If you think your spring chores are tough, consider the work the guys are doing at The Pleasance. Last weekend, Brian Sacco, Chris Sacco, Kenny Joyce, Emory Klein, and Jerry Wilson put down 300 bags of mulch in the little park at 1 Main Street and edged all the gardens there. The place looks great, however, and all the work was worth it. At least one passerby agreed. An unidentified woman in a red car stopped by to voice her appreciation for their work on The Pleasance and dropped off soda and water to help sustain them in their work.

Marilyn Alexander attended a very special performance April 23 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. One of the 60 high school students performing at the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition was her grandson, Mark Stater. Mark is a junior at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Fla., and had competed against 16,000 students nationwide to make it to the New York City event. Contestants were required to memorize and interpret Shakespearean sonnets and monologues at three qualifying levels and show that they understand The Bard and how to communicate his writing. Ah, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears….”

In mid-April a contingent of local firefighters attended the annual Fire Department Instructors Conference, a large convention for firefighters that was held in Indianapolis. Botsford Fire Chief Wayne Ciaccia explained that the event was very informative, providing local firefighters with the latest information on how best to fight fires and handle various emergencies. The training classes offered there were conducted by the best fire instructors in the United States, said Chief Ciaccia. Other firefighters from Newtown attending the convention were Marc Ouelette, Mike Easter, Andrew White, and Dave Ober. Mr Ober, of Newtown Hook & Ladder, is a deputy fire marshal for the town.

Newtown resident Jennifer Thermes will be offering a program at Woodbury Public Library next weekend. Jennifer will be at the library Saturday, May 12, at 10 am, to read her book Sam Bennett’s New Shoes and then talk about the history behind her stories. She will also talk about how picture books are created. The library is at 269 Main Street South, and can be reached by calling 263-3512.

Army National Guard Specialist Carl Bergquist and 369 other service men and women in the 102nd Infantry returned to Connecticut on Saturday, April 21, after spending the past year in Afghanistan. Welcome home soldiers, and thanks for all you’ve done.

I saw Baro, the police dog, and Fergus, the town’s bloodhound, last weekend at a canine show at Quassy Amusement Park. The German shepherd and the bloodhound both looked pretty fit to me. Baro was being handled by police patrol Officer Andy Stinson, assisted by Officer Lenny Penna. Fergus, who is attached to Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue (NUSAR), was being handled by NUSAR Lieutenant Paula Wickman.

It’s amazing some of the odd stuff that you’ll find along the road once you take the trouble to look for it. Newtown Lions Club members and others found that out last Saturday when they took part in the annual Lose the Litter Day, a roadside cleanup project. The volunteers collected an estimated 1,000 pounds of waste from along the roads in trying to make Newtown a prettier place.

Kids and adults representing Newtown Youth Services went to several dozen senior citizens’ residences last Saturday as part of Independent Living Day. The annual spring program provides seniors with volunteer labor to accomplish tasks that they would have difficulty doing by themselves. After all that volunteer work, Newtown is looking pretty good as we begin May

I notice that now that the weather has gotten warmer, police are gradually making the switch from their winter uniforms to their summer uniforms. So short-sleeved dress shirts are becoming the order of the day. Before too long, all of the officers will be wearing the hot weather gear.  They may look cooler on the outside, but the officers confess that no one’s come up with summer weight Kevlar body armor, so they’re still pretty warm even with short sleeves.

As you may have noticed, my summer outfit is the same as my winter outfit — black fur. I think I need a saucer of cool milk. But I’ll be back, so be sure to…

Read me again.