What’s Hoppin’ in Zelie?
ZELIENOPLE — Families could begin their day full of Easter activities on the morning of Holy Saturday, April 19, and have it stretch into the afternoon, all without leaving Zelienople.
Three events took place: a breakfast, an egg hunt and an open house for a model train display. The events filled the air in Zelienople with the laughter of children.
The first event, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., was “Breakfast with the Bunny” hosted at English Lutheran Church along Grandview Avenue. Families reserved spots to eat breakfast in the church’s hall.
Children also could meet and have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny gave them baskets full of treats for later.
Then, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Harmony Lodge No. 429 hosted a train display by the Model Train Club of Zelienople. The display was themed around Easter, featuring eggs hidden across the landscape and cars full of candy.
Christian Brooks, the club’s vice president, said the Easter display is just one of four public model train displays the club puts together each year. The other three are displayed near the Fourth of July, Halloween and Christmas.
“I remember I had trains as a kid and my parents would always make me tear them down when I was done playing with it,” he said. “I still have to do that now, but with this, it stays up for several hours. It’s not five minutes until you get bored with it and have to start tearing it down.”
The public displays go a long way toward recruiting new members for the club, according to Brooks.
“This club is permanent,” Brooks said. “We have a permanent layout in the basement. We meet on the third Thursday of the month.”
Finally, at 11 a.m., the Zelienople Community Park hosted an Easter egg hunt. Hundreds of children up to 12 years old lined the road through the park waiting for the go-ahead. Children of different age groups participated in separate hunts to help level the playing field.
By 11:05 a.m., a majority of the eggs had already been found, and a line formed for another opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny. Bryan Branby, park advisory board president, was shocked by how quickly the park was cleared of eggs.
“I just walked around and they’re like piranha,” Branby joked. “I think I found four Tootsie Rolls left behind.”
Park director Lyndsey Granata said more than 4,000 eggs were stuffed and scattered across the park, thanks to help from borough staff and the park advisory board. The park took over the egg hunt from the Zelienople Lions Club starting this year.
“We had about a month to prepare for it, because I didn’t want there to be no Easter egg hunt this year,” Granata said. “It went OK. There’s a few things we’ll iron out for next year, but turnout was amazing. We didn’t get any complaints.”
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Attendees eat breakfast during Breakfast With The Bunny at English Lutheran Church in Zelienople on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Finn Yatko, 2, puts his head in the Easter Bunny's lap during Breakfast With The Bunny at English Lutheran Church in Zelienople on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Finn Yatko, 2, gets an Easter basket during Breakfast With The Bunny at English Lutheran Church in Zelienople on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Model Train Club of Zelienople’s model train display was open for public viewing at Harmony Lodge No. 429 on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Otis Toth, 5, opens the Easter eggs he collected during an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Bryson Harter, 2, hunts Easter eggs and picks up candy during an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Sarah Elliott helps her son Otis Toth, 5, open up his Easter eggs after an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Andy Patrylak shows his grandson Parker Maletto, 2, the Model Train Club of Zelienople’s model train display at Harmony Lodge No. 429 on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Otis Toth, 5, opens the Easter eggs he collected during an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Sarah Elliott helps her son Otis Toth, 5, open up his Easter eggs after an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Bryson Harter, 2, hunts Easter eggs and picks up candy during an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Model Train Club of Zelienople’s model train display was open for public viewing at Harmony Lodge No. 429 on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Sarah Elliott helps her son Otis Toth, 5, open up his Easter eggs after an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Sarah Elliott helps her son Otis Toth, 5, open up his Easter eggs after an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Andy Patrylak shows his grandson Parker Maletto, 2, the Model Train Club of Zelienople’s model train display at Harmony Lodge No. 429 on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Sarah Elliott helps her son Otis Toth, 5, open up his Easter eggs after an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Finn Yatko, 2, puts his head in the Easter Bunny's lap during Breakfast With The Bunny at English Lutheran Church in Zelienople on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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AJ, 7, and Finn Yatko, 2, get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny during Breakfast With The Bunny at English Lutheran Church in Zelienople on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Sarah Elliott helps her son Otis Toth, 5, open up his Easter eggs after an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Bryson Harter, 2, hunts Easter eggs and picks up candy during an Easter egg hunt at Zelienople Community Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
