Egg Hunt Sends Kids, Adults, And Grandparents Scrambling In Newtown

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —Now you see them. Now you don’t.

Within minutes, 8,000 brightly colored eggs disappeared from the field behind Goodnoe Elementary School Sunday afternoon, scooped up by hundreds of youngsters, parents, and even grandparents who made the annual springtime dash across the field during Newtown’s Community Egg Hunt.

The scramble, organized by the Newtown Rotary Club, began at 2 p.m. sharp in the fields behind the school, moving up through each age group category from 0 to 2 up to and including grandparents and adults.

When it was all said and done, kids, their parents, and their grandparents made their way off the field with buckets, baskets and bags filled with eggs.

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

“That was amazing,” said Mick Petrucci, former president of the Newtown Rotary Club, remarking at how quickly the eggs disappeared. People are getting smart," Petrucci observed. "They have their strategies now. They know exactly what they're doing and how they're going to collect the eggs."

Rotarian Paul Salvatore, who has organized the hunt for more than 30 years, said he's always amazed at how fast the eggs disappear. "We started at 2 p.m. By 2:15 p.m. we were done. That's 8,000 eggs collected in 15 minutes."

Both egg hunt organizers said they were "pleasantly surprised" by the turnout on Sunday, especially since they had to postpone the event on Saturday due to rainy and cold conditions.

“Even with the postponement it was good to see people come out for a community-based tradition," said Petrucci.

Added Salvatore, “I’d like to thank the volunteers who helped, all of our sponsors and everyone who donated a prize. Everything worked well. There’s not a single egg out there out of the 8,000 that were on that field. Not one.

“It went great,” Salvatore added. “It paid holding off a day. The weather cooperated. We definitely had a lot of excitement. And the turnout was phenomenal.”

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

The adult hunt is among the most competitive. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Egg hunt organizers Paul Salvatore and Mick Petrucci. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The eggs were donated by the First National Bank of Newtown and were filled with Easter treats generously provided by Sam’s Club. And one lucky egg hunter from each age group category won a $75 prize.

This year's event kicked off with a hunt designed for the blind and visually impaired. Members of the Philadelphia Bomb Squad brought beeping eggs, which they scattered across part of the field for the hunt.

Among the participants was Matthew Pae, who attended Goodnoe Elementary School and is a graduate of Council Rock North. He lost his eyesight when he was 10. His mom, Megan, assisted her son as he participated in the hunt.

Megan and Matthew Pae of Newtown participate in the hunt for the blind and visually impaired. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Megan and Matthew Pae with egg hunt organizer Paul Salvatore, right, and members of the Montgomery County Bomb Squad. (Jeff Werner/Patch)