Your attention, please! If you had plans to attend the FUN gathering this Saturday, March 20, the location has been changed. The activities for children and young adults with special needs and their families will be from 2-4 pm at Dickinson Park Pavilion, 50 Elm Drive. Get ready for fun and a performance by Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance, dancing, a bonfire, cookies, and hot chocolate. Please register by calling 203-512-6284 or contacting lindajones9763@sbcglobal.net.

Following a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we are excited to announce that The Newtown Bee Peeps Diorama Contest is indeed in the works for next month. Employees will be constructing dioramas featuring at least one Peeps rabbit or chick, and delivering them to the office by Good Friday, April 2. Everyone in the building that morning will be invited to vote for their favorites. Bragging rights and the honor of keeping the Peeps Diorama Contest trophy on their desk is up for grabs. A few people are really hoping to pry the trophy away from Lynn Remson, who not only won the last two competition years, but also had a bonus year of the trophy on her desk after last year’s competition was canceled. Following tradition, we will also be looking to Newtown Bee Facebook followers to join us for the 2021 Peep-le’s Choice Award on April 2. Voting will run from midmorning until midafternoon that day, and the person whose diorama gains the largest number of “Likes” by the time polls close will pick up that honor.

Longtime former resident Lisa Swain shared some news with me last week that put a smile on my face, from whisker to whisker: “So happy to see my favorite paper at the Guilford Library,” she wrote, “even though I have my own subscription.” It makes me especially happy when we hear that Bee subscribers keep up with the town through the paper, even when they have nested elsewhere.

One of these things is not like the other... There was some new statuary at The Pleasance one nice afternoon last week, when suddenly Steve the Dog Walker had his hands full, more than usual. And while Sadie, Dave Deater Reinhardt’s dog, doesn’t stay there 24/7, she did have fun posing with the rest of the pack.

Martin West had, one might say, an “eagle eye” in spotting this bald eagle perched near Cold Spring Road last Friday morning. Martin was able to get a photo, and we thank him for sharing it.

If you are one of the more than 2,000 Newtown residents in the 112th District, remember that you will be voting for the new representative of that district on April 13. Absentee ballot applications are now available for registered voters of that district, which can be picked up in person at the Town Clerk’s office at 3 Primrose Street, or found at newtown-ct.gov/town-clerk/pages/absentee-ballots-now-available-april-13th-special-election-only-voting-district-3-2. An official ballot drop box can be found at the north and south entrances of the Municipal Center, or the ballots can be mailed. In-person voting is always an option, and voting for this special election in April is at Reed Intermediate School.

Who needs a Good Egg Award? I think that the Salvation Army is deserving. The Salvation Army has provided more than 2,730,183 meals and has served over 215,300 Connecticut residents since the start of COVID-19 one year ago, according to information recently shared. “Emergency food boxes are being coordinated and provided to 23 testing sites and 3 pop-up testing sites throughout the state of Connecticut, and tractor trailer loads of emergency food boxes are delivered each week into Connecticut — roughly 3,200 food boxes (73,500 meals) every week. This program will continue through the end of June and will provide an additional 85,000 food boxes to those in real need.” Salvation Army, you are a Good Egg!

Get out your pens and paper! Pull out the computer! Friends of Newtown Seniors (FONS), along with the Newtown Senior Center and C.H. Booth Library, is sponsoring a writing contest with four cash prizes of $50 each. Newtown residents age 55 and up are invited to submit a piece of writing that responds to one or all the following questions: What have you learned from your experience? How has life changed because of experiences during 2020? How were you personally affected by the events of the past year related to the pandemic? How do you think the pandemic will affect your future? Deadline for entries is May 1, and prize winners will be notified by June 1. Details are found at friendsofnewtownseniors.org, requested by e-mailing info@friendsofnewtownseniors.org, or at the Newtown Senior Center and the Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street.

I hold out hope for an increasing number of days of pleasant weather, with the official return of spring this weekend. And spring means time to play outdoors! Did you know, though, that Newtown parks do not have the equipment to accommodate kids with physical limitations? The Newtown Lions Club is working to make that happen, but they need your donations to purchase and install ADA-compliant specialized playground equipment. Visit newtownlions.org/pages/playground_2020.html to support this worthy cause.

This past week, Sunshine Week, had nothing to do with springtime, though, but rather a recognition of the importance of journalism in promoting Freedom of Information. Local newspapers are crucial to shining a light on governing, so that it is done is a transparent manner at all levels, with open access to public information. Relaying that news to the public is an important service to readers. Support of journalism is vital to an informed public, so spread some sunshine our way, please. It’s the only way to help us help you.

Here comes Peter Cottontail! The Newtown Community Center is hosting a breakfast with the bunny on Saturday and Sunday morning, with tables of up to six family members enjoying pancakes and crafts. If you miss out on registering in time (203-270-4349) for the sit down breakfast, sign up for the Sunday grab-and-go breakfast. The bunny will be happy to pay a safely distanced visit to your vehicle as you pull up to get your morning meal! Have a “hoppy” weekend!

You know that I’ll hop to it to find all the news you need for next week. Be sure to... Read me again.