Egg hunt gathers hundreds

Prize:
Finding a hidden golden egg won three-year-old Evan Lyman a gift basket at the Happy Valley Easter egg hunt.

Hundreds came out to the Happy Valley Fire Department's 40th annual Easter Egg hunt.

The weather was perfect as children, ranging from crawlers to 12-year-olds, darted through the grass retrieving colorful eggs. As usual, areas were specified for the various age groups, thus making egg hunting fair for all who participated.

Babies crawled around inside the fire hall while others searched the outside areas as well as the nearby Happy Valley Elementary School grounds. Each age group had the opportunity to find three golden eggs that could be exchanged for decorative baskets of toys.

Before and after the hunt, volunteer firefighters and their helpers served coffee, donuts and hot chocolate as well as complimentary bottled water. Many out-of towners took this opportunity to reunite with their Happy Valley families, thus making the event even more meaningful.

Nearly 4,000 eggs were donated by local businesses so no one went home empty-handed. In 40 years, this event has only been canceled once and that was due to rain.