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Arlee Easter egg hunt was an eggs-sighting one

By B.L. Azure

Once all the booty was found the kids settled down for some serious candy eating and comparison of goodies found. (B.L. Azure photo)

ARLEE — Saturday was a very eggs-sighting day for the young children that flocked to the Arlee Community Center in search of eggs, candy, prizes and a good time. They found them all at the ACC.

Around 250 youngsters accompanied by family members partook in the ninth annual Arlee Easter egg hunt. And the sun cooperated by poking through the overcast skies long enough to shine a light on the good times.

These youngsters have their eyes on the prize at the Arlee Easter egg hunt. (B.L. Azure photo)

The annual event was started by Bill and Wendy Adams nine years ago and has grown from a robin’s egg-size event to an ostrich egg-size event through the years. That is very pleasing to the organizers whose fruits of labor put ear-to-ear smiles on the children and a good feeling in the hearts all who attended the event.

“The egg hunt has been getting bigger and better each year,” said Wendy Adams. This year the Adams family had a sign-in sheet and that gave them a fairly accurate accounting of the number of youngsters.

It didn't take long for youngsters to fill their Easter baskets and mouths with tasteful goodies at the Arlee Easter egg hunt. (B.L. Azure photo)

Adams said the kids didn’t seem to notice the lack of actual colored hardboiled eggs this year.

“It was a matter of time and we just didn’t have enough time because of work and school,” Adams said. In previous years Adams would cook the eggs either at her home or at the community center and invite children to decorate the eggs the Friday before Easter Sunday. But this year time constraints put a damper on that. “I was kind of worried about that and worried that we wouldn’t have enough candy and gifts for the kids. But we did and everything went well.”

Danica Fyant loads up her Easter basket Saturday at the ninth annual Arlee Easter egg hunt. (B.L. Azure photo)

Adams said there was a lot of businesses and individuals whose behind-the-scene help ensured the success of the event.

“I would like to thank the community and the businesses for their support and especially the kids who came out for the hunt Saturday. It’s all about them and they had a good time,” Adams said. “But we couldn’t have done it without the support we received from the families, community and businesses.”

Arlee businesses and families that donated to the ninth annual Easter egg hunt, include: Wilson Foods, Valley Bank, Pigisus bar, Lona Boushie, the Malatare family and the Matt family. The THHS Tobacco Prevention Program and the Flathead Reservation Head Start Program made substantial donations. The Malt Shop in St. Ignatius also donated to the hunt.

Following the egg hunt youngsters at Arlee bellied up to the goodie-table and picked out prizes that topped off their day. (B.L. Azure photo)

Adams said thanks also goes to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for use of the Arlee Community Center and grounds for the event as well as Dane Morigeau, ACC manager, for his assistance.

And it was not only the Adams family who are looking to next Easter.

“We had lots of people come up during the hunt and make donations for next year,” Adams said, adding that plans are already in the works for next year’s 10th annual Arlee Easter egg hunt. “We are already looking forward to next year; we’d like to have a real big one for the 10th anniversary. We have been going to the stores and buying discounted (non-perishable) Easter items in preparation for next Easter.”

It’ll be here before we know it.

For more information or to donate to the Arlee Easter egg hunt, contact Bill and Wendy Adams at 726-0222.