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Some Easter egg hunts slated to take place this weekend

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | April 2, 2021 1:00 AM

EPHRATA — The COVID-19 outbreak is still putting a damper on activities, but some Easter egg hunts are on Saturday, one way or another.

It’s old school at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency Blvd., in Quincy. The Easter egg hunt will be outside. It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and is usually over by 10 a.m., said Debbie Kooy, the hall’s event director. It’s open to children up to 11 years of age.

“We’re adding the (COVID-19) tradition of encouraging social distancing and mask wearing,” Kooy said.

Children will be divided into age groups and will hunt for eggs in different areas of the grounds. They will look for plastic eggs filled with candy and there will be more eggs than usual.

“There are some goodies in those eggs,” Kooy said.

The Ephrata Parks & Recreation Department will sponsor a drive-thru Easter egg hunt starting at 10 a.m. Saturday until noon or until the eggs run out. Eggs will be distributed in the parking lot at the Splash Zone water park, 780 A St. SE. It will be open to children between 3 and 10 years of age.

“Basically, there’s going to be no hunting in there at all,” said parks and recreation director Traci Bennett.

Parks and rec officials purchased about 2,000 plastic eggs in preparation for the Easter egg hunt in 2020, but of course, that was canceled. And it’s time to get rid of them. Families are asked to bring a container.

“Anybody that wants an Easter egg, we’re going to give it to them,” Bennett said.

Children in the Mattawa area are invited to hunt Easter eggs at 10 a.m. in Desert Aire Park, 368-456 Desert Aire Dr. SW. It’s sponsored by the Mattawa/Desert Aire Lions Club. Families are asked to observe social distancing and mask protocols.

The Sand Scorpions ORV Group will have its annual Easter egg hunt at noon at the Moses Lake Sand Dunes, specifically at the east end of Sand Dunes Beach in what’s called the Red Zone. It’s for kids 13 years of age and younger. Families are asked not to be late.

The Sand Scorpions will hide more than 15,000 eggs, maybe as many as 20,000, said club president Rich Archer, and egg hunters will be spread out over about 15 acres. The Easter Bunny will appear as well.

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