Saturday, March 19, 2005
The threat of rain did not keep families from hunting and tossing eggs.
ASTER EGGS, CANDY AND PLASTIC rabbits nearly covered the lawn by the Judge Morley Pavilion at Mill Creek MetroParks on Saturday morning, but swarms of children gathered them up within minutes during the annual Easter Eggstravaganza.
The event ended with an adult egg toss in which the winning team received a big box of candy.
Jackson Belknap, 5, of Austintown was all smiles after he won a basket of candy with a soap bubble kit in it after finding the lucky number in a plastic egg as he gathered treats at the Wick Recreation area.
"This event is fabulous," said his mother, Jennifer Belknap. "It's wonderful the community provides this for the kids."
Stacey Boccieri of New Middletown described the candy hunt as "very nice" after her daughter, Sarah, 4, presented a number from another egg and received a stuffed toy about her size as a prize.
Tom Bresko, recreation director at the park, said the annual event, which began 16 years ago, attracted more than 1,200 adults and children Saturday. The crowd was smaller this year because showers were forecast, he said. When the weather has been warm and sunny, the event draws about 2,000 people.
First Place Bank and Mill Creek MetroParks jointly sponsored this year's egg hunt, he said.
Bunny time
The children and adults were greeted by Kyla Geisel, 9, of Youngstown, dressed as an Easter bunny and giving out lollipops.
Her grandmother, Dorothy Leonard of Youngstown, said Kyla, involved with community service since she was 3, would be visiting nursing homes in the community to share Easter happiness during the afternoon.
In preparation for the rush for the candy, the field was divided by pink ribbons into areas for children 2 to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 to 10.
The start of the event was signaled by the arrival of the Easter Bunny in a city cruiser, its siren blaring and lights flashing.
As she and the others lined up by the ribbon, Lori Segool, 6, of Boardman said she had her eyes focused on a purple plastic rabbit she wanted to take home.
Cans of soda, little bags of potato chips and other special items were interspersed among the candy.
A few sprinkles of rain fell as the children ran en masse through the ribbons onto the field. But, the tiny bit of rain did not prevent them from quickly filling baskets, bags and pockets. Not one of the thousands of treats was left on the field when they were done.
"I enjoy Easter. It's fun," said Joseph Ragazzine III, 6, of Struthers, carrying away a basket of candy. He was accompanied by his brothers, Dakota, 4, and Anthony, 2, also with plenty of treats to take home.
"It's our third year here," said their father, Joseph Ragazzine Jr.
Egg toss
As the children left the field, the adults formed teams and lined the park road for the egg toss. Bresko handed out 10 dozen fresh white eggs to the teams, and the event began.
After several tosses, only two teams were left. Two sisters, Mary and Toni Campbell of Youngstown, were hoping to win, as their several children cheered. But, on the final toss, the egg broke in Mary's hands, and the team of Henry Solis and Rolando Rojas Jr. safely passed its egg and won a box of chocolate eggs, M & amp;M candy and lollipops.
Solis and Rojas smiled as they collected their prizes, relieved and elated they had won.
The Campbells had been hoping the skills they learned playing baseball as a family would enable them to win.
Noting she and her sister nearly won, Mary said, "There's a lesson in it: Never quit, even if it means you might get an egg in your face."