Easter Egg-Stravaganza

The annual New Rochelle Easter Egg-Stravaganza was held March 28 at the Hugh A. Doyle Center, sponsored by New Rochelle Parks and Recreation.

Families with young children were invited to attend the event with numerous crafts and activities in celebration of Easter.

The center was decorated with bright spring-colored table cloths and welcoming volunteers from the Youth Bureau and New Rochelle Youth Council assisted the children at each craft station. Later on the children were separated by age for egg gathering.

Senior Recreation Leader of New Rochelle Parks and Recreation Nina Shawn-Gainer had great enthusiasm for this year’s event.

“The kids are happy to be here, which is what makes this event a success,” she said.

Shawn-Gainer said that the annual Easter egg hunt had been held at a different location for about 10 years.

“The crowd became too large and we moved it to here about four years ago,” Shawn-Gainer said. “Now pre-registration is required on first come basis and we take about 100 families.”

Shawn-Gainer was very appreciative of ShopRite. Each year the store gives a generous donation for the kids. A refreshment table held muffins, Capri Suns and lots of boxes of cookies.

About six different tables of different crafts allowed the kids to express their creativity freely—from Easter bunny ear crowns to painting their own Styrofoam egg. Paint, stickers and markers were just some of the supplies available for the kids to decorate with.

Kids could also choose if they wanted their face painted. A volunteer added a bunny nose and whiskers to their faces.

At one craft table, kids busily colored in printed outlines of baby chicks. A volunteer would then tape it together with a pink or yellow paper handle and place candy inside, making the child’s own little easter basket.

Tara Swan, 5, of New Rochelle started her day off at the baby chick station.

“My favorite candy is the Swedish Fish,” Swan said as she sat the table and colored in her basket using blue and pink markers. Swedish Fish was one of the two kinds of candy headed for her basket.

Each child was given a white bag to color and decorate to carry home all their crafts from the day.

“I’m going to show my daddy,” said Lily Walsh, 3, holding up her bag decorated with stickers.

Having a successful attendance record, families new and old are welcomed to pre-register again and come back each year and bring excited little ones.

“I started coming with my daughter,” Eldia Salcedo of New Rochelle said. This year she attended with her nephew and son. “It’s a fun thing to do with the kids.”