Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Easter Eggs and Spring Fairies were Plentiful in Blairstown

The BUNNY family outside the Gourmet Gallery, April 8th. Photo by MB Journe, 4/2023

April brought magical days to the quaint town of Blairstown, Beginning with the Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by North Warren Special Education on April 4th, followed by a breakfast cooked by the students and served at the Evangelical Free Church of Blairstown.

On April 8th, Main Street had fairy dust in the air, as the sun illuminated springtime. The Easter Bunny was sitting in a wicker chair thrown on the porch of the Gourmet Gallery drinking a cup of Easter “EGG-spresso.”

There was an Easter egg hunt “EGG-stravaganza” and photos were taken with the Easter Bunny as an air of “EGG-citement” permeated the crowd while finding colorful eggs filled with candy and toys.

Everyone enjoyed the visit from the Easter Bunny.

Further down the bunny trail was the clamor and glamor of a Fairy Fest held at the Strange Boutique.

These beautiful, friendly fairies sold handcrafted jewelry, clothing, beauty products and decorations in front of the store and throughout.

Satilia Flores wearing her one-of-a-kind fiber art clothing posing with her butterfly daughter Lily. Photo by MB Journe, 4/2023

Colorful flower halos and handmade items by Taylor the book fairy. Photo by MB Journe, 4/2023
Book Fairy at the Falls. Photo by MB Journe, 4/2023

From toddlers in strollers to kids in 5th grade, happy hunters had their baskets and bags in hand at the North Warren Regional High School. The front field was covered in a blanket of eggs, pink, yellow and green, the most some had ever seen.

The Knol family, mom Tara with Colton, Tyler and Henry ready for the great hunt. Photo by G. Conski, 4/2023

As the start time approached, the excitement rose. The children were getting set and finally ready to GO! They charged off filling their baskets and bags with eggs.

Some gathered as many as they possibly could, while others were more specific and picked only their favorite colors.

The hunt was soon over. The children and parents returned their plastic eggs in exchange for prizes. As they waited, music played and the Bunny hopped on by for family photo ops.

Nick Licatta hands out the prize eggs. Photo by G. Conski, 4/2023
L-R: Diela Voorhees, Kylee Gillen, Faith Leverett and Alasna Shramko on hand to help. Photo by G. Conski, 4/2023
L-R: Emi “Oliver” Carinci, Kelly McElroy and Alecksandria Birey ran the bake sale table. Photo by G. Conski, 4/2023

That event was sponsored by the Blairstown Rotary Club (www.blairstownrotary.org) and the North Warren Regional Interact Club, the mission of which is to “take action, build international understanding, and make new friends around the world,” enabling kids between the ages of 12 and 18 to come together to practice leadership skills and be of service to others via volunteering by creating and carrying out community service projects.

Last year’s proceeds from events went to Happiness is Camping (www.happinessiscamping.org), located in Hardwick. This camp is for kids with cancer and sickle cell anemia, as well as their siblings and families. This recreational camp is free. It is a place for the children to put aside their worries and enjoy fun summer activities.

All those interviewed agreed the Blairstown Rotary and the North Warren Regional Interact Club put on an “EGG-ceptional” community event.

Yelens Choban
MB Journe, Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer

My name is Marybeth Journe, I feel blessed to be living in this part of New Jersey. I have enjoyed this community taking advantage of the lakes and woods. Always supporting the local businesses that make this my home. As a local artist myself, I know many of our residence if not by name, at least by sight. I feel comfortable interviewing others. I have worked for The Paulinskill Valley Chronical where I provided articles, photographs and billing. I consider myself an artist, journalist, naturalist, gardener and a teacher for the YMCA Camp Mason. I look forward to the work ahead