Mercer Easter Egg Hunt goes on in spite of snowstorm

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Mercer - Saturday's Mercer Lions Easter Egg Hunt was a big success despite severe winter storm conditions that included strong winds and heavy, wet snow. Needless to say, the annual event took place within the warm confines of the Mercer School cafeteria.

"It has always been at the school," said Louise Minisan, who organized the event. "In years past it has been outside, but in the past five years it's been inside." Minisan, along with Mercer Chamber director Beth Wetzler, said the event had a good turnout despite the discouraging weather.

"I know I served a hundred hot dogs this morning," said Minisan, adding that other treats such as cupcakes also were available. The event was free to anyone who attended.

"The community is so supportive of the Lions Club," said Minisan, who also chairs membership for the Lions Club, "and this is our way to give back." She said the featured egg hunt included eggs hidden throughout the school's cafeteria, library and halls. Minisan and her husband, Dave, stuffed the countless eggs with candy, thereby increasing the reward value for kids collecting them.

Children age 10 and under participated in the hunt, although older kids were welcome to attend the event and watch.

"We do have some older kids," said Minisan, who added that "the whole family enjoys refreshments."

As part of the fun, Easter baskets and prizes also were provided. Thanks to the generosity of regional business donations, Minisan said the kids also received rabbit sunglasses and paddles with balls. In addition, she said, "Everybody received big, stuffed rabbits."

Kay and Randy Nilsson of Mercer donated daffodils to all ladies in attendance.

According to Minisan, some of the most special facilitators of fun were members of the Mercer Lions Leo Group. She explained that Lions Club members recruit young people to their Leo Group in hopes of teaching them the joys of civic duty.

Inspired by a national Leo movement, the Mercer Leo Group now has 28 members and Minisan said 11 of them were an active part of Saturday's festivities. She said Leo members contributed in a number of ways, such as by setting up the food, serving hot dogs and cleaning up messes.

She also chuckled about what might have been one of their most important roles: "They helped corral the kids, so the little kids don't get run over by the big kids." Overall, she concluded, "I couldn't say enough about how wonderful they were today."

Minisan, who also played the role of Easter bunny, said the crowd included people such as Joe and Kelly Kohegyi, who attended with their children and their grandchildren. "So it was a very nice day today," she said. "The kids had fun, and the families had fun together."