If the wedding dress that Fiona (Emma Stierle) wore in the Newtown Middle School production of Shrek The Musical Jr, staged Friday, March 27, through Sunday, March 29, looked familiar, that’s because it formerly appeared on a window mannequin at Julie Allen Bridals. The bridal shop donated the dress for future productions at the school after learning a wedding dress was needed for a scene in that production.

Hazel Ricardel-Alquilos and 2-year-old Bezalel should be home with dad, Wilbert, in Cebu, Philippines, by the time you lay eyes on this. Rotary Club member Pat Caruso tells me that Bezalel, the Newtown Gift of Life recipient who underwent life-saving heart surgery (thanks to Children’s Medical Center in Hartford), and his mom were guests of honor last week at a going-away party at Edmond Town Hall.  “Parents, children, teachers, and all the kind folks who heard Bezalel’s story were there to wish him well. I could not imagine the hospitality, the warmth, and loving care our town has shown Bezalel and Hazel,” Pat tells me. Among the several thank you notes Wilbert sent was this one to the Rotary Club: “This scenario wouldn’t happen without the help of all the Rotarians and Gift of Life international. This is a miracle in the making that we, or I, until now, couldn’t believe. To see is to believe, but I was just able to sense the great effort of each individual of this organization joining hands to fulfill this one of a kind miracle. KUDOS to all of you. I just cried and cried multiple times because of happiness. Never once I cried after hearing multiple doctors questioned Bezalel’s condition, how fragile he is and how critical for him to undergo such procedure. But this organization ensures that everything will go well — that’s where I cried the most. To the MILLIONS of people this organization helps and to the thousands of patients [who have] undergone a successful heart surgery, I salute you. THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.” ~ Wilbert Alquilos.

Newtown resident David Prudhomme is in training, big time, for an October 3 Ironman competition, in Cambridge, Md. It is an awesome undertaking, that much more so, since David is participating with a special goal: to honor the memory of 12/14 victim Chase Kowalski and to support the foundation set up by his parents, the CMAK Foundation. The father of five children, David is out early every day, no matter the weather, to prepare for the triathlete event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon (26.2 miles) — all to be completed in 17 hours or less. He’ll race wearing race number 1214 and Chase’s name on his race bib, and will be racing the whole season in the colors of the CMAK Foundation. David has set a goal to raise $5,000 for the foundation this year in Chase’s memory. If you would like to support David and the CMAK Foundation, visit www.swimbikerunraise.blogspot.com.

It’s my favorite time of year for playing hide-n-seek: Hide the Easter eggs and seek them, that is. If you missed the snowy Parks and Rec egg hunt this past weekend, kids can test their egg gathering skills at Treadwell Park this Saturday. All Newtown families are invited to join Grace Family Church members at Treadwell Park, 39 Philo Curtis Road, for the church’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 4, beginning at 1 pm. Children up to age 12 can participate in the egg hunt. A program under the pavilion will include games, music, puppets, crafts, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Grace Family Church, 174 Mt Pleasant Road, can be reached for additional information at 203-270-1005, extension 10, or by visiting www.gracect.org.

Not only will The Blue Colony Diner be open on Easter, but there will be a Character Party, open to the community, this Easter Sunday, from 12:30 until 1:30 pm. Along with costumed characters, there will be a DJ playing music for those who want to stop in at 66 Church Hill Road. Sounds like it will be a bit of magical fun for travelers pausing on their ways to and from holiday celebrations.

Congratulations to Joseph Draper (of the Newtown Draper family that is the catalyst behind the Memorial Sidewalk currently being installed on Church Hill Road), who received the Nancy K. Dolan Leadership Award at the Immaculate High School Spring Gala, Saturday, March 21, at the Amber Room in Danbury. The Nancy K. Dolan Leadership Award is given to individuals who embody a commitment to Catholic education, charity, helping those in need, and a passionate faith. The award is named in honor of the late Nancy K. Dolan who served as Immaculate’s first chairperson of the School Advisory Board. Mr Draper, a 1982 graduate of Immaculate High School, has worked for nearly three decades in finance and is the co-owner of the international investment business Pacific Advantage Capital. He has been a member of the Immaculate High School Advisory Board in numerous capacities since 2000.

Newtown resident Karla Bernstein is pretty excited about some upcoming publicity she will receive. “My photographs are featured in the April edition of Connecticut Magazine,” Karla tells us. Six of the monochrome photographs from her Wicks Forge Folio project are used with Kate Hartman’s story, “Modern-Day Blacksmith Embraces Family’s Metal-Working History.” The photos were taken in the forge of artist-blacksmith Nicholas Moreau, whose forge is in the garage adjacent to his grandparents’ home in rural Danbury. Wicks Forge Folio is a photo-journalistic project Karla created recently, consisting of text and photos. View Karla’s folio as a PDF at: www.karlabernsteinphotography.zenfolio.com/wicks-forge.

You would never hear this from him, but Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, was honored Friday, March 27, by Central Connecticut State University’s School of Education & Professional Studies, during a Celebration of Alumni Excellence. Along with others who were honored during the event, Dr Erardi was named as the recipient of the Outstanding School Leader award. He may not be puffing up his own whiskers following the award, but I say congratulations to our superintendent.

My own whiskers will be on high alert for next week’s news. Promise me, you’ll… Read me again.