Jethro Tull's Grammy-winning guitarist Martin Barre talked with The Newtown Bee about a couple of his beloved axes, learning to play mandolin, and the creative opportunities he's able to explore as a solo artist ahead of his Ridgefield Playhouse appearance April 24.

A capacity crowd filled The Resiliency Center of Newtown on April 12, when a mandala dissolution ceremony was held following three days of work by visiting monks. Guests were encouraged to let go of their resentments and to try to make themselves as happy as possible during the formal ceremony.

Newtown's 12th annual Earth Day Festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, rain or shine from 10 am until 4 pm.

Newtown, from a cat's point of view.

Newtown’s Liberty and Peace Monument, known by many as the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, received its new halyard rope and American flag on the breezy morning of April 16.

From emergency call dispatchers to Italian neighborhoods, a wide variety of topics were celebrated at the annual Risk A Verse event, sponsored by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, at Newtown Meeting House on April 7.

A topic garnering major news headlines in recent times is the grain-free/boutique diet trend and the possible connection of heart disease. According to the Food and Drug Administration, “dogs that are fed ‘grain free’ food based on lentils, potatoes, and peas” are developing an unusual condition that can cause an enlarged heart.