How is it that rabbits and baby chicks have come to be associated with Easter? The bald eagle gets the patriotic holidays, the reindeer gets Christmas, the turkey gets Thanksgiving, and we black cats are stuck with Halloween. I think the associations of animals with all these holidays is pretty easy to figure out –– but rabbits and chicks?

OK, Easter is about rebirth and new life, and I guess rabbits do have a reputation for regenerating themselves lickety-split, or hippity-hop, I should say. And I suppose the chick’s journey from yoke to yellow fluff is a transcendent experience, so I’ll concede the holiday to them. The problem is that for the purposes of celebration on Easter, the actual rabbits and chicks are replaced by their chocolate and marshmallow stand-ins. If you go overboard, as I sometimes do, with these confectionary critters, you will be transcending your waistband before May Day. If you want a preview of this plumping phenomenon, the marshmallow chicks, marketed in all the stores as “Peeps,” have a remarkable property that will help you visualize their effects on you. Pop a Peep in the microwave for a minute. The chick you put in will come out the size of a fryer.

The Ukrainian ladies once again put on an egg-decorating workshop last weekend at Olga Paproski’s place on Hattertown Road. As always, the eggs were exquisite, reflecting the very methodical and painstaking craft that has evolved over generations. The Easter egg methods aren’t always so precise over at the St Rose Rectory, however.

Father Bob has been spending his spare time during the last few weeks putting together Easter baskets for the sale that will be held at the St Rose parish hall this weekend. He assembles them on the large ottoman in front of the television set in his bedroom. Apparently, one of the baskets will have an added surprise, besides the candy, stuffed animals, and other typical Easter fare. Father Bob hasn’t been able to find his TV remote control and is pretty sure that the device must have found its way into the bottom of one of the baskets. If someone buys a basket and finds the remote, Father Bob would appreciate it if would be returned. He’s tired of watching the Weather Channel.

This month Louise Tambascio is celebrating 25 years in business. She started out as a waitress at My Place restaurant when it was located in the Queen Street shopping center, then took it over with sons John and Mark. Many residents will remember that they had just completed a renovation of the restaurant in 1996 when the space was taken by Big Y, so My Place moved into the old post office building, where it has been happily ensconced every since.

Supporters of the Newtown Friends of Music might not be aware that Travilla Deming of Redding, who has been writing publicity releases for the group for the past eight years, is moving away. Mrs Deming plans to join her daughter in Tucson, Ariz., and she has a son in Southern California, so she will be heading west come fall. “We’re sad about losing her,” said Ellen Parrella, president of the group. Mrs Deming, who is 92, was a writer for years for radio serials and stories, including First Night, Adventure and Aunt Jenny’s Real Life Stories. She says she loves her little house off Hattertown Road, but “even though you want to be independent, it’s not good to be too old and living alone.”

Assistant Superintendent Alice Jackson celebrated a birthday April 8, and she brought her leftover birthday cake to the school board meeting that night. She graciously offered it to everyone on hand, which included board members, a union representative, and a reporter. Board member Earl Gordon, still in stingy mode from budget discussions, thought the cake should be divided only in executive session. But Ms Jackson’s southern hospitality took over. She even tried to get people to take cake home.

The Board Of Education took a five-minute break after 9 pm during Tuesday night’s board meeting. Just about everyone there was looking for a way to find out the score to the UConn women’s basketball game. The television in the board room has basic cable, no ESPN there, and the walls are so thick at Canaan House the radio could not get good reception on any AM station. Fortunately, the meeting ended just after the second half ended, at least for the audience. The board took what birthday cake was left and went into executive session.

Students will be out of school next week enjoying their April vacations. Hopefully Mother Nature will have pity on them and give them a few springlike days to enjoy. The winter was so fierce that the students will be in school until June 23; except of course for seniors who will graduate on the 180th day of school –– Wednesday, June 18.

That’s enough pomp and circumstance for now, but I’ll be back next week, so…

Read me again.