By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The first of the Easter Egg hunters trickled into Riverfront Park Saturday morning an hour before the noon start time. Little eyes caught sight of the prize – dozens of brightly colored eggs scattered on the grass.
Moments before the hunt was to begin, the rains came. To escape the downpour, parents, grandparents and the hopeful hunters ran to the pavilion for shelter.
Umbrellas were raised. They had come for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Berrien County Civitan Club and they would not be denied.
As the start of the hunt drew closer, the hunters approached the area of grass sectioned off for their age range. Lining up with determination under the shelter provided by their guardians, the children concentrated on strategy.
They're off. Little ones in the zero to 2-year-old category scampered across the wet grass assisted by their adult. Across the walk, older children swept across the expanse of grass tossing the bright eggs into their basket or bag.
Parents coached the timid from the sidelines. One little boy seemed particular, as he examined the egg on the grass in front of him.
"Just pick up something," urged his rain-drenched mother. Perhaps he was hoping to see some hint that this egg held the big prize.
One egg in each age group held a certificate for $25 in gold coins. Other eggs were placed with a special marker that would be traded in for a big Easter basket.
Ruth Harte of Niles and her daughter Patty Lacey, home from Grand Rapids, supplied the large baskets.
The women had made up the baskets for seven years. The winning children happily picked up their donations.
"We just love watching the faces of the children. And Patty always wears her ears," said Harte.
Children returned to the pavilion to open the plastic eggs and retrieve their booty. In spite of the rain, spirits were not dampened.
Those who went away $25 richer in each category were: Josh DeWitt, 0-2, Peter Nemecek, 3-4, Caitlyn Valade, 5-7, and Jason Visel, 8-10. Others walked away smiling with the baskets and candy.
Berrien County Civitan president Anna Chapman said there were more than 3,000 eggs scattered for the children this year.
Majerek Hallmark and Reader's World supplied 1,000 of the eggs stuffed with treats and the local Eagles Club supplied another 550.
Members of the Berrien County Civitan Club stuffed the remaining eggs, approximately 2,000 of them, with goodies.
"I think we probably had 300 or so children this year. It was a bit less of a turnout than last year, but considering the weather, it was a wonderful time," Chapman said.
The Civitan Club has been providing the Easter hunt for more than 10 years.