Family fun in Jamestown Above, left; Klaus Nowels and her family admire their successful hunt. It was six-year-old Quentin’s first chance to experience the cherished Jamestown tradition. Husband Eric admires the haul. Above, right; Stephanie Abramovici spearheaded the Easter Bunny egg hunt at Elysian Park in Jamestown on April 16, 2022. It was her first year after Lisa Cass stepped down from the role. PHOTOS BY KIRK C. WATKINS[/caption]

The Easter egg hunt has once again returned to the town of Jamestown. After two years, the children of Jamestown searched high and low for eggs that had been hidden earlier that day by the local helpers of the bunny. Set in at the eastern end of Jamestown is Elysian Park.

The sprawling open space is surrounded by James Creek on the North side and steep hills to the South. Right in the center of this expanse was where the hunt took place.

This year, a new bunny representative would be running the show. Lisa Cass had been responsible for the hunt for many years. In the traditional way that residents of Jamestown have previously passed the generational torch, Cass passed the duties onto Stephanie Abramovici. Cass’s children have grown up now, and she realized that she needed to make way for the next generation.

“I inherited it from Laura Williams… ten years ago, maybe, when all of my kids were still little,” she said, “I’m passing the torch to Steph. Steph has children that are all ranging from babies, to like nine or ten, so it’s time for some new blood to take over.”

She acknowledged that there were some emotions that came along with the passing. “It’s bittersweet. It’s been a fun and easy volunteer job. It’s always nice to see so much joy, and sugar.” She laughed, but the bittersweet was there as well. She had been a great Easter Bunny, but her time had come to pass the torch.

When asked about deciding to take on the role, and the responsibilities, Stephanie Abramovici was up for the challenge. “I’m the new Easter Bunny of Jamestown. Lisa Cass has done it for years, and it was very easy,” she said, “and we have so many great community members that love to help out, that it almost plans itself.”

Abramovici acknowledged that the two years that the Easter egg hunt had not taken place had taken a toll on the people. “I think it was part of an overall… slow down on our community experience, especially living in a small town, so it’s a really fun thing that we get together again and do this,” she said.

Abramovici moved to town in 2018, and has been to the Easter egg hunt before, but for many of the families that were in attendance, the children that took part were much younger than in previous years, and for many this may well have been the first time they were able to participate or remember.

For Abramovici, this was especially true. She has a total of five children, three of whom were participating in the Easter egg hunt. “Zane is in third grade, and he has done this every year since kindergarten. Tulsi is four and this is her second, and then Omri is one and this is his first,” she said, emphasizing they are the reason why she might be the town Easter Bunny for years to come.

Klaus Nowels is a resident of the Bar K, just outside of Jamestown, and a parent of a six-year-old named Quentin. She and her husband, Eric, would be experiencing their first Easter egg hunt in Jamestown. Her family moved to the area about two years ago and had spent most of their time in pandemic lockdown. She and her family were very excited to be able to participate this year. “I think this is amazing,” she said, “We love living up here, and the way this community gets together and does things together is just amazing.”

“We’re gonna have a good time,” added Nowels, speaking for all of the children and families in attendance.

As far as the Easter egg hunt goes, the wide expanse of the park combined with the parents and the community members bringing and hiding decidedly excessive amounts of candy filled eggs, it was an epic return of the Easter Bunny for the Jamestown community.