‘Eggceptional’ Easter egg hunt


















































The first ever Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at the Boothbay Fire Station, organized by the Boothbay Region Fire Auxiliary, was one of those times when it was OK, preferable even, to put all your eggs in one basket!
Twenty-five hundred bright colored plastic eggs were filled with tasty treats and toy surprises. The estimated turnout of children was about 150. Volunteers for the event were Jennifer Sprague, Kareen Nelson, Darrell Gudroe, Stephanie Hawke, Lori Bailey, Betsy Pratt, Jackie Helinski, Jen Sledge and Sara Pinkham,
Gudroe served as emcee and created atmosphere by playing children’s Easter tunes from a Spotify list. Will Sledge played Sparky – but do not tell the little ones – and Isaac Sledge was his half human, half rabbit companion.
Gudroe got the hunt going shortly after 10 a.m. asking all the children aged 4 and under to go to the back of the firehouse bay where the eggs of bright blue, pink, yellow, green, orange and more lay on the greening grass. Some eggs peeked out of yellow fire hats, others were laid under hoses or shoes. Gudroe started the countdown, but before he got to “Go!” the wee ones, closely followed by their parents, were running for the eggs! So were all of the older kids. It was friendly pandemonium as kids ran around the field, into the woods, looked behind the (Halloween) building, back out to the field and down into the woods again in search of two giant golden eggs ... and all the color eggs their baskets could hold.
A small bouncy house, pastel sidewalk chalk, holiday coloring sheets, Easter tattoos, and dancing to the music added to the festive atmosphere. There were also hot dogs, burgers, chips, Dunkin Donut holes, cupcakes, water, hot chocolate, and coffee, on the somewhat chilly Saturday.
Fire Chief Dick Spofford said this was the first time they ever put on an egg hunt. “It’s going to have to be an annual event now!” he said with a smile. “The crowd was overwhelming!”
Added Auxiliary member Lori Bailey, with a laugh, “We’ll definitely be working on parking for next year!”