I spent Tuesday humming “Happy Birthday to me,” under my breath all day. Okay, it wasn’t my birthday, but it was the 31st birth date of the “Top of the Mountain” column. That’s right — more than three decades of unearthing the news around town that everyone truly wants to know. Pretty good for a cool kitty, I say.

“Happy Birthday” was also the tune being sung by Girl Scouts and former Girl Scouts on Monday, March 12, when the organization celebrated its 100th birthday. Started in Savannah, Ga., by Juliette Gordon Low (who sold her pearls to fund the fledging group), GSA has provided thousands of girls worldwide with the opportunities to grow physically and mentally, and gain self-confidence. Happy Birthday, and many more, GSA!

I hope by the time this hits the stands that no one is still running an hour behind everyone else. Daylight Saving Time kicked in during the wee hours of Sunday, March 3. More importantly, I hope you remembered to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The dates of the spring and fall time changes are the perfect way to remember to replace batteries in these lifesaving devices. If you haven’t done so yet, get out the stepladder and do that, pronto!

I donned my Ray Bans and headed to the Red Sox spring training games last week, arriving in Fort Myers, Fla., in time to catch the very first game ever played in the new Red Sox JetBlue Park. As happens by tradition, that game was played against the Boston Northeastern University baseball team, and one very familiar Husky player stepped up to the plate that afternoon. Former NHS baseball player R.J. Roman now plays for his college team, the NU Huskies. It was pretty exciting to be in the stands and see a hometown guy take a swing against a major league pitcher.

Choreographer Irene Horgan will bring some of her 2012 prize-winning Star Troupe dancers to Nunnawauk Meadows next week. Residents are invited to join Miss Irene, director of the family-owned Horgan Academy of Irish Dance in Naugatuck, and her students for a performance at 3:15 on Wednesday, March 21, in the Nunnawauk Meadows Community Building, on Nunnawauk Road. There is no charge, but reservations are suggested; call 203-426-5000.

I’m ready to trot (or gallop) right over to McLaughlin Vineyard, 14 Albert’s Hill Road, later this month, when the Newtown Bridle Lands Association is hosting a wine tasting and silent auction fundraiser. Residents are invited to join NBLA members for catered refreshments, wine tastings, and a silent auction of items to include restaurant gift certificates, wine gift baskets, riding lessons, a fitness workout certificate, home architectural assessment, and more, Saturday, March 31, at the local vineyard. Reservations are $30 per person. NBLA will use proceeds to continue clearing, maintaining, and preserving trail systems throughout town. Send e-mail to NewtownHorses@gmail.com, call 203-791-4853, or send a check to NBLA, PO Box 3083, Newtown CT 06470.

Women pin, men tack. That’s what I found out at gentlemint.com, the male counterpart to the oh-so-popular Pinterest visual social network. What I haven’t found yet, are any guys who are tacking their interests to a gentlemint page. Anyone, anyone? Bueller?

Literature and art lovers get a double whammy when they stop by the displays on the main floor of C.H. Booth Library these days. Just a few steps away from an amazing display of Spirit Dolls by local artist Paula Brinkman Hughes, librarian Kim Weber has set up an ode to Charles Dickens, complete with party hat, in celebration of what would have been the 19th Century author’s 200th birthday this year. And for those who missed Kim’s awesome Downton Abbey and related reading display at the library, check out vulture.com for your very own print-out Downton Abbey paper dolls. (If you are an Abbey fan, you’ll know what I mean. If not, carry on.)

I’m sad to report that Ronan, the 8-year-old Irish wolfhound belonging to Joe Schlesinger of Sawmill Ridge Road, has moved on from this earthly realm to that eternally sunny meadow where someone is always throwing a stick. Ronan was featured in a photo in The Bee a few years ago when he was a much younger (but very large) pup. Joe reports that Ronan lived a long and happy life for a wolfhound; they usually don’t live much longer than six or seven years. Ronan, shown here with Joe, grew to be well over six feet long and at one point weighed 195 pounds.

Newtown High School will be finished with its production of Sweeney Todd by next weekend, so if you find yourself in withdrawal from young adult theatrical performances (everyone went to the Newtown Middle School performance of Bye Bye Birdie last weekend, right?) Bethel High School, 300 Whittlesey Drive, may have the answer. The school’s On Stage Players will present two performances of the children’s play Jack and The Beanstalk, Saturday, March 24, at 1 and 3 pm. Tickets are $5, but bring a can of beans and buy tickets at the door for $4. The canned goods will be donated to Bethel’s food pantry.

Newtown Rotary Club and its youth counterpart, Reed Interact Club, will co-sponsor a blood drive Saturday, March 24, from 8 am to 12:45 pm, in the cafeteria at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane. Appointments are available, but walk-ins will be welcomed. The blood drive will be ongoing the same day Newtown Parent Connection presents Parent Empowerment University 2012 (see related story in this week’s Bee), so don’t let the full parking lot startle you. There will be plenty of room for anyone going in to donate blood. Blood donors need to be at least 18 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. For more information or to make an appointment, call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org.

Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) reminds residents that it is time for their annual Easter baskets collection. On Thursday, March 29, WIN members will gather at Mandy Monaco’s home to create baskets for Newtown Social Services, Healing Hearts, Harmony House, and AIDS Interfaith Ministry in Danbury. The women buy the candy for the baskets and rely on a lot of donations for the baskets themselves, along with filler grass and gently used stuffed animals. If you have any of these Easter basket “ingredients” available, donations can be dropped off at The Bee (5 Church Hill Road) any time Monday through Friday, between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm, or left in the vestibule at the end of the sidewalk to the right of the front door, no later than Tuesday, March 27. If you would like to get items to Mandy directly or have any questions, give her a call at 203-426-5600. If you can help, hop to it!

I started the week humming “Happy Birthday,” but I’m ending it whistling “The Wearing o’ the Green,” in anticipation of celebrating St Patrick’s Day this Saturday, and working on my Irish purr. The best thing about St Patrick’s Day (besides the green food) is knowing that the official start to spring is on its heels.

I’ll be reporting on any Leprechaun mischief I get wind of, and the first days of spring next week, so be sure to… Read me again.