Easter Egg

As the Swansfield Elementary School students boarded six buses Monday for the trek from Columbia to the White House Easter Egg Roll, second-grader Jadaejah Matthews said she hoped to meet President Barack Obama. Classmate Masale Robi seconded that hope, adding that he wanted to ask Obama "how he learns tricks to play basketball. " The Swansfield party of 250 (including 175 students) were set to join more than 30,000 people participating in the annual event Monday that featured live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and Easter egg rolling on the White House South Lawn.

It has become an Easter tradition for the Vernon family: church, brunch and a trip to the Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens for photographs next to the spring flowers. Brittany Vernon, 25, has pictures from her childhood when her mother, Elnora Vernon, would take her to the conservatory in Druid Hill Park, still dolled up in a frilly Easter dress. This year the Vernons took Brittany Vernon's son, 6-year-old Kobe Boston, continuing the tradition. "He doesn't quite understand the tradition yet," Brittany Vernon, who lives in Woodlawn, said Sunday.

You don't want your child to be the kid who comes home with no treats after an egg hunt. These events can be overwhelming for little ones, so for some hints on how to have a successful hunt, we turned to the experts. Kriste Garman , park naturalist at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center and former organizer of the Easter egg hunts at Cromwell Valley Park, said: •Look under leaves. •Eggs are often out in the open, but camouflaged, so if you see a yellow flower, look for a yellow egg. •Make sure you have a good, sturdy collection container, so you're not worried about the bottom falling out of your bag. Nikki Haschert , program specialist for the City of Westminster Recreation and Parks Department, said: •Don't just look on the ground, look everywhere.

Easter weekend is coming up, and there are a lot of events going on. From meeting the Easter Bunny to playing with real rabbits to dyeing eggs with natural dyes, there's something for everyone. Check out this sampling of local activities: Bunny BonanZOO The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is hosting this event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today through Sunday. Entry is free with regular admission of $10-$16. There will be a continuing Easter egg hunt where kids collect plastic eggs and trade them for candy eggs at the Waterfowl Lake Pavilion.

Chocolate-covered Easter eggs made by members of Centenary United Methodist Church in Shady Side are on sale. The quarter-pound eggs, available in butter, chocolate, coconut or peanut butter cream, cost $2 each. To buy some or for more information, go to centenary-umc.com.

For children, Easter is a time for bunnies, colored eggs and baskets filled with gifts. For parents facing economic troubles, the holiday can represent yet one more dent in the family budget. Luckily, there are events all weekend throughout the area, like egg hunts, that are about $5 or less. Skate with the Easter Bunny: If you like skating and bowling, check out the Shake and Bake Family Fun Center's "Skate with Mr. Easter Bunny" night Friday. Meet the Easter Bunny, skate and bowl from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., all free with skate admission of $5.50.

County library to hold spelling bee today Howard County's fourth spelling bee will be held at 7 p.m. today at Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City. The event is free and open to the public. Top spellers from 53 public schools, six private schools and one home-school association will compete. The winner will represent Howard County at the 81st Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee to be held in Washington. Information: Kelli Shimabukuro, Howard County Library, 410-313-7763.

Easter weekend is upon us, and an egg hunt is a great way for children to celebrate this holiday. Egg hunts are great to have right in your own backyard. But who says you can be a part of only one event? If you and your children feel like getting away from home, here are a few egg hunts taking place this weekend. Cromwell Valley Park A free Easter egg hunt will take place today in Cromwell Valley Park, on Sherwood Farm, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Parkville. The egg hunts are divided by age. Ages 3-4 will go in search of their eggs at 10:30 a.m., followed by ages 5-6 at 10:45 a.m., ages 7-8 at 11 a.m. and ages 9-10 at 11:15 a.m. Other events include a jelly-bean-counting contest, 4-H Rabbit Club presentations and a chance to meet the Easter bunny.