March 20 brought us the first day of spring. It is hard, sometimes, to believe that beneath the icy surface, new life is awakening.

Bulbs of daffodils and croci are nudged from winter’s slumber. Every snow-free surface begins to show cracks announcing the arrival of green sprouts. And while we want to shout “No! It’s too early! Go back!” nature knows that these hardiest of spring flowers are right on schedule. Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of night (or below freezing temperatures) will keep them from their missions of greeting springtime.

This is a season of new life. Here at The Newtown Bee, we look forward to some fresh offerings popping up, too, in our pages.

In this issue, you will find the first of a semiregular series submitted by Newtown Environmental Action Team (NEAT). This grassroots, environmentally minded group has some “neat” ideas that members will share in NEAT Notes. It is easy to become lackadaisical in our attention to the little things that make our world better, so we welcome a few reminders on caring for our health and that of our planet.

We know who you are. We see you at meetings, in school hallways, at rallies, and at sport events. But Who’s That Bee? While we have no problem identifying our fellow worker Bees, in the “real” world, many do not know who turns your stories into this town’s historical record. Rather than issue antennae to all of our editors and reporters to make them stand out in a crowd, we are taking a more subtle approach. Every other week for the next several, we will be introducing one of the staff members — and he or she will share a “fun fact” about themselves. “Who’s That Bee” will let you in on some of our secret powers — and let you put a face to the name you see in the credit line of articles, and maybe even behind the scenes.

Then there is the Community Buzz. The Newtown Bee is seeking residents, 16 and over, who are interested in taking part in periodic small group conversations. Moderated by a Newtown Bee staff member, each conversation will offer a question crafted by our newsroom — and open it up for a moderated discussion for an hour. Are you up for sharing your thoughts on any subject? Contact editor@thebee.com, subject line Community Buzz, and include your name, address, daytime contact information (including e-mail), and any particular areas of interest. Your input may generate a news story. We hope to host our first conversation on Friday afternoon, April 12, at 3 pm. Five people will be contacted by April 5 if we have enough for a conversation.

We will nurture our new ideas that have sprouted and continue to plant the seeds for others. Like spring’s first flowers, some may fade more quickly than others. (“No! It’s too early! Go back!”) We will push on through, though.

We welcome a change of seasons in every form, and we hope you will, too.