Bill and Joan Lavery of Newtown joined former Newtowners Melissa Pilchard and Ann Krane for dinner this past month at Joan Hamilton Day’s Jupiter, Fla., home where Joan, a Regency resident, winters. Ann and Melissa are former Legislative Council members, and Ann served on the Town Hall Board of Managers in Newtown. All of the dinner pals were (and are) very active in Newtown politics for many years, so I have no doubt that many people will recognize their smiling faces in this photo Melissa shared with us.

There’s no escaping April Fools’ Day, but I hope you managed to make it through this past Wednesday without too much egg on your face. This day of pranks is celebrated worldwide, an offshoot of the 16th Century Gregorian calendar reform that moved New Year’s Day to January 1. Those who didn’t get the messenger on horseback (the day’s equivalent to the twitter) continued to celebrate on April 1, and became laughing stocks to those in the know. Over the centuries, the day of ridicule spread from Europe to other countries, including the American colonies. The “kick me” sign on the seat of the pants? That’s from the Scottish “Taily Day” when you can become the butt of a joke, literally and figuratively. In England, it is bad luck to play a prank after noon on April 1. (So I guess if you lay low and go to work late you are home safe.) Other countries have their versions of April Fools’ Day that fall on days in late March, but still go for the gaff with gusto. How about throwing flour (not flowers) at your friends, as is the Portuguese custom, according to one website I put my paws on. Sounds messy — I suppose I should be grateful for the silliness of things like the trick faucets and fake “reminders” that greeted me.

Young chess players have the opportunity to take advantage of the knowledge of US Chess Federation Candidate Master Glenn Budzinski. For just a $25 donation to the C.H. Booth Library, eight youngsters between the ages of 8 and 12 can sign up at the library (426-4533) for a series of five, one-hour lessons from Mr Budzinski, beginning Saturday, April 18, from 11:30 am to 12:30 am. Sounds like this would be a good “move” for budding chess enthusiasts.

Here comes Peter Cottontail! Dickinson Park Pavilion is going to be the hot-spot this weekend. Parks and Recreation is sponsoring egg hunts for all ages, beginning Friday evening from 7:45 to 8:15 pm, when Newtowners ages 9 and up, armed with flashlights, will scour the fields for Easter eggs. On Saturday morning, the little egg hunters ages 3 to 8.99 (according to the P&R brochure) get a chance to unearth some Easter treats and take part in spring activities from 10 am to noon. Register for both of these free events online at newtown-ct.gov.

All this egg talk can lead to only one thing: the Good Egg Award. Maybe it’s the season, but this week I am going to bestow the Good Egg Award on four local do-gooders who have been nominated. Nelson “Skip” Roberts is “the kind of guy who does a lot of stuff unobtrusively, and is modest and humble,” says Skip’s nominator. Skip has served on the building committee for Newtown Congregational Church, sings in the choir there, was the chairman of P&Z when they brought in regulations to town, is a Rotarian, and a FISH driver, as well — not too shabby for a guy in his 80s.

Any one of thousands could have nominated this Good Egg: Eunice Laverty, owner of Bagel Delight. “She is so nice to all of the teens in town,” I hear, “and donated bagels for the cast and crew of the NMS 110 In The Shade production this winter. All of the businesses in town are so strapped, but she is always friendly and sweet.” There are plenty of organizations in town that benefit from Eunice’s generosity, always provided in her usual understated manner.

A Newtown parent wants everyone to know what a Good Egg Rhonda Cullens is. Rhonda and her husband take and share NHS track and field photos with the many other team member parents (and The Bee, too). Rhonda is just one of those people always willing to go out of her way to be helpful, says her fan.

But wait — there’s more! Someone in town thinks that Kitty Latowicki of the NHS Career Center deserves some recognition for all the support and help she offers high school students searching for the right post-college path. “This may be Mrs Latowicki’s ‘job,’ but I feel she needs to be recognized for being outstanding at what she does. We are so grateful that we have Mrs Latowicki as a resource,” says this parent of senior at NHS.

So to all of these Newtowners who do their part to make someone’s day just a little better, congratulations! You are a Good Egg!

Here’s some egg-stra good news: Andy Corson of Sandy Hook’s American Artisan Bakery (hot from the ovens in St John’s basement kitchen) is getting some national recognition. If you go to bonappetit.com, search for United Plates, and select Connecticut, you will find Andy’s delicious alfajor cookies featured there. The caramel chocolate confections won the hearts of editors at Bon Appetit magazine, and if you get a chance to chomp into one at the Blue Z, where they are sold, no doubt you’ll be hooked, too.

I’ve got my $5 clutched in my paw and I am high-tailin’ it to the C.H. Booth Library, Newtown Drug Center, or the Queen Street Cleaners — whichever has their pet door open — to get a raffle ticket for the furnished and lighted dollhouse created by the Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC, Inc. Several of the club members have installed miniature carpets, tiny pictures, and lots of teensy-weensy handmade furniture in the beautiful minihome that is on display at the C.H. Booth Library until May 21, when the winner will be selected. The winner of the dollhouse will also receive a $100 gift certificate to Mirabella Miniatures in Fairfield. The Newtown GFWC will use the proceeds of the raffle to support various clubs and organizations in the community. So even if I don’t win, I know my money has gone to a good cause.

It would do my cause good, of course, if next week you take the time to…. Read me again.