by VDC staff

The Caledonian-Record in St. Johnsbury reports that the Whitefield (NH) Select Board has put the brakes on a motorcycle club’s plan to host a children’s Easter egg hunt on town property, deciding that candy-filled eggs and outlaw-adjacent optics might not be the best mix.

Whitefield is the next town over from Lancaster, the border town adjacent to Lunenburg, VT.

The March 23 decision follows a December holiday event hosted by the Northern Misfitz Motorcycle Club that was, shall we say, less than silent night. After a Christmas tree giveaway, the evening took a hard turn at Sunny & Jillian’s Pub, ending in a fight and a stabbing. Derek Bentley now faces a first-degree assault charge with a gang-related enhancement.

Prosecutors say Bentley is affiliated with the Misfitz, described as a support club for the Outlaws Motorcycle Club—a group the U.S. Department of Justice has labeled a criminal organization. Club representatives insist Bentley isn’t a member and say the Misfitz had nothing to do with the barroom chaos.

Still, when the group asked to bring back its Easter egg hunt—complete with a reported 6,000 eggs last year and zero bunny-related incidents—the board wasn’t sold.

Select Board Chair Shawn White cited several concerns, including public safety, police relations, and, perhaps most memorably, wardrobe choices.

“One of the issues with the event that it is a children’s event and the clothing they wear … has a middle finger on it, and we don’t feel that needs to be around children,” White said.

In other words: jellybeans, yes. Gestures, not so much.

Club member Eric Mooney argued the denial was unfair, noting no members were arrested and that the group has “done nothing but good for the town.” But for now, it appears the Easter Bunny will not be arriving by motorcycle.

For more information, read today’s Caledonian-Record, the daily newspaper for the Northeast Kingdom and northwestern New Hampshire.