Panel’s demise scrambles plans for Pingree egg hunt
By Ryan Klassy For The Courier-News March 5, 2013 2:02PM
Updated: April 7, 2013 6:28AM
PINGREE GROVE — Parents looking to get their kids in on that age-old Easter tradition of filling a basket full of brightly colored eggs will have to look outside the village this year.
Trustees have decided night to cancel the annual Easter egg hunt.
The decision was made after it was announced that a fourth member of the community events committee, in charge of planning the event, had resigned.
Village President Greg Marston said committee member Stephanie Mette resigned last week. He said she had received criticism from residents about choices made by the committee.
Mette’s resignation leaves the committee with only one member, Elizabeth Mosier, and a handful of volunteers.
Marston acknowledged that several residents had volunteered their services recently, but he didn’t feel this was the time to have them jump into a leadership role.
“I don’t plan to appoint anyone to the committee at this time,” Marston said.
“With the egg hunt so close, I think it would only be prudent to cancel the event for this year,” advised Village Administrator Ken Lopez.
The events committee has $5,792.11 in the bank, but trustees agreed there is not enough time to put someone in place to organize the event, previously scheduled to take place Saturday, March 30, near the Cambridge Lakes Charter School.
Lopez said committee chair Denise Wiedmeyer resigned last month because of a busy schedule and a variety of volunteer obligations. He complimented Wiedmeyer’s leadership and the group’s hard work.
The committee was formed in 2010 after the village suspended all community events to help get the budget in check. Volunteers socked away thousands of dollars through fundraisers — and, without financial help from the village, organized several events including the egg hunt, a Fourth of July celebration and fireworks, holiday tree-lighting and a community garage sale.
Now, village officials are left looking for a way to keep those traditions alive.
Marston said one event is not in danger of being cancelled — fireworks — in response to Trustee Brian Paszkiewicz’s concern that the village should have some sort of event for the Fourth of July.
“I can guarantee I’ll do fundraising to cover the fireworks,” Marston said.
Lopez offered an option of having village staff organize some events but stressed that they would need to be “scaled back” because of the time requirements.
“It is my opinion that having community events is important,” Lopez said. “It brings a sense of pride to the community.”
