Easter Egg Hunt Brings Out Families

Laura Parise has never missed an and she is 48 years old.

Parise, a Deerfield native, came with her parents as a young child was one of the adults who brought more than 250 children to Saturday morning for the annual run event. “I’ve been coming here since I was a youngster,” she said.

Cody Reed, a senior, was once a participant but Saturday he was helping with the placement of the candy and plastic eggs. The eggs all contain a prize or a certificate for one as well as a piece of candy.

“We help fill the eggs and scatter them,” Reed said. A member of the Warrior wrestling team, he also helps the Optimists with their annual Christmas Tree sale. “It would take the Optimists several days but it takes the wrestling team a few hours.” The wrestlers have made helping an annual team event.

For the youngsters in the hunt, finding one of six golden eggs—two in each age division—is a key objective. Those eggs entitle the finder to one a special prize, according to event organizer and Optimist Mary Robinson.

“I saw an egg under some leaves and had to remove the leaves to see it,” Deshav Shah said after finding one of the golden eggs for the seven and over division. The other groupings were 3 and under and 4 to 6.

Another Optimist who has helped with the event over the years, former Village Trustee Ed Seidman, likes the social gathering of all the people. It is an event where neighbors visit before the children run after the eggs and candy.

“The best thing is people talking to each other,” Seidman said. “Some of them haven’t seen each other for six months.”

Robinson will be handing over the reins of the event after 19 years to Shari Kozak. She is not through. “I have a feeling I’ll be helping next year.”

In addition to the Optimists, sponsors are , , , Eskape, , , , ,, , , , , , , Nickel City, Cathie Moses and Robinson.