Belated birthday wishes to Fred Pendergast, who now has three score years under his belt.

Silver out on silver anniversary. Congratulations and best wishes to Newtown Police Department Sergeant Jeff Silver, who retired last week from the local PD. Silver served the Town of Newtown for 25 years. He worked as a Field Training Officer, Commercial Truck Inspector, Traffic Unit Officer, Firearms Instructor, Accident Reconstructionist, Marine Patrol Officer, Administrative Sergeant, and had many other roles and responsibilities throughout his career. Sgt Silver didn’t sit still too long. He started a new chapter on Monday, when he was sworn in as an officer with the Western Connecticut State University Police Department.

Boeing is not having a good year. The multinational corporation has reportedly failed dozens of FAA audits, and is expected to post dismal first quarter numbers according to multiple sources. Don’t let the name scare you, however, if you enjoy some good theater. Town Players of Newtown’s season opener is a crackerjack production of Boeing Boeing, and readers have just a few remaining opportunities to get in on the laughs. Theater Reviewer Matt Austin gave the production high praise after catching one of last weekend’s shows. Read his review in full in this week’s Enjoy section and online. Performances continue at The Little Theatre until Saturday night.

Hang in there a little longer, young bicyclists. Tuesday morning, Newtown Parks & Recreation had to announce the extension of the Bicycle Playground closure. The closure has nothing to do with the new playspace in the center of town. Having opened just last June, the playground is fine. It’s just a little close to the current water line work and related construction equipment for everyone’s comfort. Parks & Rec Director Amy Mangold is playing it safe with the extension. I can support that decision. Gives me a few more days to do my bike safety check and try on my new helmet.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Donation Center at 127 South Main Street is closing as of March 25. The donation center that opened in March 2013 will no longer be operating after Monday, according to a sign posted on its front door this week. Please, I beg you: do not leave items outside that location, or along the road, or anywhere else you know they don’t belong. There are multiple locations in and around town where readers can drop off items for resale or reuse.

Bruce the Spruce is sporting a new outfit this week. With March 17 now behind us for another year, our Production Department’s 3-foot-tall handsome year-round evergreen went from Bruce the Leprechaun Spruce to Bruce the Easter Bunny Spruce earlier this week. Lynn Remson arrived Wednesday morning with a pair of oversized ears, whiskers, and a pink nose for the transition. Following suggestions from co-workers, she also fashioned a pair of teeth and then collaborated with Susie Leniart to create the carrot with which he is now accessorized.

Bruce’s changeover took place about 12 hours ahead of the Spring Equinox. The season began at 11:06 pm Tuesday, which means we have officially finished with Winter 2023-24. Thank you, Punxsutawney Phil. You were correct last month when you promised the remainder of the season would be mild.

If you had any doubt that last weekend was the time to celebrate St Patrick’s Day a little early, all you needed to do was pass through Sandy Hook Center any time Saturday afternoon. Dozens of people responded to the invitation from Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) to put on their best green/Irish and head to the business district for a few hours of fun. SHOP had approximately 80 people participate in its fifth annual pub crawl, which allowed the 21-and-over crowd to have fun while also raising funds for Heritage Park & Trail along Glen Road. SHOP President Mike Burton said this week the fundraiser will allow work for the community space on the Town-owned property to resume soon. Once completed, the park will include a green space extending to the Pootatuck River and a wayfinding map that will note locations along a trail. Those new additions will be on top of the pavilion and 30 public parking places already on-site.

We at 5 Church Hill Road are looking forward this week to two upcoming special events. As mentioned last week, Newtown resident Hayden Hughes recently won the Connecticut Spelling Bee, which means she advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. An email this week from the Scripps folks included mention of Hayden! The email highlighted regional champions, who continue to be crowned as the big event in May continues to approach, and Scripps noted that Hayden’s advance to the national event this year proves that perseverance pays off. When she correctly spelled dropsical on March 3, it was the winning word for her fourth appearance in the state competition, they noted.

Dropsical, by the way, means swollen with an excessive accumulation of fluid. It is not the feeling one feels on a hot day in August when you drop your frozen treat at the beach. I think Hayden’s winning word could be applied to what your eyes look like after you’ve cried over the dropped popsicle, though.

The other thing this cat is looking forward to this week is next week’s 2024 Newtown Bee Peeps Diorama Contest. I can’t wait to see what my fellow Bees have come up with for this year. Entries will be arriving next week, and voting will open midday Thursday, March 28. As in past years, we’ll have a special album of entries available on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/TheNewtownBee). Visitors will be asked to Like their favorite, which will count as a vote toward this year’s Peep-le’s Choice Award.

Remember: you don’t need to follow us or otherwise be affiliated with us to vote in the contest. Anyone with a Facebook account can Like the photo for the entry of their choice. Heck, we even had someone stop by in person to vote last year! Our doors will again be open if that’s your choice. Office doors will be open for voting on Thursday, 12-5 pm; and Friday, March 29, 8 am-noon. Please don’t be late if you want to vote on Friday. The poll will close promptly at noon so that we can check in-house and Peep-le’s Choice voting right away.

Also remember that if you’re creating your own Peeps Diorama, please share your photos as comments on the diorama contest photo album. I’d love to see what readers come up with.

Speaking of next weekend, the Ladies Auxiliary of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue plan to present the annual Easter Flower Sale on Friday and Saturday, March 29-30. Members of the auxiliary will be at the Sandy Hook main station, 18-20 Riverside Road, from 10 am until 6 pm each day. Payment is cash or check only. The sale regularly offers lilies, hydrangeas, and other seasonal favorites. Proceeds benefit the auxiliary, the support group for the fire company. The auxiliary is also hosting a raffle, with those who offer a monetary or food donation for FAITH Food Pantry given an opportunity to win a beautiful Easter basket.

I don’t see catnip in the list of offerings above. Maybe next year. Meanwhile, I do see a Peeps diorama in my immediate future. I have to put the finishing touches on my entry before next Thursday morning. I’ll let you know how that goes if you promise to come back next week to … read me again.