Gabby De La Cruz
Staff Writer

Gloomy weather did not dampen enthusiasm or commitment of local Easter egg hunters Saturday morning.

The egg hunt, which was sponsored by the La Verne Rotary Club in conjunction with the La Verne Parks and Community Services Department, took place at Las Flores Park and Emerald Park.

Yvette Koedyker, 36, a La Verne resident who brought her daughter, 12, is a devoted attendee to the annual event.

“This event is (the) Easter event that everyone looks forward to,” Koedyker said. “This is my daughter’s last year participating so we are both sad.”

Starting at 10 a.m. sharp, about 100 children were ready for the 30-second-long egg hunt.

A large area at the park was blocked off and divided into four groups, according to age: 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.

For the egg hunt, a more-than-35 year La Verne tradition, Easter eggs are placed on a blocked off grassy area.

Most eggs have candy inside, except for three eggs in each age group, which have ribbons inside them.

The ribbons indicate a first, second or third place winner who receives an Easter basket, consisting of goodies such as games, candy, iPods, and even digital cameras.

Rotary Club member Leonard Pond said the hunt used to feature real hard-boiled eggs and each member had to bring some; they changed to plastic eggs after someone brought in soft-boiled eggs instead.

“I think this is a wonderful event for the children,” Pond said. “We are very excited because it seems to be growing more and more every year.”
Dena Hoover, 43, said she grew up in La Verne and has attended the event for many years now.

She was on the sideline ready to root for her four-year-old son, Zack.

“I think it is really nice of the Rotary Club and La Verne Parks and Community Services to put this event on every year for the kids,” Hoover said. “I try to come most years because they get so excited.”

The blocked-off egged section was surrounded by many excited parents with cameras, ready to capture images of their children diving for Easter eggs.

Eddie Parra, 29, an employee of the city of La Verne explained that the event takes place at the two different parks at the exact same time.

Everyone knows they must be there at 10 a.m. sharp, or they will miss out because the event is over in less than a minute.

“I love this event because the kids love it,” Parra said. “It’s a fun time even though it is very short.”

Of course, there could not have been an Easter egg hunt without an Easter bunny.

Laura Davis, 16, president of the Interact Club at Bonita High School, was dressed up in a fuzzy white bunny suit for the second year in a row.

The Interact club works in conjunction with the Rotary Club.

“I like being the bunny, although I feel bad for the kids that cry when they see me, but it is worth it when I see the happy ones,” Davis said.

“This is a fun event, but I wouldn’t really call it an Easter egg hunt; it’s more like an Easter egg dash,” she added.

Gabby De La Cruz can be reached at gdelacruz@ulv.edu.