Children collect eggs at the Hopfinger Zimmerman Memorial Park Easter Egg Hunt. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – This year’s Easter egg hunts in Port Clinton on April 12 could be summed up in one word: generosity. Thanks to the benevolence of businesses, organizations and individuals, 5,000 eggs were scattered across Lakeview Park and another 5,000 were scattered across Hopfinger Zimmerman Memorial Park, making the day special for hundreds of local children. But the day’s generosity was best epitomized in the heart of seven-year-old Penelope Orshoski, who won a bike but didn’t want it.

Seven-year-old Penelope Orshoski stands next to the bike her generous little heart didn’t want. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

For the first time this year, the City of Port Clinton Easter Egg Hunt at Lakeview Park offered two new boys bikes as prizes. Port Clinton Administrative Assistant Sandye Ostheimer, who organized the egg hunt, said that, if a girl won, she could exchange the bike for a pink one.

When Penelope walked up to the prize table with her mother, Andrea Orshoski, she turned in the bike coupon she found in an egg and said she didn’t want the bike.

Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snider watches his buddy, the Easter Bunny, give a young boy a high-five. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“I already have a bike. Can I exchange the bike for one for my mom? She doesn’t have one,” she told event volunteers, overwhelming them and her mother with her kindness.

The Easter Bunny would be very proud.

Generosity is always the theme at Hopfinger Zimmerman, where Jack and Lorraine Zimmerman pour their money and their effort, with the help of generous donors, into continually improving the expansive park and into hosting events like the Easter egg hunt. Hundreds of children visited into the park to hunt eggs filled with candy, and six of them went home with prize baskets.

Port Clinton Administrative Assistant Sandye Ostheimer, center front, stands with her team of volunteers at the 2025 City of Port Clinton Easter Egg Hunt. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“It was an awesome day,” Lorraine said. “There’s no rain. The sun is shining. We have lots of happy kids.”

The Easter Bunny arrived at both egg hunts on the Port Clinton Fire Department fire truck, where he hugged and high-fived kids and passed out candy. This year’s City of Port Clinton Easter Egg Hunt, which included 30 prizes, 12 grand prize baskets and two bicycles, was extra special because it was funded entirely by community donations.

“Usually, the city gives me a stipend to fund the egg hunt, but this year, I did not need a stipend. The community was so generous,” Ostheimer said.

A young girl drops an egg in a basket at the City of Port Clinton Easter Egg Hunt. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Monetary donors included the Port Clinton VFW, Port Clinton Eagles, Port Clinton Rotary, Port Clinton Women’s Club, Lake Donuts and individuals. Gift Card donors included Monsoon Lagoon, Fast Eddie’s, Marcos Pizza, Bassett’s Market and FriendShip Food Stores.

This is Ostheimer’s ninth year organizing the City of Port Clinton Easter Egg Hunt, which has been held for at least 50 years. Generations of families have attended the event, including the Brady family. Audrey Brady, 3, went home with two Easter baskets, a vacuum cleaner, and enough candy to give her a tummy ache.

Brady was overwhelmed with excitement and wanted to start hunting for eggs before the event started, but she waited, and her patience paid off. Not only did she go home with an armload of goodies, but she also got to meet the Easter Bunny.

“He’s so funny,” she said.