Easter Blasts Off Early At Rocket Ship Park

Tons of multi-colored plastic eggs, 4,000 to be precise, were hidden throughout Robert Minor Park (aka Rocket Ship Park), for Saturday's third annual Easter Egg Hunt hosted by with the support of the Rocky Point PTA.

Brother and sister partners of the popular bagel cafe, Robert Giannino and Marie Stewart, often coordinate fundraisers for families in need in the community.

"Our family has been blessed, we want to give back to the community," Stewart said. "In the past we have helped a family whose mom got breast cancer. Our next big fundraiser is for MS (Multiple Sclerosis)."

Brookhaven town councilwoman Jane Bonner, with the help of the Suffolk County Police, arranged for traffic control and street crossing guards.

This year Brooklyn Bagels, with a committee of volunteers headed by Mary Healy and with the help of the Rocky Point Laundromat, spent two days stuffing the 4,000 multi-colored plastic eggs.

To add to the festivities, kids were challenged to find a Golden Egg to win a giant goody filled basket, a Silver Egg to get a big chocolate bunny and a White Egg for a chocolate and candy bunny.

It was organized chaos; kids were sent to designated cordoned off areas according to age. On the count of three, hundreds of kids, with baskets dangling from their arms, headed out in search of the holiday's bounty.

To keep the kids on their toes while on the hunt, sister radio stations Party FM, My Country and WRCM donated the background music.

Darlene O'Reilly and her children Killian and Wesley of Mount Sinai, were poised with big bags decorated with bunnies and chicks. The kids said, "We're ready."

Natalie Malandrino, looking up from big blue eyes, holding the hand of little sister Ashley, said, "I was really looking for the golden egg. That was fun"

As families left the park with their happy kids, a satisfied calm replaced the energetic merriment of the day. It was truly an enjoyable event for all the families who participated.