For some people, the only thing that gets them through March Mudness is March Madness. The energy and excitement of the annual NCAA college basketball tournaments for both men and women somehow redeems the sullen and sodden month of March. Some of that energy rubs off on even the most recliner-bound hibernators who leap from their lairs for buzzer-beater-come-from-behind victories. It gets the blood moving.

Unfortunately, for Joanne Zang, much of that blood rushed to her face in embarrassment when her beloved UConn Huskies men’s team lost a close one to the Texas Longhorns.

Joanne, it turns out, had come out on the wrong end of a bet with a diehard Longhorns fan that required her to wear a Texas sweatshirt while playing her weekly bridge game. Joanne hid her red face with a bag.

Dick Zang retired last week after a career that went from fuel (Texaco) to drink ( Pepsi) and everywhere in between. After a recent Newtown Choral Society rehearsal, a group repaired to My Place restaurant where member John McMahon presented Dick with two bottles of champagne to celebrate. In a festive mood, Dick opened one bottle of the bubbly to share with his tablemates.

Stretch Forbell is a big fan of the NCAA tournaments, but don’t just walk up to him and start talking about the latest game –– he may not have seen it yet. Stretch gets his friends to tape the games for him and he watches them at his leisure. I think, however, it is now safe to inform Stretch that Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl.

Members of the Newtown Reads committee are wondering where have all the copies of April Morning gone? The committee is issuing a friendly call to all the readers who may have forgotten to return their copy of Howard Fast’s book once they are done reading it. The key to circulating books is to pass them on or return them to the library, where there is a waiting list of anxious readers. There also is a group of enthusiastic volunteer book discussion leaders ready and willing to lead exciting conversations about this novel. Anyone who is willing to host a book discussion for a group of friends only has to ask, and a book discussion leader can be provided.

Some of the most eager readers of the novel are the seventh graders at Newtown Middle School. According to Nancy Martin, head of the English department at the school, the entire seventh grade is reading April Morning. She encourages parents to read along with their children and discuss the moral and ethical questions raised by the book.

Richie and Ruth Liska were back in town last weekend and took in a basketball game at the high school. They came to watch their grandson Kurtis play.

Olga Paproski is holding her annual Ukrainian Pysanka demonstration and workshop on Sunday at her farm on Hattertown Road. Anyone who is interested in learning how to decorate Easter eggs with the Ukrainian technique should call Olga at 426-4017.

Just back from a buying trip to England, Southbury jeweler Gayle O’Neill celebrated her birthday with a party attended by many of her Newtown friends.

After almost 29 years of service to the state, Jim Shpunt of Sandy Hook retired on Monday, March 31. Jim formerly was a facilities manager at the state’s Fairfield Hills Hospital. But after Fairfield Hills closed in the mid-1990s, Jim took another post with the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Middletown. These last few years have been a tough commute from Sandy Hook to Middletown, with the round trip being about 120 miles. While in Middletown, Jim was a facilities project engineer. For now, he’s taking a breather, until he decides what to do next.

Kenneth and Laura Lerman were the guests of Yale’s Whiffenpoofs at Mory’s in New Haven last month. Their nephew, David Lerman, is a member. The Whiffenpoofs are the country’s first and oldest collegiate a cappella singing group and have been singing for their supper at Mory’s, a private club, weekly since 1909. The singing group appeared on The West Wing this past holiday season.

In the Department of April Foolery, Bee Reporter Jan Howard pulled a fast one on Senior Center fitness instructor Debbie Kenyon on Tuesday. Two mornings a week, the seniors have group exercise classes and every time Jan visits the center to do an interview or take pictures, it seems the classes are just beginning or just ending. For weeks, Debbie has been teasing Jan saying, “Next time, you’ve got to join the class!” And every time Jan replies jokingly, “Maybe tomorrow!” meaning maybe never. So on April Fools Day, Jan came as usual with notebook and camera in hand, just as the class was starting. Instead of taking pictures, however, she got in line and actually started exercising with the group and yelled, “April Fool!” Debbie roared with laughter and said, “We’ve got a guest today. Jan from The Bee is going to exercise with us. But we forgot to tell you it’s an hour and a half this week.” Jan had another appointment so she stayed for 15 minutes only, managing at least to complete the warm-up. “You were only here for the easy part!” said one woman. “That was the plan,” replied Jan. “Now I’m going to exercise my fingers on the computer. Bye!”

Fortunately for me, the April Foolishness never stops in Newtown, so I’ll be back next week with more, so be sure to…

Read me again.