Let me be the first to nominate this past week as the first “April Fool’s Week.” I thought we were out of winter’s grip with Monday’s balmy temperatures and charcoal skies that reminded me of summer thunderheads. How wrong I was. By Wednesday, those warm breezes were replaced by a brisk, almost biting wind and mid-day snow flurries. Maybe it was Nature’s way of reminding us where we’ve been, or giving us something to look forward to once consistent weather comes our way. Me, I’ll wait a while before getting my hopes up, although this weekend looks warm and sunny.

I’m sure that I wasn’t the only one who was cold and thinking wintry thoughts this week. How about this scene from Switzerland:

The Van Buskirk family, formerly of Poverty Hollow Road, has relocated to a small village in western Switzerland for several months while Peter Van Buskirk is working on a temporary assignment for his job. The family is busy enjoying the local cheese, chocolate, and, of course, the Alps. Elisa and Dana Van Buskirk, aged 12 and 10, respectively, posed for the camera in front of the Bernese Alps with a copy of a recent Bee. The two children love riding their bikes everywhere and Tracy Van Buskirk says she enjoys walking down to the local market every morning for a fresh baguette. The family has the paper delivered to their village each week. 

I’m not quite sure my body clock has adjusted to the reality of daylight savings. Whereas most people were adjusted when alarm clocks buzzed Monday morning, I think cats need a few more days to adjust. Cats, and maybe Father Bob Weiss. Daylight Savings Time caught the St Rose pastor off guard last Sunday. He forgot to change his clock and barely made it in time to help serve the 7:30 am Mass. He obviously wasn’t the only one, however, as the church seemed a lot emptier than it usually is at that time on a Sunday morning. 

Actually, this past weekend a few clocks were turned back, now that I think of it. More than 130 Head O’ Meadow Elementary School students turned back the clock a few years last Friday night as they danced the night away at a sock hop at the Fireside Inn. According to parent Ann LoBosco, the girls danced while the boys built pyramids, did somersaults, and took part in air guitar playing contests.

Newtown was well represented in Philadelphia this past weekend, as the UConn ladies battled for the national championship against Tennessee. Newtown residents on hand for the game held in Philadelphia were Sherri Baggett, Natalia Kerler, and Joanne Didonado. Former Newtown resident Susan Heithaus and her daughter, Megan, were also spotted at the contest. They now live in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Lady Huskies were not the only ones dishing out basketball heroics on the court last weekend. Kevin Carolan, bad ankle and all, drained a shot from half court at this past weekend’s Knights of Columbus charity basketball game to win $100. He was then challenged to try it again and buried it a second time.

The Newtown High School baseball team could have used some of that luck last weekend. The team traveled to Massachusetts to take part in a preseason tournament. All went well for first-year coach John Larkins and company until the ride back, when Jim Roodhuyzen’s RV broke down along the Mass Pike. With the RV going nowhere, parents were summoned from their Newtown homes to pluck the players off the side of the highway. The entire team reportedly made it back safe and is looking to improve on last year’s 1-19 season.

Speaking of being summoned, Legislative Council member Will Rodgers has been called by the United States Marine Corps to report to San Diego immediately. There, he will serve as a judge advocate for the Marines, which is something like a lawyer. Will has been a member of the Marine Corps Reserves for the past 19 years.

This Sunday the Fifth District Republicans plan to honor Newtown’s own Marie Sturdevant for her years of tireless work on behalf of the party. The GOP brunch will be held at the Fireside Inn beginning with a reception for Lt Gov Jodi Rell.

Parks & Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian said she hopes the Dickinson Park tennis courts will be available for use by the end of the month. The courts – resurfaced this past fall – have been off limits as town workers prepare to put up new bathrooms. The material for the bathrooms has been sitting at the park for nearly a year. Mrs Kasbarian believes the bathrooms will be ready by May and the courts could be open by April 25.

Newtown resident Patty Powers has been carrying her first child for the past six months and has been forced to stay on the sidelines when it comes to strenuous activity. Nevertheless, she was seen cheering on her Italian Pavilion teammates during playoff action in the Newtown Health & Fitness Club’s women’s basketball playoffs Tuesday. Patty promised she would be back next year.

I hope it doesn’t rain on Saturday, but even if it does, Park & Rec still will hold its annual fishing derby for children ages 12 and under at Dickinson Town Park from 8 am to noon. Newtown Fish & Game is stocking the town pool with 250 trout. There is no charge to enter the derby. Food will be available to purchase and there will be bait, hooks, sinkers, and bobbers for sale.

And remember, I’m always a sure catch, so wade into this column next week and…

Read me again.