April showers fall on Millerton Easter Egg Hunt

MILLERTON — No amount of rain could put a damper on the celebration of Easter at the Millerton Gun Club on Saturday, April 20. 

Sponsored by the Millerton Gun Club, the Millerton Fire Company and the American Legion Post 178, local families were invited to the Millerton Gun Club for the annual egg hunt. While the hay ride was canceled due to the morning’s inclement weather, children were determined to make the most of the hunt and came dressed for a rainy morning in Millerton.

Throughout the gun club grounds, the lawn and hills were speckled with thousands of multi-colored plastic Easter eggs filled with candy and even some hard boiled eggs that had been dyed for the occasion. Divided by their age groups, the children dashed across the lawn and up the hills to pick up the eggs and place them in their baskets and bags. Before long, parents joined in the spirit of the hunt, pointing out where their children could find more eggs.

With their bags filled to the brim with brightly colored eggs, the children trudged toward the Gun Club pavilion. Cracking open their eggs on the pavilion tables, they placed the empty eggs in a cardboard box and the sweets inside their bags. 

Meanwhile, the Easter Bunny walked around the pavilion handing out candy from a basket of goodies. Following the hunt, families were invited to stay for a hot dog lunch under the pavilion. Children who located a golden egg during the hunt were rewarded with a special prize.

Paraco Gas in Pine Plains donated 10 Easter egg gift baskets for the golden egg prize winners, which were assembled by Donna Howay. In addition to donating 3,500 eggs, the Eisermann family donated five baskets for each age group, providing an extra five prizes for golden egg winners, and 15 plastic eggs with ice cream gift certificates.

Camden Slater and Emma Walsh were golden egg prize winners for participants up to age 2 while Ryleigh Sherman and Madeleine Pearson were golden egg winners for ages 3 and 4. Khloe Keefer, Holden Slater and Jase Foley were golden egg winners for ages 5 and 6 while Kaylin Spadaccini and Bentley Sullivan were golden egg winners ages 7 and 8. For winners ages 9 and up, Kira Shepard, Elisabeth Eisermann and Matthew Wendover received prizes.

Organizers thanked all who volunteered at and donated to the hunt for a successful, albeit rainy day.