CHEERS: to the CVPH Medical Center Auxiliary Distribution Committee for buying 5,000 eggs and enough candy to fill them, to stage the annual Easter egg hunt. Special CHEERS to Edda and Jerry Kelly for stuffing the eggs, as is their annual habit. The hunt provides a holiday of joy for area kids to find them, even in the chilly weather that prevailed this year. CHEERS also to Pine Harbour, which took on the host role this year, as construction prevented CVPH from being the site of the event. In combination with that, though ...

JEERS: to parents who take their kids on an Easter egg hunt and bring along large bags to fill with candy. Some parents do that at the various events throughout the region, we're told, which is literally taking candy from some babies. Those parents ought to let the kids collect their own goodies. Organizers generally stagger starting times to give the youngest kids first shot at the eggs. Helping youngsters is one thing, but adults quickly scooping the eggs into a bag seems a little unsportsmanlike.

CHEERS: to our congressman, Rep. John McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor), for being given the National Association of Community Health Centers 2008 Community Health Defender Award for helping get access to health care for millions of people otherwise disenfranchised. Specifically, winners of the award "have worked to successfully increase the number of community, migrant, public-housing and homeless health centers around the country that provide quality primary health care to medically uninsured and under-served people," according to a news release. McHugh was cited for his work in many of New York's most rural and difficult-to-serve communities and, in particular, helping enable the Moriah Health Center with a $549,000 grant.

JEERS: to parents who do not dress their youngsters properly, or check them to see that they're appropriately bundled, when the kids are heading off to school. Failure to be adequately clothed not only disqualifies a child from participating in recess activities, dangers can ensue if, for example, a bus breaks down and it takes long minutes to get a substitute vehicle to the site. With luck, spring isn't far off, but we're reminded that some kids aren't being dressed for what's left of winter.