James A. Garfield Site Cancels Easter Egg Roll

Federal sequestration continues to affect the James A. Garfield National Historic Site.

The site's Twitter account stated that the annual Easter Monday Egg Roll has been cancelled. The early April event usually features games, crafts, activities and contests on the lawn of President James Garfield’s Mentor home.

The decision comes a week after the announcement that the site would close on Sundays until further notice due to a loss of $34,440 in federal funding.

"It was a tough decision, and we've had to make a lot of those recently," public information officer Todd Arrington said. "Hopefully, things will be a little more evened out next year and we can bring it back in 2014."

Arrington said the event is pricey because the site has to be fully staffed on a day on which it is normally closed. The site also spends $1,000 on wooden eggs, spoons, decorations and hiring entertainment, which has previously included a magician and balloon twister.

Arrington said the Garfield site is examining its events on a case-by-case basis.

"It's not inconceivable that other events could be cancelled," he said. "Everything is being considered right now."