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Community park hosts egg hunt

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A group of 7- to 9-year-olds dash onto the field to begin their hunt for eggs during the Easter Egg hunt at North Fort Myers Community Park on Saturday. CHUCK BALLARO
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James and Jackson Owen, 7 and 3, pose for a picture with the Easter Bunny during the Easter Egg hunt at North Fort Myers Community Park on Saturday. CHUCK BALLARO
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Donovan Mott, 18 months, finds Easter eggs during the Easter Egg hunt at North Fort Myers Community Park on Saturday. CHUCK BALLARO
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Xavier Francisco, 2, gets some help putting Easter eggs into his bag during the Easter Egg hunt at North Fort Myers Community Park on Saturday. CHUCK BALLARO

After an absence of a few years, the North Fort Myers Community Park once again played host to the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt. Judging by the many children and parents who showed up, it seemed as though they really missed it.

More than 100 children, from those just able to walk to age 9, stormed the football fields to grab as many eggs as they could, which were filled with candy, trinkets, and even golden eggs which could be redeemed for the numerous baskets and stuffed animals available.

Children also got a chance to take pictures with the Easter Bunny, though some were more reluctant to sit with a big, white fluffy bunny than others.

Still, with the help of some valuable sponsors, Jenniffer Velez saw this event once again become a success after its three-year absence.

“I’m so happy to see so many people in the community show up. The Rotary Club of North Fort Myers and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary have made this event possible,” Velez said. “When the original programmer left, the event stopped, but I brought it back and I am happy with the results.”

The children were split into three groups, 0-2, 3-5, and 6-9 and were started separately. Within minutes, the kids had claimed all the eggs on each field and then returned them – sans candy- so the eggs could be used again next year and keep the free event free.

Sandra Crowder brought Zoe, 4, because her two oldest daughters go to the rec center after school and learned about the event through the counselors.

“She’s waiting for her best friend to come,” Crowder said. “She loved to take her picture with the bunny.”

Rita McFadden brought her two grandchildren, Brendon McFadden, 7, and Katelyn Pitt, 9, along with her husband and Katelyn’s mom. The kids were wearing army clothing in tribute of their uncle who is currently serving.

“We’re going to take pictures of this and send them to my son at Fort Still in Oklahoma,” McFadden said. “It helps the boys in the barracks because it’s tough to cheer them up, so I send him happy pictures.”

“We’re here to tell him we love him and miss him,” Katelyn said. “We’re doing a Ninja Turtle Easter basket for him. Happy Easter to all the troops.”

The event started at 10 a.m. and was pretty much finished in an hour. The kids got their baskets and stuffed bunnies and went home after an early start on the holiday.

For some, gathering eggs was old hat, even for the youngest. Tricia Glass brought her nephew Donovan, a young farm boy.

“It’s his first Easter. He’s having a blast. He gets the chicken eggs at our house and puts them in the refrigerator,” Glass said.