Spring time on the Square

Published 6:00 am Sunday, March 20, 2016

Saturday was a chilly spring morning, but that didn’t stop a number of parents from bundling up their little ones and bringing them to the Lafayette County Courthouse to meet the Easter Bunny.

The Easter Bunny, whose fur protected him from the cold spring weather, greeted children and parents as part of the Oxford Square Alliance’s annual Spring Open House held on the lawn of the courthouse.

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As the large rabbit stood near the courthouse steps, a photographer was positioned in front of him to capture the meeting for parents who stood in line.

Louisiana native Andi Bedsworth, who has lived in Oxford for 12 years, runs an art program for children called Art to Go. She was at the event Saturday standing behind a table with egg-shaped cutouts, colors and markers.

“We bring art trucks to different events, and today we are decorating eggs for Easter,” she said. “The Square Alliance asked us to come out today. We come out for their Spring Fling. We also come out for their Christmas event and their summer event too.”

Bedsworth said Art to Go was created in 2011. “Today, we’re sponsored by the Square Alliance, but most of our stops are sponsored by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council,” she said.

Julie Spears brought her sons Jack, 4, and Samuel, 2, to the event. The boys stood behind the table and used their creativity to create a colorful Easter egg drawing.

“Jack wanted to see the Easter Bunny,” said Spears, “and we came just to enjoy all of the festivities while we were here.”

Spears admitted that both children were a little afraid of the Easter Bunny. That’s why she and her husband were in the picture.

April Wells, an Oxford resident, stood in line holding her baby daughter, Anna Kate, who was bundled in a blanket awaiting her turn with the Easter Bunny.

“I thought it would be fun for her,” she said. “This is her first Easter, and it lets her to socialize with other adults and kiddos.”

About LaReeca Rucker

LaReeca Rucker is a writer, reporter and adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Mississippi's Meek School of Journalism and New Media.

A veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience, she spent a decade at the Gannett-owned Clarion-Ledger - Mississippi's largest daily newspaper - covering stories about crime, city government, civil rights, social justice, religion, art, culture and entertainment for the paper's print and web editions. She was also a USA Today contributor.

This year, she received a first place award from the Mississippi Press Association for “Best In-Depth Investigative Reporting.” The story written in 2014 for The Oxford Eagle chronicles the life of a young mother with two sons who have epilepsy, and details how she is patiently hoping legalized cannabis oil experimentation will lead to a cure for their disorder.

Her website is www.lareecarucker.com.

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