Ben Pilchard was out in his yard on Butterfield Road on Monday afternoon with his two dogs, bull mastiffs, when he heard a noise that he thought probably was a wild turkey. He looked over a 15-foot drop-off and found himself staring at what has become Newtown’s well-traveled black bear.  Ben says the bear is two-plus times the size of his 160-lb dog, so it probably weighs 300–400 pounds. “It’s cute,” he said, while musing about whether the bear has reached its full size yet.

Ben grabbed some cameras to take photos and admits that at one point he was only about ten feet from the bear. “But I did have a fence between us so I figure I have a few seconds head start” if the bear charged, he said, giving him time enough to reach the safety of his house. Ben said the bear was in his yard for at least 20 minutes, apparently foraging for food, then moved off into the woods.

While bears may be known for their persistence in the search for food, Yvonne Kopins of the Newtown Woman’s Club (GFWC) is known for her persistence in finding just the right gift for someone. She volunteered to create an appropriate gift for Marianne Scanlon in recognition of Marianne’s achievement in writing the award-winning one-act play Happy Holidays, Or Norman Rockwell Doesn’t Live Here that was presented to the club at its luncheon held Thursday, April 15. Yvonne and Lynn Buttner decided an Oscar-type award was needed, so Yvonne got busy. She found a Ken doll, removed its clothes, and spray painted it gold. “I had put it in a shoebox outside to dry in the sun, and a gust of wind came along and blew my gold Ken into a nearby hayfield. When I retrieved him he was covered in straw.”

Since the first Ken had gone for a fatal roll in the hay, another had to be made. Yvonne started all over making a second Ken (Oscar), but she kept this one indoors under lock and key until he was dry. Upon coming to the podium to receive her award, Marianne Scanlon cried real Hollywood tears and thanked “everyone who helped me, and I couldn’t have done it without you.” She said her Ken Oscar would gain a cherished spot on the fireplace mantel, “even though he’s not anatomically correct.”

Speaking of this year’s Newtown Woman’s Club play, it’s only 30 minutes long and it’s hilarious. Members and guests alike laughed and/or cringed, as they recognized its universal message about the nature of families and what happens when the children grow up. Another production of Happy Holidays, Or Norman Rockwell Doesn’t Live Here is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, at 5 pm at the Newtown Meeting House. Tickets may be obtained for $10 from Rosemary Rau at 426-2226, and proceeds will be used to benefit club service projects. Don’t miss this Ken-winning production.

Frank and Ellen LaPak celebrated their 48th anniversary on Wednesday. The couple went out for dinner to celebrate, though the real celebration took the form of a Cape Cod getaway last week.

Nursing student Michelle Robertson says she has collected enough money to enable her to spend a month on a volunteer mission in Ghana. Michelle was featured in The Bee last week in an article that explained how she wanted to take part in a three-week Cross-Cultural Solutions mission but needed to raise more than $3,600 to pay for it. Donors came through and gave more than $4,000 so when she leaves May 21, she will be able to pay for her trip and stay for four weeks.

Carole Ross has advised that “Hank,” the Canadian goose that had made itself at home and befriended her and her family, has flown away, apparently for good. Though he had gone away for as long as one weekend previously, he had returned, but this time it looks like he has left for good.

School was not in session, and taking a cue from that, three of the town’s boards, the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Legislative Council, all cancelled their meetings this week. After all the budget preparation and meetings and public hearings on the budget, the members deserved a week off.

Come to think of it, I’m just as deserving as anyone else, so I’m going to knock off now. But I’ll be back next week, so be sure to…

Read me again.