The wind blew me past the Blue Z Coffeehouse last Saturday night, and I thought for a minute it had blown me clear to New York City and the art scene there. The place was wall-to-wall with visitors to the new “Source and Surrender” art show opening by local artist Joanne Keane. I squeezed in to take a gander at the exhibit and was greeted by the pounding beat of the Drum Bums and the sweet tunes of guitar/violin duo Sunberry Tree. It was, I have to say, a very unNewtownlike atmosphere, and I don’t mean that in a bad way, at all.

That same breezy weather blew the Easter Bunny off course, and he couldn’t hide his eggs for the Parks and Rec egg hunts last Friday night and Saturday morning — but never fear. Parks and Rec has rescheduled the Egg Hunt for Saturday, April 11, from 10 am to noon, and the Flashlight Hunt for 7:45 pm, also on Saturday, April 11. Meet at the Dickinson pavilion off of Elm Drive for both free events. For more information, call Parks and Rec at 270-4340.

I had to force my paws not to turn on Animal Planet this week while supporting HOM Elementary School students’ efforts in recognizing TV Turnoff Week. The PTA at the school organized daily events for students and families to participate in, instead of watching their favorite after school programs. I wonder if I will have to recognize the effort again, since it is nationally recognized at the end of this month? Hopefully no one will install a television at The Bee before then, but if they do, I’m sure TVTurnOff.org, a website hosted by Screen Time Awareness, will help me come up with alternatives.

It’s the tag sale time of year, and the Matte family is holding a very special one Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, at 27 Taunton Lake Road, from 10 am to 3 pm. Kristin and Brian Matte’s 9-year-old daughter, Sara, was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in 2005. The tag sale proceeds will go 100 percent to support the Arthritis Foundation in honor of Sara. Kristin and Brian also want to remind everyone about the upcoming April 25 Arthritis Walk at the WestConn O’Neill Center. Register online at DanburyAW.kintera.org.

A cat can savor food a bit past its prime, but when it comes to people, expired food is a no-no. That’s why I’m sending out an important message about this year’s Postal Food Drive, set for May 9. On that day, volunteers coordinated through Newtown Social Services will be helping local postal carriers picking up, delivering, and sorting food donations. Unfortunately, last year ONE-THIRD of the food donated had to be trashed because it was so far past expiration it was not fit for human consumption. While the annual postal food collection is a great excuse to clean out your cabinets, please be sure you check the expiration date on each item you put out for collection. Many Newtowners rely on the local Social Services Food Pantry to get by, especially during this year’s harsh economic conditions. Please be mindful of the expiration dates when you donate, and please give generously.

I know that passersby have often mistaken my paw dance on the window as a mime show (“Let me out!”), but apparently Brazilian mime and storyteller Antonio Rocha has me beat. Antonio was at Newtown Middle School this past week and friends tell me they had a fine time at the PTA Cultural Arts Committee event where he shared stories come from all over the world.

Congratulations, Bob Murray! His story was selected from hundreds of entries to be posted on the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s website, als-mda.org, on Sunday, May 10. Bob’s story of his life since 2005 when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) is part of the MDA “Anyone’s Life” story series. Each day during May, ALS Awareness Month, one person affected by ALS will be featured. My calendar is set to remind me to read Bob’s entry next month.

Lori Zezza, associate director of development for Ann’s Place in Danbury, wants to give a belated but heart-felt thank you to Las Mamasitas Relay For Life Team, for helping at the wine tasting event, February 28, at the Booth Library. The group was inadvertently overlooked in an earlier acknowledgement, and Lori wants them to know how much their help was appreciated.

Spring just makes you want to burst into verse, so it’s no wonder that April is National Poetry Month. My caterwauling might not be construed as the lovely free verse I think it is, so I went to poets.org to find out how to celebrate the month. How about poetry in your pocket? Write your favorite poem on a slip of paper, and carry it around until April 30, then share it with other verse-loving friends. A free verse project combines temporary constructions of poetry captured on film, and you can sign up for a poem-a-day sent to your e-mail. Don’t forget — our library has a wealth of poetry books, too.

What’s that?? A decorated purple toilet in my front yard?? Relax, and check it out before calling the police. The Bedazzled Throne Fundraiser may have bedazzled you. The Newtown United Methodist Church youth group is raising awareness and funds for World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine, in which they will participate, May 8–9. But from now through May 8, the throne can be sent to someone’s front yard (anyone can participate, not just NUMC members) for a donation of $5, and it will cost the homeowner $10 to have it removed from their yard. Paperwork attached to the throne includes a pair of phone numbers for homeowners to call for members of the NUMC Youth Group to remove the throne ASAP. A $5 advance donation, though, buys an “insurance policy” against the throne’s arrival. “Any amount of donation will be graciously received,” said Austin Hall, a youth group member and project coordinator. “We just ask everyone to remember that this is for the sole purpose of raising money for World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine and not just some teenage prank.” To bedazzle someone, call NUMC’s office at 426-9998 for more information.

Now, if only there was an insurance policy to guarantee that next week you will… Read me again.