The hunt is on in Millerton

MILLERTON — Parents bundled up their children last Saturday as the weather was brisk, but the rain from last year’s event was nowhere to be found and area egg sleuths put their skills to the test for the 18th annual Millerton Easter Egg Hunt.

The event is put on by the Millerton Fire Department, American Legion Post 178 and the Millerton Rod & Gun Club, along with the help of local businesses and volunteers.

With 720 hard-boiled eggs hidden strategically around the Rod and Gun Club, it’s always a mad scramble to fill up baskets as quickly as possible, and even more difficult to find the one egg in all five age groups with a gold dollar taped to it. Those lucky hunters received not only a shiny buck, but a $25 gift certificate from either Fudgy’s, Saperstein’s, Terni’s or  Oblong Books & Music (which donated two certificates).

The Round Tuit Restaurant donated cookies for all the children to fill up on after the event, which as any child knows goes well with hot cocoa, soda and hot dogs, also provided. And a gift certificate from Fudgy’s for a free small soft serve will undoubtably keep warm weather on the minds of local youth, if they manage to hold out that long.

Winners of the gift certificates were Heather Mair, Kaylee Wheeler, William Bussell, Karlie Klingner and Alex Hinds.

Al Andrews, who has chaired the event for the past few years, thanked Larry and Steve Merwin, Jay Scasso and Leonard Morrison for providing their tractors to transport participants to and from the firehouse in Millerton, as well as  Rich Howard and the Millerton Police Department for escorting the tractors and providing traffic control. He also thanked all the merchants for donating goods and giving discounts for the cause.