Egg hunt carries on despite chill
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
JAMESBURG — Despite cold weather the third annual Easter Egg Hunt went on as scheduled last Saturday.
“It was cold and windy, but it did not stop the hunt or Easter bunny for coming to town,” said Della Fitch, chairwoman of the Jamesburg Elks Lodge special needs children committee in an email. “It turned out to be a wonderful Easter Egg-stravaganza.”
Mayor Marlene Lowande agreed.
“It was a great morning despite the cold weather,” she said. “This year we partnered with the Jamesburg Elks for our egg hunt. I love working with other organizations in town to bring as many programs as we can to the families and especially the children. I really enjoy watching the kids get the eggs and candy. Something so simple, but so much fun.”
Ms. Fitch said that this used to be a tradition in Jamesburg for her as a child.
“I wanted to bring it back for the children in the community along with Mayor Lowande,” she said.
She said that last year they held two separate ones so they combined the two to make one big one.
“Mayor Lowande and I like people to know we care about our children and we give back,” she said.
The annual hunt was co-sponsored by the Jamesburg Recreation Department and the Jamesburg Elks Lodge #2180.
The event was held at John F. Kennedy School soccer field at with a line up starting at 9 a.m. and the hunt starting at 10 a.m. on March 28. The cost of the event was $5 per child and $8 per adult. It included a light lunch, which included with the Easter Bunny at the lodge.
“The early egg hunter gets the candy and the golden egg,” she said.
She said that it was a new location for the hunt.
“The Easter bunny made an appearance at field and each child received a cool Easter band,” she said.
He came with his helpers and brought basket of colored hard boiled eggs to give out to every kid, she said.
The egg hunt is another fundraiser for the Jamesburg Elks Lodge special needs children and adults.
“All proceeds go to helping special need children and adults in the surrounding communities,” she said, adding like with camps, braces, wheelchairs and medical bills.
They raised $435, she said.
Children were divided into three age groups — zero to 3 years old, 4 to 6 years old and 7 to 10 years old.
Ms. Fitch said that there was a first place prize for each age group and for second place prize was a two pound chocolate bunny for third placed was a 10 oz chocolate bunny. There were also golden egg prizes for first, second and third place.
“We also did a limbo contest with two winners who each received prize and also a pretty bonnet and funniest ties who also received prizes,” she said.
Around 75 people attended the event, according to organizers. More than 1,500 eggs were filled with candy and spread through the field.
“The candy was donated by Mayor Lowande and the Jamesburg Recreation Department,” she said, adding that the Jamesburg Elks Lodge #2180 also donated three extra large bags of candy.
There was candy everywhere, she added.
For her, the highlight of the day was watching the look on their face waiting for you to them to say go and the ones that win the golden egg their face when the get that big chocolate bunny.
She thanked Mayor Lowande, the Jamesburg Recreation Department , her staff – Robyn and Larry Gerhard; Dylan Kane; Kathy Martin; Cathy Pirre; Linda Fitch; Evande’er White-Fitch; Jarrette Codd, Onyai Glover; Jeff Cziko; Katie Crede; Alita Walters; Tom Crede; Al and Melissa Binaghi; photographer Leo Martin; DJ; Mike Penchenski and the Easter Bunny who was her nephew, Evan Novoa.
“We hope to have a bigger hunt next year,” she said. “Thank you all for coming and participating and supporting a worthy cause.”