We were saddened to hear over the past weekend of the unexpected passing of Bridget Seaman, who staffed one of the front office desks at The Bee for many years. Though COVID concerns kept her out of the office this past year, the echoes of her wry comments and mischievous chuckle seemed ever present. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

Did my jaw drop when reading New York Times columnist Gail Collins’ April 14 op-ed “Our Firearms Problems Just Keep Piling Up”? I’ll say! She casually dropped into the verbal conversation on gun disasters that early on in her career she was a part-time reporter for... The Newtown Bee! Most likely from the era when stories were not bylined and stringers from around the area provided news, no one currently on staff was aware that Collins had been a contributor before going on to her esteemed career. I was sad, though, that the name of our newspaper was hand in hand with yet another article pondering the gun problem in America.

Congratulations to Tony Scott of Monroe, who last week won the election to fill the 112th District legislative seat vacancy. Though he represents just a small piece of Newtown, I’m sure he will not forget our town when he goes to Hartford.

A delightful pop of purple could be seen along the Main Street sidewalks this past weekend as grape hyacinths bloomed in the grass. Seeing the flowers was a welcome reminder that, despite some cold days, springtime is truly upon us.

We heard from a few concerned readers last weekend, after Pizza Palace went dark suddenly. The bad news is, the Church Hill Road mainstay did indeed close... temporarily. That’s the good news. Signs posted on the entrance doors indicate the restaurant’s owners were playing it safe after one of their employees “became compromised,” the note said, with COVID-19. Pizza Palace hopes to reopen between Friday, April 23 and Monday, April 26. We’re happy to hear that.

We are also happy to hear from more readers following the publication of “The ABCs of Newtown: C is For Cullens.” (The Newtown Bee, March 19, 2021). Louise Baker reached out after that story was published, sharing personal reflections and notes about the late Reverend Paul Cullens and his successor, Alastair Sellars. We hope readers are enjoying that series, which continues this week with “D is For Dodgingtown.”

A pair of local annual events have again been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After weeks of discussions and deliberations, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company has announced that LobsterFest 2021 will not happen. This is the second year the popular two-day event is not being presented, breaking a streak that had been unbroken since 1988. Members are already working on special events and a few new fundraisers in upcoming months. Additionally, the dates of Friday and Saturday, June 10-11, 2022, have been announced for next year.

Also, the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown quietly announced that Newtown Day 2021 has been postponed. Last year’s event was canceled, and this year’s had initially been planned for late July. The chamber’s weekly e-mail blast last week noted that the family-friendly event with food trucks, a beverage garden, live music, vendors and more has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 2. We will continue to watch that one, too, with huge hopes that life will allow everyone to safely gather at special events like that sooner rather than later.

Did you hear about a very special helicopter flight this past Monday? NASA’s helicopter on Mars, Ingenuity, made the first successful flight by an aircraft on another planet. Sciencenews.org reported that the little ’copter lifted about three meters off the ground before landing again. The very thin air on Mars made this quite a feat, and successful liftoffs and landings are pretty much the 31-day mission of the helicopter, which was launched from the rover Perseverance earlier in April. What NASA scientists learn from this test is the feasibility of future flights on Mars that will help with exploration. Pretty cool.

One event that hasn’t been canceled or postponed is this weekend’s virtual benefit performance for Protect Our Pollinators (POP). Performer and voice teacher Jackie Gaudet will be joined by singer-songwriter Shaun Mangold and high school student Katie Bissett for a program that will includes works from Stephen Schwartz to Jason Mraz, with novelty songs mixed in. The special event is scheduled to begin at 8 pm, Saturday, April 24, and will include piano accompaniment by Susan Anthony-Klein, and flute on some selections by Jennifer Anthony-Bogue. Donations will be accepted and forwarded to the Newtown-based POP, which advocates for sustainable gardening methods to benefit native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. For additional information and to view the concert, search for Protect Our Pollinators (not Protect Our Pollinators MA) on Facebook.

Along with the Lions Club events this coming Saturday — a Treasure Hunt collection and Lose the Litter — remember that Ben’s Lighthouse is holding a No-Touch, Drive-Through Gift Card Drive behind Reed Intermediate School, from 9 am to 1 pm. Gift cards from Stop & Shop, Bit Y, Caraluzzi’s , ShopRite, Subway, and gas stations are being collected and will go to Newtown Social Services.

Good news, too, for anyone who has not yet been able to follow the StoryWalk at Fairfield Hills. The Good Dogs, Great Listeners storyboards from the Charlotte Helen Bacon Foundation will remain in place through Sunday, April 25. To read the story, start the walk from the parking lot near Glander Field and follow the trail around to the cul-de-sac on Keating Farms Avenue.

I cautiously sated my natural curiosity in the past days by peeking into local businesses; and I’ve found that there seems to be a steadier number of shoppers frequenting the stores, salons, and spas in town — maybe due to the greater number of people fully vaccinated? It is a good thing to see, and I was also happy to observe that people continue to take it slow and easy, wearing masks and being respectful of physical distancing. It’s a great thing for our hometown businesses to be busy again!

Which reminds me to remind you again: Mmasks will probably be a part of the everyday wardrobe for some time to come. So if you’re looking to expand your collection, why not dip into your creative talents and get a free, handmade mask from The Bee? If you can craft something from the pages of The Newtown Bee, please take a photo and share it with eliza@thebee.com. Three of these special masks are still looking for their forever homes... or forever faces, should I say?

Readers can look forward to a special, seasonal column coming their way, beginning on May 7. Well known and well respected gardening author and poet (and Newtown resident!) Sydney Eddison will debut a column that week that will continue through the fall. We are excited to hear from her on a variety of gardening subjects in coming weeks.

If you are a musician who can bring your talent to the Housatonic River on Memorial Day, May 31, you might want to check with the American Legion Post 202, which has been seeking participants for this year’s “Taps Along The Housatonic.” Beginning at 10:10 am that Monday, the Legion hopes to position players from Eichler’s Cove, going northward along the river to Brookfield, each echoing “Taps.” Contact americanlegionnewtown@gmail.com or call 203-577-9568 to volunteer.

I’ve got a big “X” on my calendar for next Tuesday, April 27, to remind myself to vote in the referendum, and I hope you do, too. It was a little disappointing to see that fewer than 500 of the 2,300 eligible voters in town chose to cast a vote in the 112th District election on April 13. When it comes to the town and education budgets, there is a lot at stake. Town officials count on the outcome of the referendum to let them know what residents want, so it is important to scoot on over to Newtown Middle School, April 27, between 6 am and 8 pm; or contact the Town Clerk for absentee voting information.

There will be nothing absentee about me in my search for news. Be sure next week to... Read me again.