Newtown Parks & Recreation, 8 Simpson Street, Newtown CT 06470.

Checks can also be dropped off at the Parks & Recreation office, within New

town Community Center on Simpson Street.

Additionally, Parks & Rec has added the option of donating online, through its website. Visit newtown-ct.gov/parks-rec reation for details.

Sandy Hook

Following tradition, Sandy Hook Orga nization for Prosperity will then host its annual tree lighting event the next night.

Festivities will take place in Sandy Hook Center, focused around the intersection of Church Hill Road, Washington Avenue, Riverside Road, and Glen Road. Tree lightings at The Glen and across the street from that traditional location will culmi nate the festivities at 6 pm.

Additional details are available at Sandy HookVillage.com.

Hawleyville

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company will host the 12th annual tree lighting in that district, on Sunday, December 11, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, at their fire station, 34 Hawleyville Road.

Dancers from Dance, Etc will entertain; DJ (and Newtown Bee Editor) John Voket will return as emcee, leading the count down and playing music; and light refreshments including homemade cook ies, hot chocolate, and pizza will be served.

The evening’s special guest, of course, will again be Santa Claus.

The tree lighting is a rain or shine event. In the event of weather concerns, check Facebook.com/hawleyvillefire the date of the event.

A Holiday Wonderland & Enchanting Traditions Of 19th-21st Centuries: New Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Season Display

NORWALK — The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk, will usher in the Holiday Season the day after Thanksgiving, on November 25, with a new exhibition titled “A Holiday Wonderland at the Mansion.”

The special exhibition will remain on view through Sat urday, December 31.

Admission will range from $8 to $15, with children

under age 8 admitted free. To purchase tickets, visit lock woodmathewsmansion.com/programs.

Curated by Museum Consultant Stacey Danielson with the assistance of Trustees Mimi Findlay and Paul Veeder and the LMMM Curatorial Committee, “A Holiday Wonderland at the Mansion” will capture the magic of the holiday season with historic-era tree displays, an enchanting winter wonderland featuring a 19th Century skating scene, a festive holiday dinner party, magnificent gowns, and more.

Recognized for the past two years as one of the 10 Best Holiday Historic Home Tours in the country by USA Today , the museum will also explore treasured Victorian holiday traditions and feature beautiful 21st Century Christmas trees and seasonal displays by inte rior designers Victoria Vandamm of Vandamm Interi ors and Marcia Taylor Reid of Taylor Reid Design

LLC, as w ell as floral designer Danna DiElsi of The Silk Touch.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum is a Nation al Historic Landmark.

For more information on the holiday exhibition, sched ules, and programs, visit lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, e-mail info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company hosted its first tree lighting ceremony last year, shortly after the installation of a beautiful Norway Spruce at its headquarters. Santa plans to return to this year’s celebratory event, scheduled for Sunday, December 11.

—Bee file photo

The 2021 Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum holiday display last year included this 1890s vignette curated by Stacey Danielson and the LMMM Curatorial Committee. The 2022 holiday display will open on Friday, November 25.

—photo courtesy S. Danielson

A contemporary mantle display by Danna DiElsi of The Silk Touch was part of the 2021 holiday season display at The Lockwood-Mathews Man sion Museum, voted one of the 10 Best Holiday Historic Home Tours in the country by USA Today for the second consecutive year.

—photo courtesy Gus Apazidis

This 1860s vignette curated by Stacey Danielson and the LMMM Curatorial Committee was also part of the 2021 display.

—photo courtesy S. Danielson

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Light The Lights New Winter Festival Planned

DANBURY — CityCenter Danbury in partnership with the City of Danbury announces the inaugural Light the Lights Winter Festival.

This event will be hosted on the CityCenter Green, which will be home to downtown Danbury’s very own 40-foot-tall holiday tree.

The free event, open to all, is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, from 1 to 7 pm.

Mayor Dean Esposito will do the official “light up” of downtown, and Santa will arrive by fire truck courtesy Beckerle Hose Company. Parents, guardians, and friends are all encouraged to have their cameras/cell phones ready for the photo ops to follow.

A fire truck parade will also be a highlight of the evening, which will also include holiday music, live entertainment, light refreshments, and more.

For more information on this event or to learn about vendor opportunities visit citycenterdanbury.com or call 203-792-1711.

Call For Entries: 3rd Annual Mason Jar Holiday Decorating Contest

Newtown Parks & Recreation is inviting readers to get creative again this holiday season. Members of the Town of Newtown department are hoping to see creative, dec orative entries for the 3rd Annual Mason Jar Holiday Decorating Contest.

The rules are simple: Register, pick up a 16- or 32-ounce jar from Parks & Rec, and decorate it. Jars can be decorated inside, like a snow globe, or on the exterior.

Entries are due by Wednesday, Decem ber 14. They will be displayed at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street,

and a winner will be announced on December 21. One lucky winner will receive a gift basket from Newtown Parks & Rec.

Cost is $5 per entry. This is Parks & Rec Activity 214102A.

In-person registration can be done at Newtown Parks & Rec, also at 8 Simpson Street, weekdays between 8 am and 4:30 pm; or online at newtown-ct.gov/parksrecreation.

Additional information is also available by calling 203-270-4340.

NYFS Holiday Festival Returning To Main Street

On Sunday, December 4, readers can return to Main Street for the 37th New town Youth and Family Services Holi day Festival. This event has become a much-loved tradition for families — even Santa Claus is bringing his family this year. Mrs Claus will also join in the fun and help spread some holiday cheer. One of the area’s longest-running hol iday events, the Holiday Festival includes activities for all ages that are spread out along Main Street in three primary locations: Edmond Town Hall, Trinity Episcopal Church, and C.H. Booth Library. The three locations are connected by an Outdoor Holiday Market featuring local food merchants and vendors selling handmade goods. In addition, there will be a historic trol ley ride through the Newtown Bor ough.

The Holiday Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for NYFS. Proceeds support autism programming, mental health and additional counseling ser vices, adolescent support groups, com munity services, and much more for the children, teens, adults, and seniors of Newtown and surrounding communi ties.

General admission Holiday Festival tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and children ages 2-12 if purchased by November 30. Prices increase December 1 to $22 for adults, $18 for children ages 2-12. Tickets for senior citizens will remain at $15. Chil dren under 2 are free.

A general admission ticket includes one performance of The Nutcracker Suite , admission to the Outdoor Holi day Market, Festival of Trees viewing, children’s activities at the library includ ing arts & crafts and Princess Story time, Superhero Academy, Gingerbread

House viewing and voting, Cookies with Mrs Claus, and one Historic Trol ley Tour. All activities begin at 11 am.

For those who wish to only attend one performance of the ballet, separate tick ets can be purchased for $12.

Tickets and additional information are available through the NYFS website at newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org. For additional assistance, contact the organization’s office at 203-270-4335.

Holiday Festival Beyond Main Street

The December 4 festival on Main Street will be chock-full of activities with something for all generations to enjoy, but the Holiday Festival fun does not start or end on that day. Santa and his family are connecting with the New town community throughout the holi day season.

Children can receive a personalized letter from Santa Claus or a personal ized chat with his elves. They can even hear Santa read some of his favorite holiday books for bedtime.

For events that require registration, visit newtownyouthandfamilyservices. org and click on the green Holiday Fes tival button in the upper right corner of the home page.

Newtown Youth and Family Services is a nonprofit youth service bureau and mental health clinic for children, teens, adults, and seniors. For over 35 years, NYFS has been committed to providing high quality human health services to promote individual and community wellness.

Specialized services include outpatient individual, couple and family counsel ing, substance abuse treatment services, autism and social skills programs, pre vention initiatives and support groups.

Entries in the 2nd Annual Mason Jar Contest included a painted entry by Carly Lindsay, ABOVE/RIGHT, and a snow globe-style entry by Lynn Zapf.

—Newtown Parks & Recreation photos

Directory of Advertisers

All Aboard Train Depot 30

Art And Frame 11

BD Provisions 14, 15

Bethel Power 13

Beyond Cabinets 13

Brookfield Craft Center, Inc 21

Byrd’s Books 13

Caraluzzi’s 13

Cork N Barrel 16, 17

CT Gold & Silver 10

Ergo Chef, LLC 31

Garden Club Of Newtown

22

Gift Cottage 13

Hollandia 2

Hollandia Nurseries 13

Ingersoll Auto Of Danbury 8

Jewel Of Himalaya 20

Kling Brothers Builders................................................................24

Koenig Frameworks / JCS 3

L&R Power Equipment, Inc 19

Leahy’s Metered Gas Svc., Inc 5

Lenahan Land Clearing & Grinding Inc 25

Livia Pani – Cleaning Service 22

New Insights Crystal Boutique 23

Newtown Economic & Community Development 9

Newtown MediSpa 27

Patricia’s Presents 13

Paul Morton Jewelers 13

Pro Chek Home Inspection 12

Stony Hill Hardware 13

Superior Remodelers, LLC 26

Svanda Painting, LLC, Mark 4

The Toy Tree 7

The Wood Bin 28

Therapeutic Massage & Wellness 29

Toy Room 13

UK Gourmet 32

Vacuum Mart 6

Premium 20th Century Limited Lounge Cars Join Naugatuck Railroad’s Holiday Excursions

THOMASTON — The Naugatuck Railroad is offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the pinnacle of 20th Century luxury by adding two his toric New York Central lounge cars to its holiday excursions this season.

Passengers can purchase tickets for the Hickory Creek observation car or the No 43 tavern-lounge car. The carriages are on loan from the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey (URHS), and will be added to the Naugatuck Railroad’s Northern Lights Limited and Santa Express trains.

“Each year, it warms our hearts as our passengers create lasting memories aboard our holiday excursions,” said Matthew Sniffen, marketing manager for Naugatuck Railroad. “Adding the Hickory Creek and No 43 to our 2022 holiday season excursions allows us to expand our offerings, as well as offer passengers a chance to ride aboard two cars which in their time were the peak of luxury on the rails.”

Hickory Creek once capped the New York Central’s famous 20th Century Lim ited train, an opulent New York Central train that ran from Grand Central Station in New York City to Chicago between 1902 and 1967.

Built in 1948 by Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing in Chicago, Hicko ry Creek includes both elevated and low er level seating facing oversized pic ture windows, as well as a buffet and four double bedr ooms. The carriage was later sold to Barnum & Bailey Circus for use as living accommodations by the circus staff, purchased by URHS in 1991, and returned to the rails in 2005

after an extensive restoration.

The 20th Century Limited was a favorite of business tycoons, film stars, and other VIPs, who literally received the red carpet treatment when boarding at Grand Cen tral by walking along a red carpet rolled out by train staff

The beautifully restored Pullman Obser vation/Lounge car features premium lounge seating with capacity for 20 passen gers. The car features modern comforts with era styling, as well as onboard bar ser vice and oversized picture windows.

Tickets are $149 each.

Tavern-Lounge No. 43 is a stainless steel carriage built by the Edward G. Budd Company of Philadelphia in 1947. NJ Transit donated No. 43 to URHS in 1991.

Featuring a mix of lounge and table seating, this car is capable of seating 40 pas sengers. Tickets are $95 each.

Passengers can purchase tickets for either carriage for the holiday excursions, which run November 25 to December 23. Ticket holders can enjoy special perks, ranging from early boarding to exclusive gifts. There is also the option to book either car riage in full.

Ticket revenues support the Railroad Museum of New England.

For more information on these excur sions, visit rmne.org.

The Naugatuck Railroad manages freight rail operations as well as scenic train rides on a 19.6-mile line between Waterbury and Torrington. The scenic excursions directly benefit the Railroad Museum of New England, a not-for-profit educational and historic organization whose mission is to tell the story of the region’s rich railroad heritage.

Hardcore Sweet Bakery Planning Next Punk Rock Flea Market

After two wildly successful Punk Rock Fleas at their Southington location and Southington Drive-In Theater, Hardcore Sweet Bakery — winners of Food Net work’s “Cupcake Wars” — will deliver the next edition of their Punk Rock Flea Market (PRFM) to College Street Music Hall in December.

There will be over 60 vendors, includ ing food trucks, DJs, live entertainment, live tattooing, live screen printing, and more.

PRFMs are curated events full of unique and unusual vendors from Connecticut and the surrounding states, and growing.

Among the many categories to be found are vintage clothing, toys, housewares, oddities and antiques, original artwork and jewelry, vinyl records, handmade crafted skin cares, and more.

On top of getting a market together

where guests will want to stop at every booth, there is entertainment included featuring many local bands, as well as contests and interactive entertainment. Food trucks will be among some of the best in the state, always featuring vegan options.

Admission is $10, cash only at the door, or $25 in advance for VIP early entry at 10 am. VIP entry also includes an exclu sive holiday treat bag. Visit collegestreet musichall.com for additional information and advance tickets.

The day’s proceeds will benefit Clover’s Pig Preserve, a Connecticut-based non profit with a mission to rescue pigs that have been abused, neglected, or aban doned; educate individuals on the mis conception of pigs and the need for res cue; and advocate for the humane treatment of pigs and all animals.

Tavern-Lounge No. 43 is a stainless steel carriage built by the Edward G. Budd Company of Philadelphia in 1947. The train is one of two that have been added to the fleet for Naugatuck Railroad holiday excursions this season. —photo courtesy The Naugatuck Railroad