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HomeNewsArchivesEaster Comes to a Head with Bonnet Parade

Easter Comes to a Head with Bonnet Parade

March 23, 2008 — "It's all in the details," said Rosemarie Moscia, as she gingerly made her entrance Sunday at the Humane Society Easter Bonnet Parade under an 18-inch tall, at least 10-pound creation.
While some folks spent Easter with a family meal after church, or at a fancy buffet, the island's more creative souls dashed out to the Oceana Restaurant at Villa Olga for the society's show to strut their stuff.
Until it was revived last year, the Easter Parade had fallen by the wayside since its heyday in the 1980s at the pool at Blackbeard's Hotel. The current event is somewhat more organized, but still lots of fun.
"We're happy to revive it," Joe Aubain, Humane Society board president, said. He suggested it to the board last year. "The community missed it," he said, "It's something we needed to bring back."
Oceana abounded in Easter baskets for sale filled with goodies and exotic orchids brought from San Juan by Lucy Malave, Humane Society retail manager. Aubain said later that almost all the baskets sold.
Moscia's fantasy, which she called "Easter Bunnies Secret Garden," took about three weeks to construct, she said. It's a three-layer tall mountainside topped by a handmade wooden gazebo. Underneath sit two battery-powered running water fountains, ducks, chickens, bunnies, a reclining Dalmatian and all manner of flora and fauna.
And those details. "I had to get some of the things in the States," Moscia said. "The water fountains came from Walgreens."
Moscia said she has appeared herself, or adorned her daughter, Bianca, for years, going back to the Blackbeard's days. "It's just something we love to do," she said.
Last year Bianca won best of show in a creation made of twigs wound into real banana quit nests, feathered birds and golden eggs made by Kathy Easterday. This year, Moscia said Bianca is wearing a creation of her own in the slightly larger New York Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue.
Taking first in each prize category: for glamor, Shari Purdy for "Peeps-Chic"; most original, Rose Moscia for "Secret Garden;" and most humorous, Carol Rich for a bonnet brimming with bunnies and, of course, a talking frog.
Rob Kunkel, the lone male entrant, won an honorable mention in the Original category. He had the audience laughing with a spirited vamp through the crowd sporting a spiffy black felt derby adorned with three orange zinnias. Kunkel said the derby was from his performance as Jeremiah Peachum in Pistarkle Theater's "Three Penny Opera."
Purdy had a hard time attaching her little aqua peeps to her bonnet, finally having to sew them on. The peeps, however, wound up as glamorous as peeps can be. Rich was proud of her talking frog. What does he say? "Well, 'ribbit'" she said.
Eric Snow was master of ceremonies, handing out elegant raffle prizes including fancy watches, wines and a yacht trip for six. The bonnet winners each received a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne and a one-year society membership.
"This year," Aubain said, "was much more manageable than last year. We had fewer people, about 100, and I'm very happy with that."
Aubain said the event is less a fundraiser than an opportunity for public awareness of the society's capital campaign for its animal campus on Weymouth-Rhymer Highway, which he said is now scheduled to open in July. For more information on the new campus, go to the Humane Society website.
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