Easter Bunny visiting McKeesport today

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Easter is on its way and Peter Cottontail is making his way to McKeesport. 

The McKeesport K-9 Unit and its fundraising volunteers, fellow officers and Mayor Michael Cherepko have made arrangements to bring the Easter Bunny to town. 

The spread of COVID-19 is interfering with holiday traditions, including the city’s annual Easter egg hunt, typically held at Renziehausen Park, which had to be canceled.

The cancellation was announced at Wednesday’s council meeting as the recreation board and Cherepko’s administration adhere to Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines about social distancing and canceling gatherings of more than 10 people.

“Hello boys and girls of Mckeesport,” the Easter Bunny said in a post on the McKeesport  K-9 Unit Facebook page. “I’ve been so sad about not being able to visit with you so far this season, so I came up with a cool idea.

“I reached out to Mayor Mike Cherepko and the Mckeesport Police Department and asked if they could drive me around to see you.

“They loved the idea and said they would be happy to help me hop around the city.”

At 5 p.m. today,  the Easter Bunny will be riding around city neighborhoods in a police car waving from the window. 

“I’m a very busy bunny and won’t be able to stop, so remember to wave from your porch! See you soon,” The Easter Bunny wrote, adding that kids and their parents can also wave from street-facing windows at their homes.

The mayor is very excited that McKeesport youngsters are still going to get the chance to see the Easter Bunny this year.

“I’m sure the Easter holiday is going to be a very different experience for everyone during these trying times,” Cherepko said. “Taking the Easter Bunny around to wave at children in all of McKeesport’s neighborhoods is a simple way that we can spread a little joy and let families know we are thinking of them.”

Police Chief Adam Alfer said kids in the community can thank K-9 handler Sgt. Fran Angert and his wife Nichole Angert for coordinating with the Easter Bunny to work out the schedule.

“I have heard from a lot of little kids who are worried about whether or not the Easter Bunny is going to come this year because of social distancing being put into place, and their families are upset that they won’t be able to get pictures this year of their kids with the Easter Bunny,” Alfer said. “Although it will be from a distance, I think it’s great that we are able to give these kids hope that the Easter Bunny is coming to town.”

Alfer said he knows kids are dealing with a lot these days with not being able to go to school, play sports, participate in organized extra curricular activities or hang out with their friends, and is hopeful the Easter Bunny riding around town in a police car waving at them “will give kids hope.”

He said he hopes everyone stays “happy, healthy and safe” this Easter.

For more information and updates, follow the McKeesport K-9 Unit Facebook page.