Spartan Strong News: Elementary school intramurals

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA — With free raffle prizes from bikes to remote control cars, and loads of candy, everyone was smiling from ear to ear for the 74th annual VFW Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday.

And not even a little rain just before the event could dampen spirits on this festive day.

Hundreds of families gathered outside VFW Post 9594 and in Mosher Park to hunt for Easter eggs, visit with the Easter bunny, and win prizes in the massive raffle that gives away more than a dozen bicycles and countless scooters, toys, gift baskets and more, all donated by local businesses and individuals.

“Today is our 74th consecutive VFW Easter Egg Hunt here in Ravena,” event co-organizer Christine Snyder said. “We have over 6,100 eggs this year, and we have a little over 100 free raffle items that are donated through funding from businesses and people from throughout the community, and they are all free for the children to choose from.”

Families turned out in big numbers Saturday despite the rain, which stopped minutes before the hunt was to begin. The egg hunt has been a local tradition for generations.

“We hope to bring the community together every year and we hope that the kids are making memories and having a great time,” Snyder said. “That’s our goal.”

Thousands of candy-filled Easter eggs were spread out on the lawn outside the VFW Post, with a separate section set aside for children with sensory sensitivities. Scattered among the eggs were “golden eggs,” each with a piece of paper inside identifying it. Each child with a golden egg was guaranteed a prize in the raffle, with 105 total prizes up for grabs.

“There are some beautiful raffle items,” Snyder said. “We tried to represent each of the businesses that sponsor us.”

Raffle prizes were donated by 30 businesses and individuals from around the community.

As the raffle giveaway got underway — each child was given a free raffle ticket at the start of the event — VFW Post 9594 Quartermaster Chris Parker, also a co-organizer of the event, thanked the many businesses and donors who help make the Easter egg hunt and raffle possible each year.

“They support us — support them,” Parker told the crowd. “Shop at their businesses, use their services. These are small businesses in this community that are the backbone of the community.”

Town Supervisor Stephen Donnelly said the Easter egg hunt was an “amazing” local tradition.

“I love that they are telling people about local businesses and everyone is coming together as a community,” Donnelly said. “It’s amazing — I am so excited for the kids to get their prizes.”

Mayor Bill Misuraca said the rain didn’t stop anyone from having a great time at a long-standing community event. He also paid tribute to one of the egg hunt’s earliest organizers, veteran Eugene Datri, who passed away earlier this month.

“This is one of the most beloved events of the community and we want to thank the VFW for working very hard at making it a success every year!” Misuraca said. “A little bit of rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. I would like to think that the father of this event, Mr. Eugene Datri, had a little pull up above and cleared those skies right up!”

Here are more images from Saturday’s festivities.