Bunny makes early stop at Cape’s annual Easter event

by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/6/09

Some Cape Coral children were lucky enough to see the Easter Bunny. In one respect, they were lucky to be able to partake in traditional Easter activities such as hunting for eggs and creating arts and crafts to take home to their families. But they were also lucky because they got to meet the Easter Bunny Saturday morning, a week earlier than the hopping basket-bringer usually stops by.

The bunny made a special stop to the Four Freedoms Preschool for this year's annual "Morning with the Bunny" event, hosted by the City of Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department.

The event kicked off at about 10 a.m. with a continental breakfast after which about 20 local youngsters ages 3 to 8 years old designed Easter art from construction paper and other craft items, searched for eggs and had a chance meeting the the Easter Bunny.

Brianna Longo, 4, was one local youngster who partook of the activities.

"She enjoys it," said Brianna's father, Angelo Longo. "I think she's having a great time. She loves doing stuff at home like coloring, crafts."

Angelo's 1-year-old son, Nicholas, was too young to come this year, he said.

The Longos, who moved from New York three years ago, will celebrate Easter Sunday together with a holiday supper, Angelo said.

The fun morning's participants were pre-registered so the group of children was a bit smaller compared to an open event, said coordinator Lynda Carollo.

"It's really nice because it's not a massive amount of people," Carollo said. "It's more quaint."

The children had more individualized attention during the event because of the attendance size, she said.

"It's improved a little bit," she said of the event, which had been held annually as long as 19 years and possibly longer. "Now every egg they find has a prize in it and they all get a basket at the end."

Three Mariner High School students also volunteered to help hand out Easter baskets and balloons, as well as dress up as spring's most recognizable bunny.

Bobbie Marino and Solby Maldonado, seniors, and Daisy Ruiz, a junior, participated in the event as part of Mariner's Volunteens program. The Volunteens volunteer their time to help with various events throughout Cape Coral including Jazz in the Park and the annual Dad and Daughter dance.

"The events are fun," Marino said. "You get to work with little kids a lot."

Ruiz dressed up as the Easter Bunny and posed for photographs with the attending youngsters.

"They're so cute," she said.