March 15, 2008 — First lady Cecile deJongh and Cheryl Francis, wife of Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis, know at an Easter egg hunt everyone doesn't find eggs. So this year they hosted an Easter celebration, instead of an egg hunt, with everyone getting an Easter basket.
"Kids aren't happy if they don't find eggs, but this way they are all winners and happy," said deJongh. "With a celebration like this, parents can even sit and relax and enjoy the entertainment."
Hundreds of parents and children ages 10 and under were at Island Center Saturday enjoying live, kid-friendly entertainment for the season.
The stage was gaily festooned with tulle in pastel shades of blue, pink, green and yellow, Easter balloons and gray stuffed bunnies. Many children were wearing green for St. Patrick's Day.
The hour-long performance began with a story read by Francis from an oversized picture book, called "Hattie and the Fox." Master of ceremonies Rashidi Clenance got the audience hopping with a dance done to an original song by Ferrari, sung by Nikki Brooks, entitled "It's Easter Time."
Joining Clenance on stage hopping to the left and right were deJongh and Francis.
An original skit with an Easter Fantasia theme, written by Edgar Lake, was done by story teller Janice Tutein, N' Qwanda Williams, N'Quari Williams and the Easter bunny, Richard Norman.
Lake, from the Department of Education, was asked by deJongh to draft a story where everybody is a winner. In the story, two little girls share the two eggs they found with a little boy on crutches.
Sixteen students from Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School did two quadrilles. Under the direction of King Derby, five children played banjos, mandolins and ukuleles. Three girls sang and swayed along to the music.
For the basket distribution, Clenance got the children to do the bunny train hop, forming a line to receive Easter baskets.
On St. Thomas and St Croix, 1,500 baskets were distributed Saturday. There will be 300 baskets given out on St. John next weekend.
DeJongh said any baskets left over will be taken to the pediatric units on St. Thomas and St. Croix and to various Head Start classes.
"I really had fun hopping and doing the bunny train," said Nacoya Johnson. "And I'm happy I got a basket too."
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