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HERALD COMMUNITY: Kids hunt spring bounty

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   Despite the chilly weather Saturday morning, residents were out and about with baskets in hand to hunt for eggs at several local events held throughout the area.
   ”It’s a great turnout even with the cold weather,” Councilman Peter Yeager said. “Kids were happy. It was a great morning.”
   Around 200 children participated in East Windsor’s annual egg hunt at Etra Lake Park.
   ”It is a very nice family event with the young children having a fun time in our beautiful Etra Lake Park,” Mayor Janice Mironov said Tuesday.
   The highlight of the event for Mayor Mironov was seeing “the happiness displayed on all the children’s faces.”
   The East Windsor Recreation Commission has been hosting this for approximately 20 years, Mayor Mironov said.
   ”The Recreation Commission assists with organizing the event and publicizing the date and location,” she said.
   The Hightstown High School Red Cross Club volunteers during the egg hunt with setup, which includes dividing areas into divisions of grades, including one pre-kindergarten group and three groups of two grades each, such as the fourth and fifth grades.
   Youngsters had to discover 4,000 eggs and candy treats at the park. Sixteen volunteers participated.
   Elyse Zilocchi, 16, of East Windsor, who is a volunteer at the Red Cross Club and has played the role of the Easter Bunny for the past two years, enjoyed her role.
   ”I like to do it for the kids,” Elyse said Sunday. “It makes me happy.”
   He mom, Gina Zilocchi, added, “Although no one can see her face in the costume with each picture taken with little ones, she smiled.”
   ”It was just a lot of fun, fun, fun!” Christina Zilocchi, 9, said.
   She is Elyse’s sister.
   ”As in past years, the volunteers assist in making this year’s egg hunt a success,” Mayor Mironov said. “The assistance provided by the Red Cross Club student volunteers is very valuable to the township’s ability to keep the egg hunt orderly and fun for all who participate. The township is extremely grateful for the Red Cross Club’s continuous support.”
   Youngsters described the event in simply terms.
   ”Good,” said Madison Seminerio, 5, of East Windsor.
   Her brother, Nicholas Seminerio, 8, said it was “Epic.”
   ”I think it’s a really nice thing for the town to do,” said Nicholas’ mom, Christine Seminerio, of East Windsor. “I think it’s a really nice Easter egg hunt. The other ones that we have been to aren’t as nice with the candy.”
   Many of the children found large chocolate lollipops during the egg hunt, and solid chocolate bunnies were handed out by the Recreation Department at the end of the hunt.
   ”Fun for the family,” said Beth Dohm, of East Windsor. “It’s great that the township provides this.” And “It’s great to see friends and neighbors.”
   For Brynn Dohm, 9, of East Windsor, this was her first time participating in the egg hunt.
   ”It was fun. Even though it was cold, it was worth it,” Brynn said.
   She also enjoyed meeting up with her friends and being able to participate with them in several hunts throughout the morning. They started out in East Windsor and met up an hour later at the Twin Rivers Community Trust.
   Twin Rivers held its annual Twin Rivers Community Trust egg hunt on the Community Room grounds at 10 a.m.
   Residents were invited to participate and hunt for eggs they could turn in afterward for prizes. After the hunt, children had the opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny and take a picture.
   Refreshments were available in the Community Room.
   The Hightstown-East Windsor Lions Club hosted its 76th egg hunt in Association Park in Hightstown at 9 a.m.
   ”The best part of the event is when the children come into collect their prizes and candy; the excitement when they win a basket,” said Jim Parolski, past president of the club, on Sunday.
   Mr. Parolski has coordinated the egg hunt for the past seven years.
   It took 10 Lions one-half hour to hide the 980 eggs filled with poker chips Saturday morning. It took another 40 hours to order and purchase the gifts and candy; acquire the insurance and borough permit and package the candy into baskets and bags, then clean up the park afterward, according to Mr. Parolski.
   The prizes were two gold eggs turned in for a large basket filled with goodies; six silver eggs turned in for a medium basket; six pink eggs turned in for a small basket; 40 blue chips turned in for a 2-ounce chocolate rabbit; and 930 white and red chips for snack bags of 2-ounce chocolate gold coins.
   ”This year, our participation was around 35 families and 90 children, lower than previous years,” Mr. Parolski said. “I believe the cold weather and competition from the East Windsor Township egg hunt reduced the numbers. East Windsor rescheduled (the) hunt from 10 a.m. in previous years to 9 a.m. this year. In the past, families would participate in both hunts. This year, they had to choose.”
   Hightstown First Aid Squad held its annual fundraiser Breakfast with the Bunny on Sunday at the Hightstown firehouse at 148 N. Main St. A buffet menu was served, and the children were able to make crafts with the Easter Bunny.
   It was unknown at press time how much money was raised during the Breakfast with the Bunny event.
Anyone interested in becoming a Lions Club member can contact membership chairman Earl Groendyke at [email protected] or call 609-915-4170. TO learn more, visit e-clubhouse.org/sites/hightstownewnj/page-6.php.