Kids enjoy Easter Village eggs-travaganza

TRUMBULL ­-- As they have every year for as long as they can remember, Jeanette Paraska's family headed to Easter Village Saturday afternoon.

It's a tradition," Paraska said of the event, sponsored by the Bridgeport Police Activities League, that featured photos taken with the Easter Bunny and a variety of activities, like egg decorating. "This is the third generation," she added pointing to her two grandchildren.

A half-dozen tables were set up in the large room at the Christmas Village, located on Quarry Road. One offered face painting, another a chance to do some sand art. Then there were cupcakes that children could frost, then eat.

That, Paraska said, was her 8-year-old grandson Trey's favorite. He smiled and shook his head in agreement.

"I just enjoy coming here," he said. "It's always a lot of fun."

Jeannette Paraska, a Fairfield resident in her 60s, said she remembers the Bridgeport PAL offering programs for children when she was a young girl growing up in Bridgeport.

"I grew up in Father Panik Village and we didn't have a lot of money," she said. "PAL had Christmas programs that we attended, and I was always grateful for that."

She said having events like the one Saturday is good for the community. "It's always great to have something special for the kids," she said. "It's something they'll always remember."

Also attending were Jalana and Jayne Cintron, both 6, of Bridgeport along with several of their cousins. "I like the bunnies. They go hop, hop," said Jayne, looking up from her egg-dyeing just long enough to answer.

Her sister, Jalana preferred the face painting. "I like how it looks," she said.

Their uncle, Orlando Corez, said he thought it would be fun to attend the event. "We like to find things for the children to do," he said. "Tomorrow, we'll have an Easter egg hunt for them."

Another niece, DynaLee Rivera, 14, of Stratford, was also there, but as a new member of the Bridgeport PAL cadets. Rivera said she joined the group because she was curious about what they did and how they served the community.

This was her first event as a cadet and she said she was having a great time with all the children attending.

"I also joined because I'm thinking about going into law enforcement as a detective," she said. "I thought this group could get me into the right mind set for it."

The Easter Village was started in 1983, when the PAL Christmas Village moved to Quarry Road. A fire at its previous location in Beardsley Park forced the move. Christmas Village offers a variety of similar events featuring Santa and his reindeer during the Christmas season.

"We thought we should also do something in the spring and this is it," said Mike Marella, PAL executive director.

He said the Easter-themed event pulls in about $1,200 to $1,500, with all the proceeds benefiting the PAL cadet program.

"It's important to hold these events," said Marella, a former Bridgeport police officer. "It shows the kids that police officers care and that they are involved in the community."