Easter Bunny

Jeremy Nye waits in line for his first visit to the Easter Bunny on Tuesday at Valley Mall in Halfway, while Ashley Leight finishes her turn.

A time to reflect So we meet again! Here we sit right smack dab between St. Patrick's Day and Easter. I trust that everyone wore green Monday and found time to make some corned beef and cabbage. As you can guess, we are having the leftover corned beef for sandwiches at my house. Preparations are under way for the annual visit by the Easter Bunny ... complete with carrot cake and ham. Please don't get so swept up in the commercial end of the holiday that we forget the true reason for Easter.

The Student Life Committee at Hagerstown Community College is sponsoring an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 8, beginning at 9 a.m., in the College Center on HCC's campus. The Easter egg hunt is free and open to the public, but families need to register in advance with the number of children participating, as well as their ages. The children will be divided into three age groups: infant to 4 year olds, 5 to 8 year olds, and 9 to 12 year olds. Participants need to bring their own container for eggs.

Easter Bunny to be at mall The Easter Bunny will make his way into the Halfway area on Saturday. Get a chance to visit with and have a keepsake photo taken with the furry, floppy- eared friend in his beautiful spring garden at Center Court in Valley Mall through Saturday, March 22. Each child who has their photo taken will receive a special prize. Photo packages begin at $13.99. The Easter Bunny will be on hand Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with carrot breaks from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. March is American Red Cross Month The Red Cross will be kicking off the month with a special event on Saturday.

The annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by the Williamsport Volunteer Fire and Ambulance companies and the Town of Williamsport was held last Saturday at Byron Memorial Park. More than 300 children and parents attended, and youngsters received candy and cash prizes. Two children won bicycles in a random drawing at the event.

Even though he knew a few words might have calmed some of his wide-eyed visitors, the Easter Bunny maintained his silence around the children who visited him on a recent day at Valley Mall. When the children left, the white rabbit - standing more than 6 feet tall from the tips of his floppy ears to the ends of his size 15 feet - said it's hard biting his tongue around the children, especially those who cry at the sight of him. "The Easter Bunny doesn't talk - bottom line," he said.

The real reason for Easter To the editor: Easter is fast approaching and ladies and little ladies will adorn themselves in pretty dresses and hats and attend events such as church services. Alot of children will decorate Easter eggs in which hundreds will be hidden for children to look for with their Easter baskets and the appearance of the Easter bunny. We have so many make believe visitors year round, Santa, tooth fairy, witches and goblins, the Easter bunny but less is being taught about the real reason of Easter.

There was a mad scramble for prize-packed plastic Easter Eggs on Saturday as hundreds of children from toddlers to 12-year-olds scoured the field at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center. The 3,000 eggs were scooped up by the 485 children that registered for the event, which was co-sponsored by the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum and the Washington County Recreation Department, said Leslie Hendrickson, the museum's administrator. The eggs were filled with candy, stickers and certificates for free recreation department classes, she said.

Peter Cottontail Celebrate Easter with breakfast with Peter Cottontail. In addition to breakfast, children will have an opportunity to make an Easter craft and get their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Today, 9 to 11 a.m. Jefferson County Community Center, Sam Michaels Lane, Shenandoah Junction, W.Va. $7, children, includes food, craft and picture; $3, adults, includes breakfast only. Call 304-728-3207. Alpaca Farm Days The open house includes show and sale of alpacas and a variety of alpaca products.