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THE EASTER BUNNY and VALLEY INDUSTRIES workers stuff Easter eggs. Pictured from left are, Mary Alice Dorsey, Kirill Bronitsky (a.k.a. Easter Bunny), Ryan Treat and Jason McBain. The men standing in the background are Larry Kennard and Jim Cressey.
(Posted April 21, 2011)
Dozens of workers at the Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop are busy helping the Easter Bunny fill 14,000 Easter eggs with 26,000 pieces of candy in time for the City of Hazelwood’s Annual Easter Eggstravaganza, scheduled for Saturday, April 23. The event will be held at White Birch Park, 1186 Teson Road, starting at 10 a.m. The Easter Bunny made an unexpected visit to Valley Industries recently to see how his crew was doing on preparations for this big event, which is considered one of North County’s most popular egg hunts.
Sponsored by the Hazelwood Parks and Recreation Division, the Easter Eggstravaganza is a free event and open to the public. Children ages 10 and under can participate. White Birch Park will be divided into five sections for the following age groups: Under 24 months; ages 2-3; ages 4-5; ages 6-7; and ages 8-10.  Youngsters will be able to register for a bike giveaway in each age group, one for a boy and the other for a girl. Plus, the Easter Bunny is expected to hop on the scene and greet the kids and pose

Valley Industries Helps Easter Bunny: Pictured at table from left to right are Janniece Finazzo, Kirill Bronitsky (aka bunny) and Ron Kottwitz.
for photos with them.  Immediately afterwards, the Piwacket Children’s Theater will be presenting a “Puppet Jamboree” in the gymnasium inside the Hazelwood Community Center.
This Easter egg filling project is an expansion of the partnership that has developed between the City of Hazelwood and Valley Industries.
The partnership began over a year ago when Hazelwood officials met with Valley Industries staff members to find a way to save the City some money by combining the mailing of the Hazelwood’s Parks and Recreation Activity Guide with the City’s Resident Newsletter on a quarterly basis. Instead of sending them out separately and incurring additional mailing expenses, the two publications are now shrink-wrapped together in plastic and pre-sorted for mailing by Valley Industries employees.
The estimated savings by eliminating the mailing of one of these publications four times a year is approximately $10,212.
“As a result of the downturn in the economy, the City of Hazelwood was forced to make some difficult budget decisions because of the drop in sales tax revenue. We wanted to find ways of stretching our revenue in order to maintain existing services and to show residents we are good stewards of their taxpaying dollars,” said Tim Davidson, Hazelwood Communications Coordinator.
“By combining the mailing of both publications, we were able to save the City some money and still afford to produce them both on a quarterly basis.”
Davidson also stated that the City of Hazelwood wanted to set an example for other local businesses and residents to follow.
“We want to encourage our businesses and residents to shop locally and keep sales tax dollars in our city.  By patronizing local businesses instead of those outside the City, the money stays here in our community which can be used to maintain the quality of services residents receive from their local government,” Davidson noted.
Within 24 hours after starting the Easter egg filling project, Valley Industries workers had already finished 8,500 eggs.

Valley Industries Thrives

Valley Industries became a Hazelwood business in June 2001 when it moved into its current 63,000-square-foot facility located at 143 B McDonnnell Boulevard, which used to be the site for Southern Cross Lumber.  The workshop purchased the property in 1999 and spent a couple of years renovating it.
This move was made because it was too costly operating two facilities in Old Towne Florissant and Olivette.  Most of the 110 workers from Florissant and 75 workers from Olivette were reassigned to the Hazelwood site, which ended up being a convenient half-way point for everyone.  Valley Industries currently employs 190+ workers and staff members.
According to Valley Industries Executive Director Jim Guyre, “Our employees have a work ethic that is higher than in many other industries.  Most of our workforce team has 10 or more years of experience all the way up to 43 years. Our team takes great pride in a job well done.  It is heartwarming to watch our workers thrive and improve over time as they gain confidence and acquire new skills.”
“We want people to want to come here and work because we offer great jobs,” said Guyre.

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