Lions Club hunt offers Easter egg-citement
TONY BROWN/THE FORUM
Youngsters were quick off the mark Saturday morning during the Host Lions Club’s 36th annual Easter egg hunt at Donaldson-Westside Park. Several hundred children and their parents braved chilly temperatures and a stiff northwest wind to gather chocolate-filled plastic eggs scattered across the park’s four ball fields. The event was co-sponsored by the Maryville Hy-Vee supermarket.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Several hundred children and their parents gathered at Donaldson-Westside Park Saturday morning for the 36th annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by the Maryville Host Lions Club and the local Hy-Vee supermarket.
Chocolate-filled plastic eggs were scattered across the park’s four ball fields for separate hunts classed for children age 3 and under, ages 4 and 5, ages 6 and 7 and ages 8 and up.
Families started arriving at the park about a half-hour before the 10 a.m. event in order to take advantage of photo opportunities with a quartet of costumed mascots, including water-safety character Josh the Baby Otter, Northwest Missouri State University’s Bobby Bearcat, the Maryville R-II School District’s Spoofy the Spoofhound and — of course — the Easter Bunny himself.
TONY BROWN/THE FORUM
The Easter Bunny and Bobby Bearcat were on hand Saturday morning to pose for photographs with children arriving at Donaldson-Westside Park for the 36th annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by Maryville’s Host Lions Club and the local Hy-Vee supermarket. Sadie Briner is shown posing with the two costumed characters, egg bucket firmly in hand.
TONY BROWN/THE FORUM
The Easter Bunny waves to parents and children moments before the portion of Saturday’s Host Lions Club Easter egg hunt set aside for children age 6 and 7 years.
TONY BROWN/THE FORUM
Katia Stuart, 2, shares a photo moment with Josh the Baby Otter, the mascot for an ongoing water and swimming safety initiative sponsored locally by the Nodaway County Health Center, and Maryville High School’s Spoofy Spoofhound.
TONY BROWN/THE FORUM
River Powers, left, and her brother Kratos Powers were decked out in festive Easter headgear Saturday during the annual Host Lions Club Easter egg hunt at Donaldson-Westside Park. Also pictured is the children’s mother, Felecia McClarnon.
