Congratulations Scarlett Lewis, who was named by Hartford Business Journal as a 2026 Women in Business honoree. The founder of Choose Love Movement has developed programs now being used in schools in all 50 states and in more than 135 countries. The movement, she told HBJ, is her greatest accomplishment. Find out why, and what else she shared, in the brief interview at hartfordbusiness.com/honoree/2026-women-in-business-scarlett-lewis. Scarlett is one of 29 women being honored by HBJ this year. If you’d like to read about similarly awesome women in business, the full group can be found at hartfordbusiness.com/award/2026-women-in-business-honorees.

As you can see from the first photo with this week's column, the artificial tree in our Production Department is ready for this weekend. Bruce the Easter Bunny Spruce returned last Friday. Between the return of spring the previous Friday, Bruce donning his holiday best, and the crocuses we’re seeing on Main Street and other favorite spots, it’s certainly beginning to feel like spring.

Newtown Forest Association shared some very exciting news this week: NFA recently accepted a conservation easement donation to protect more than 53 acres of open space. Terry and Stephanie Lennon, who own the property, are committed to the open space and agricultural heritage of the property and wanted to make sure that the property remains that way for generations to come. NFA noted this week the property will remain in private hands for the foreseeable future and will not be open to the public. The easement ensures the land will be protected from commercial and residential development in perpetuity, however. The beautiful woodland area borders the northern portion of NFA’s Hattertown Pond Preserve. With this addition, NFA now protects and preserves over 1,600 acres.

I’m going to offer a Good Egg Award to the anonymous woman who recently gave a donation to Women Involved in Newtown. Mandy Monaco, who has been involved with WIN for decades — and the club’s Easter Basket project since its inception in 1999 — was part of the group assembling this year’s collection of baskets during a dinner gathering last Wednesday night at The Children’s Adventure Center. The conversation at one point turned to all the candy the group was able to put into the plastic eggs this year, and Mandy very happily shared a story. “I was shopping and this woman saw me putting all these big bags of candy in my cart,” she started. “She looked at me and said ‘What are you going to do with all that?’ and when I told her about our group and these baskets, she pulled $60 out of her wallet and told me to use it toward our candy supply.” That lady is definitely a good egg in my book!

We ALSO received an anonymous donation last weekend. Sherri Smith Baggett arrived at the office and found a pile of Newtown Bee back issues on our front stoop. The pile was held in place by a chunk of curbing. Mailing labels had been cut off each paper, and no note was left with the papers, so we’re not sure what to make of the “gift.” Thank you?

Generations of people — residents and visitors alike — have been served by the men and women who have pumped gas at 47 Church Hill Road. We were very saddened to learn on Monday that as of 4 pm Tuesday, an era would be ending. The final full-service gas station in Newtown has closed. It would be very interesting to hear from people in upcoming weeks, from those who have worked there to the countless others who have been taken care of, often chatting with the attendants.

We just talked about this a few months ago. In December I shared news of a survey by resume.io that had asked people to share the vanishing jobs they miss most. The nationwide survey overwhelmingly placed gas station attendants as the most missed people. From Alabama to Alaska — and including Connecticut — residents of more than 30 states picked it as the job they miss most.

Many people offered thoughts and comments in response to a Facebook post by station manager Tina Keeler, who shared the news Monday afternoon. I think one of the best responses I saw came from Peter Wilkin, who said in part, “I remember that place as long as I have known that Newtown was a place.”

We have another new tradition at the office, as evidenced by the third and fourth images with this week's column. Sports Editor Andy Hutchison is the latest Bee to join the Half-Century Club. Andy’s big day was last Friday, and he celebrated with family and friends watching the Bridgeport Islanders win a 3-2 overtime/shootout thriller against the Laval Rocket. In listening to Andy’s recap of the game Monday morning I was reminded of that old joke: “I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out.” Sounds like it was quite the show.

Jeff, a member of The Bee’s Sales Department, happily forwarded the Life Starts at 50 mini safety cone to Andy on Monday. The cone had been bequeathed to Jeff a few years ago by a member of our Production Department. Rumor has it the cone will be heading back to Production when someone else reaches the big milestone next month.

I’ll let you know when that happens. I’ll also share with you anything I learn during the next seven days if you promise to come back next week, when it will be time to … read me again.