Saturday, April 21

Spring Manure Drive, 9 am–noon, Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard headquarters, 4 Wildlife Drive, public invited to BYO containers & take home well cured horse manure for gardening, donations appreciated; 203-426-9046.

6th Annual Newtown Woman’s Club Food Drive, 9 am–3 pm, Stop & Shop, 228 South Main Street, members of local GFWC-affiliated club will be outside entrances of supermarket to receive donations, which will be divided between Salvation Army Food Cupboard and FAITH Food Pantry, financial donations also welcomed.

Kids’ Craft Table, 3–5 pm, Ice Cream Heaven, 10 Glen Road, children ages 5–10 invited to create a floral craft for Mother’s Day, program being offered Saturdays until May 26; 203-903-7277.

Open auditions for Town Players production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, 7–9 pm, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Road, director Lester Colodny has openings for three men and four women, ages 13–40, no appointment needed, auditions will be readings from script, rehearsals begin early May, performances weekends July 6–28, incl Sun mats July 15 & 22, auditions continue April 22, contact theater for additional info; 203-270-9144.

Sunday, April 22

EARTH DAY

Earth Day Pootatuck River Cleanup, 11:30 am–2 pm, meet at St John’s Episcopal Church, 5 Washington Avenue, volunteers needed to help Candlewood Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited (CVTU) and Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) clean up garbage and debris along Pootatuck River banks, bring gloves, bug spray and/or sunscreen, wear clothes and boots that can get wet and/or dirty, community service credit available; Ann.Astarita@cvtu.org.

Open auditions for Town Players production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, 7–9 pm, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Road, see April 21 details.

Monday, April 23

Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS), board of directors, 6:30 pm, NYFS office, 15-A Berkshire Road (note new address).

Board of Fire Commissioners, 7 pm, Sandy Hook Firehouse, 18 Riverside Road.

Tuesday, April 24

Referendum on proposed $107.8 million town budget proposal for 2012-13, 6 am–8 pm, Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street.

Republican Presidential Preference Primary, 6 am–8 pm, District 1, Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street; District 2, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane; District 3-1, Head O’ Meadow School, 94 Boggs Hill Road; District 3-2 Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.

Police Commission meeting, 6 pm, Town Hall South, 3 Main Street.

“Entrepreneur Self Assessment: Do You Have What It Takes?,” 6–8 pm, Newtown High School Lecture Hall, 12 Berkshire Road, free workshop presented by Connecticut Small Business Development Center will explore pros and cons of owning a business, characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, and more, first of four workshops being sponsored by Newtown Economic Development Commission, registration requested; 203-270-4271,

Conservation Commission meeting, 7 pm, Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Design Advisory Board meeting, 7 pm, Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers subcommittee meeting, 7 pm, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.

Cultural Arts Commission meeting, 7:30 pm, Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Wednesday, April 25

Landscape in acrylics painting demo (SCAN program), 1:30 pm, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, free, demonstration by award-winning artist Anda Styler will cover painting a landscape in acrylics, hosted by the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown; 203-426-6654.

Inland Wetlands Commission meeting, 7:30 pm, Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Senatorial Forum for GOP Candidates, 7:30 pm, Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, convention-bound US Senate candidates will be given short time to speak, answer moderator-led questions, and offer concluding comments, reception follows, hosted by Newtown Republican Town Committee (short RTC meeting at 7 pm, public also welcome to attend).

Thursday, April 26

“Starting Your Connecticut Business: A Step-By-Step Guide,” 6–8 pm, Newtown High School Lecture Hall, 12 Berkshire Road, free workshop presented by Connecticut Small Business Development Center will cover process and options for business structures, insurance, tax considerations, state and city agencies, and financial assistance, second of four workshops being sponsored by Newtown Economic Development Commission, registration requested; 203-270-4271.

Performance of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Newtown High School Black Box Theatre, curtain 7 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road, tickets $10, performances continue to April 29.

Board of Finance meeting, 7:30 pm, Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Friday, April 27

Performance of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Newtown High School Black Box Theatre, curtain 7 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road, tickets $10, performances continue to April 29.

Opening night of conference “With The Master … In View of His Return,” 7–9 pm, Newtown Bible Church, 35 Sugar Street, $20 for two-day conference (continues April 28) includes light supper on Friday, refreshments on Saturday, longtime women’s ministries leader, counselor and author Susan Heck will lead conference to focus on 1 Thessalonians; 203-426-6484.

Saturday, April 28

Second annual Gardening Gurus Trade & Swap, 9–11 am rain or shine, Dickinson Park, 50 Elm Drive, $5 donation, bring items to trade including indoor & outdoor plants, bulbs, shrubs and seeds (label plants and seeds for care), books, books, tools and gardening related gems for trade, hosted by Trinity Productions.

“With The Master … In View of His Return” continues, 9 am–3 pm, Newtown Bible Church, 35 Sugar Street, $20, two-day conference continues with longtime women’s ministries leader, counselor and author Susan Heck leading in-depth discussions on 1 Thessalonians, optional $10 box lunch also available; 203-426-6484,.

Independent Living Day 2012, 9:30 am–2:30 pm, sign up or check in at Newtown Youth & Family Services, 15 Berkshire Road, volunteers sought for one or both shifts (9:30–11:30 am and 12:30–2:30 pm; lunch break at 11:30) to help low- to moderate-income senior citizens and disabled residents with variety of chores including light yardwork, errands, organizing closets and garages, etc, hosted by Newtown Youth & Family Services; 203-270-4335.

Annual Drug Take-Back Day, 10 am–2 pm, Newtown Police Station, 3 Main Street, public invited to drop off outdated and unneeded prescription medications for disposal (rather than flushing or throwing into garbage), co-hosted by Newtown PD and Newtown Prevention Council; 203-270-4225, 203-426-2798.

Newtown’s Fifth Annual Earth Day Festival, 10 am–4 pm, Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street, annual event for all ages designed to highlight town’s abundant natural resources will include kids’ activities, live music, refreshments, Lose The Litter, The Environmental Maze, silent auction, vendors and much more; www.NewtownEarthDay.org.

Kids’ Craft Table, 3–5 pm, Ice Cream Heaven, 10 Glen Road, children ages 5–10 invited to create a floral craft for Mother’s Day, program being offered Saturdays until May 26; 203-903-7277.

The Yale Alley Cats in concert, 7 pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, free (freewill offering to be collected) performance by 17-member all-male a cappella ensemble with diverse repertoire, prelude to be offered by Trinity Choristers, new date for concert originally scheduled for April 21; 203-426-9070.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Newtown High School Black Box Theatre, curtain 7 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road, see April 27 details.

Wonderful World staged reading by The Stray Kats Theatre Company, 7:30 pm, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, $25/advance, $30/door, Richard Dresser’s work read by Newtown-based professional company, also post-play discussion, light refreshments; 203-514-2221.

“Phobias, the Music,” 7:30 pm, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, Newtown Choral Society’s spring concert will be musical exploration of the world of phobias through music that enhances each fear, program to include “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Send In The Clowns,” “Dancing Queen” and more; 203-426-3769.

Sunday, April 29

Book Donation Day, 12–5 pm, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street (rear parking lot), donations of books, CDs, DVDs, LPs, and computer games requested for 2012 Friends of Booth Library Annual Book Sale, tax receipts available; 203-270-4537.

Bohemia on Boggs Hill Road, 1–4:30 pm, at Paula Hopper’s studio room, directions with reservations, free event will welcome Ms Hopper, a filmmaker and author; poets Polly Brody and Faith Vicinanza, and other artists, to share recent works and discuss their pursuit of artistic excellence, seating limited, reservations required; 203-426-9712.

Screening of Carbon Nation, 2 pm, Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, free screening of film will open The Sustainable Film Series sponsored by Transition Newtown, recently formed grassroots movement seeking to build community resilience, reservations encouraged, potluck snacks, post-film discussion; 917-767-5283.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Newtown High School Black Box Theatre, curtain 2 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road, tickets $10, matinee performance is final offering of NHS Black Box spring offering.