With approximately 5,500 Newtown children riding school buses twice a day, the logistics of scheduling arrivals and departures at the various schools for Newtown’s fleet of 40 buses is an administrative nightmare, as Newtown found out last fall, when Newtown went from a four-tier to a three-tier bus system. Because of budgetary and scheduling constraints, middle school students were forced to ride with high school students. This caused more than a little angst on the part of some parents. However, there is one longtime Newtown resident, Robert Bambino of Swamp Road, Botsford, who believes we should keep these things in perspective.

“Back in 1951 when I was in kindergarten, there were kids from Easton attending Newtown High School. [All the grades were combined at Hawley School, including primary level students whose one-room schoolhouses had closed.] There was a big station wagon full of Easton kids that came up South Main into Newtown every day, and it went right by my house. They would pick me up, and I was the only 6-year-old riding in a car full of high school seniors. I had a ball.” The world was a different place back then — dirt roads and woodie wagons.

Readers of the book, The Relationship Edge in Business, that Wally Wood co-wrote with Scottsdale, Ariz., sales consultant Jerry Acuff, might notice familiar names in the acknowledgements. Jerry Acuff credited Mary Maki for ably performing the arduous task of deciphering his handwriting when she typed the manuscript. And he also thanked Wally’s wife, Marian, for her support and contributions to the book.

Ann Marie Zboray Rhyne called from Hawaii this week to inquire whether there are any plans to hold a 25th reunion for the Newtown High School Class of 1979. Ann Marie says she needs to find out soon to make travel plans. Her email address is ramk3rhyne@juno.com if anyone would like to get in touch with her about the reunion or just to chat.

The residents on Main Street held their annual progressive dinner Saturday night. Last year inclement weather forced the group into the Booth Library, but this year Shane and George Miller, who live in the Budd House across from town hall, volunteered their barn so everyone gathered there for food and drink.

In other news from the barn, I am saddened to report that Barbara and Don Butler suffered a loss this past week. Their beloved 9½-year-old brown cow, How Now, passed away. Fortunately, How Now’s sister, Daisy, is still part of the Butler clan. Barbara has raised Daisy and How Now since they were about 8 weeks old.

Lorraine Hurley is quite pleased with the fact that she won $86.20 in her wagers on the Kentucky Derby. Not a big gambler, Lorraine says she simply played combinations of her grandchildren’s ages, 1, 3, and 5, at the Catskill Off-track Betting site in Brewster, N.Y., then came home and watched the Derby on television.

Local organizers of the Relay for Life event that is planned at the Newtown High School Track on Saturday, June 12, are looking for cancer survivors and caregivers to attend the free honorary dinner and ceremony that night. The dinner will be followed by a symbolic walk around the track and a luminaria ceremony. For more information call Barbara Baldino at 270-1049, Shane Miller at 364-1029, or Peg Redmond at 426-3937, or email relaysurvivor@yahoo.com.

Marsha Moskowitz and Barbara Donahue went to Harbor Yard early on the morning tickets went on sale for the performance of Elton John. After receiving bracelets with high numbers, each called home to have people buy tickets online. Their success rate was high, as each person ordered and bought eight tickets for the Wednesday performance. Karen Finlayson of Karen’s Fitness Studio and her women and men’s workout groups divided up the 24 tickets. Transportation was not a problem. Marsha drove her yellow bus to the concert, accommodating all 21 passengers. Parking was easy and finding the bus at the end of the concert was not a problem, as there were no other “yellow” short buses in the parking lot! At the end of the evening, everyone agreed: Elton Rocks!

Finally, don’t forget to do something special for dear old Mom this Sunday. Mother’s Day is supposed to be the day when mothers everywhere are supposed to get a break, sit down, put their feet up, and forget about everything they usually take care. Of course, if that really happened, the world would probably come to an end.

This column has come to an end, but somehow it regenerates itself every week, to be sure to…

Read me again.