4 springtime activities we love at Walt Disney World
The resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration, and now is the perfect time to celebrate the season and upcoming Easter holiday. If you plan on visiting, we have uncovered a number of fun activities for families to experience while out exploring the theme parks and nearby resort hotels.
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Merkel: 'A quiet Easter' needed to counter rising infections
“There needs to be a quiet Easter festival,” Merkel said in a video address. AdIn contrast, Britain has given one vaccine shot to 46% of its people. Health Minister Jens Spahn said routine vaccinations will begin in doctors' practices on Tuesday, with 35,000 GPs scheduled to receive 940,000 vaccine doses next week. Germany expects to receive about 40 million vaccine doses during the second quarter. AdMerkel, who is 66, says she would be prepared to take the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Madrid slows down vaccine jabs over Easter despite govt plea
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus walk in downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)MADRID – Spain’s Madrid region halted COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday at health centers for four days so medical staff can rest over the Easter holiday, despite pleas from the national government not to halt the fight against surging infections. Health Minister Carolina Darias last week urged regional authorities to keep vaccinating over the Easter break, saying it was “very important” to keep up the inoculation program. Spain, like other European Union nations, has had a surprisingly slow vaccine rollout that authorities blame on vaccine shortages. AdIt also noted that vaccine shots will still be administered at a city hospital and a city soccer stadium over the traditional Easter break.
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Holy days arrive for the faithful as pandemic eases in US
For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. It’s a season of major holy days for other faiths as well, occurring in a brighter mood than a year ago. Jews are observing Passover this week, and Muslims will enter the holy month of Ramadan in about two weeks. AdDas said he loves the festival because it celebrates diversity: “It acknowledges that we complement each other — different ethnicities, different nationalities, different genders.
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Think you’re ready for an Easter bunny of your own?
Easter is coming up, which means it’s time to remind everyone that a bunny, duck or chick may make for a cute gift on Easter morning, but buying live animals can be a huge, years-long commitment. It’s important to do your research before buying any pet, but if you’re serious about bringing home a “springtime” animal, here are a couple of tips from Michigan Humane’s Anna Chrisman:Make sure to research your pet first. A rabbit can live for more than a decade, and if you’re not ready to give your love and attention to one for that long, maybe it isn’t the pet for you. So you’ll need to do some research and make sure there is a vet nearby who can take care of your new pet. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t adopt pets in need, and if you’re serious about making a commitment to a rabbit, Chrisman has the pet for you.
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Make colorful dyed eggs naturally with items from your kitchen
When you were a kid, did you get excited when parents bought you an egg coloring kit, and you pulled out the colorful tablets to make beautifully dyed eggs? There might be a way to color your eggs with items found in your kitchen. Kila Peeples tried to dye eggs using Turmeric powder, red onion skins, and beet juice. The process is similar to how you use the coloring kits, but does it create colorful dyed eggs as well as the kits do? Watch the video above to see if dyeing eggs with food items worked.
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Metro Detroit weather: Sub-freezing conditions return Sunday night, milder Monday
DETROIT – Welcome to Sunday night, Motown. This will allow for milder and warmer weather early this week. Colder air returns for the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day. It remains breezy with winds blowing 10 to 20 mph dropping wind chills to the teens in the wee-hours of MondayMonday will be sunnier and milder with lighter winds. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.
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Romania OKs holding Easter celebrations despite virus surge
As Romania battles against a surge of COVID-19 infections authorities announced on Thursday March 25, 2021, that Easter celebrations in the deeply Christian country will physically go ahead this year. AdThe Easter Service is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. On the night of the Resurrection, Romanian Orthodox worshipers attend a service at midnight when they receive the Holy Light. “Preventing physical Easter in an Orthodox country in times when people need safety but also hope is not one of those." The prime minister also said he used Thursday's meeting to urge religious authorities to support Romania’s vaccination campaign, which has delivered more than 2.6 million vaccines shot so far.
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Poland orders stricter pandemic measures for Easter period
A cyclist passes in front of an ambulance by an infectious diseases hospital in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW – Poland's government ordered stricter pandemic measures for the two-week period surrounding Easter, describing the new rules Thursday as an attempt to limit human contacts amid a deadly surge in the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he knew the more severe measures come during a period when families traditionally spend time together for Easter, and it would require a sacrifice from Poles. “The evolution of the virus and the British mutation is leading not only to more infections, but also causing more hospitalizations,” Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. The higher numbers in Poland come amid more testing.
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The Latest: Philippine leader orders mayors investigated
New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Utah have been on a downward trend since January. Ad___SAO PAULO, Brazil — Brazil has reached 300,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and become the second nation to top that figure. ___BOISE, Idaho — The governor of Idaho has said COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will be open to all Idaho residents 16 and up starting April 5. ___WAILUKU, Hawaii — A hospital on Maui had to throw out nearly 1,400 vaccine doses after a refrigerator thawing the vials did not properly seal. Also, COVID-19 deaths have dipped below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November.
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Merkel drops Easter shutdown plan for Germany, apologizes
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the weekly cabinet meeting of the German government at the chancellery in Berlin, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday dropped plans for a five-day shutdown over Easter, which had prompted confusion and criticism. The same group, faced with rising coronavirus infections, had come up early Tuesday with the unexpected plan for tighter restrictions over Easter. Ad“The idea of an Easter shutdown was drawn up with the best intentions, because we must urgently manage to slow and reverse the third wave of the pandemic,” Merkel said. Merkel said, even without the Easter shutdown, the decisions that she and the state governors came up with offer a “framework” to beat back the new wave of coronavirus infections.
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Easter Sunday: List of stores closing or staying open
Eggs, candy and bunnies are traditionally all part of America's Easter holiday. There is a list of stores that plan to be closed on Easter Sunday this year. That’s April 4. Many larger grocery stores, pharmacies and retailers are planning to give employees time off this time around. Here’s the list of stores that plan to be open on Easter, per RetailMenot.
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Spanish islands warn tourists to abide by virus restrictions
Faced with a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spains Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do. But the restrictions havent stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their governments removal of the islands from a list of high-risk contagion zones. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu, FIle)MADRID – Faced with a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spain's Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do. But the restrictions haven't stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their government's removal of the Balearic Islands and other holiday destinations from a list of high-risk areas. Tourism accounted for 12% of Spain's gross domestic product before the pandemic and nearly a third of the Balearic Islands' output.
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Augusta National in November? 5 reasons why this year’s Masters will stand alone in history
If you’re clicking around on the remote control while watching TV this weekend, odds are, you’ll stumble on som sights of Augusta National Golf Club. Yes, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be the case for the first time in the history of the illustrious tournament. Paul Casey of England plays a shot on the second hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 09, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith) (Getty Images)One of the reasons the Masters is often the most-rated golf tournament is the stunning sight of azaleas and other flowers throughout the course. No fansThis won’t be any different from any other golf tournament or major sporting event this year.
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Harshmallow: Virus prompts pause for Peeps holiday treats
FILE - This Feb. 13, 2013 file photo shows Peeps at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa. Peeps holiday treats are going on hiatus another consequence of the coronavirus. PennLive.com reports, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, that Just Born Quality Confections says it wont be producing the popular sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentines Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Peeps treats are going on hiatus for several months — another consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Just Born Quality Confections said it won’t be producing the popular marshmallow sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter, PennLive.com reports. Just Born, which has been in business since 1923, said its other seasonal confections are expected to return to store shelves by Halloween 2021.
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Greenhouse owners concerned over financial impact of Michigan’s extended stay-at-home order
BELLEVILLE, Mich. – Robson’s Greenhouse in Belleville is usually extremely busy on Easter weekend. Gretchen Whitmer’s extended stay-at-home order deems greenhouses and garden centers non-essential -- impacting the industry’s busiest time of the year. Robson’s Greenhouse, a family-run business established in 1929, is only open from mid-May until June. “If we cannot get this stuff out it turns to garbage," says Kevin Robson, owner of Robson’s Greenhouse. He hopes others can enjoy his products during this time, as he says flowers are the “best mental health remedy.”
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Kroger stores adjust pharmacy, Easter hours amid pandemic
NOVI, Mich. – Kroger announced Tuesday that Michigan stores are adjusting their pharmacy hours amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Pharmacies will reduce operating hours in an effort to encourage customers to consolidate shopping trips and take advantage of Kroger’s pick up and delivery services, officials said. Beginning Wednesday, Kroger pharmacy locations will now be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. “An adjustment in hours will provide our associates more time to rest and be with their families.”Michigan Kroger stores are also offering certain hours of shopping dedicated to at risk communities. Senior shoppers, expectant mothers, first responders and those with compromised immune systems can shop from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
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9 inexpensive ideas for your spring break staycation
Spring break is right around the corner, and you may be dreaming of a fun family vacation -- but what if a full-fledged vacation is not in the cards or the budget? Spring break is typically right around Easter, which is seen by many as a time of renewal. An Easter morning hike would be a great way to kick off your day, so lace up your shoes and soak it all in. Spring break is a great time for a movie marathon, so queue up your favorite streaming service or break into that stack of DVDs. Hosting a staycation is a great way to spend the Easter break, especially if you can keep the kids entertained and happy.
Has Easter surpassed Halloween as top candy holiday?
In fact, it could very well be called sugar rush, part I. With Easter approaching Sunday, those parents will be disappointed to know that Easter has become a twin to Halloween in terms of candy sales. Taking it a step further, it seems as though Easter might have even surpassed Halloween slightly in terms of candy sales. An estimated $2.49 billion is expected to be spent on candy for Easter, according to the National Retail Federation. What is your favorite Easter candy to purchase?

Carrot cake bars
I'm not sure why but Easter always meant carrot cake or coconut cake for me (in the shape of a lamb of course!) I'm sure the carrot cake thing somehow refers back to the Easter bunny and I'm sure there is some story to go along with it, but I'm too lazy to look! So I wanted to make a carrot cake for Easter but then I found these Carrot Cake Bars and they seemed easier than making the traditional carrot cake so I made a little trial run a few weeks ago. I don't think I'll ever make another traditional carrot cake again. Spread on top of the cooled cake bars.
Do you have cutest pet ever? Cadbury is looking for its new 'bunny'
Can your little friend sport bunny ears, though? Contestants are being sought, as we speak, to be the Cadbury Bunny for this years Easter commercial. Upload a photograph of your pet wearing bunny ears and describe why he or she should be on TV in 50 words or fewer. Keep this information top of mind: Judges will pick the semi-finalists based on showing off your pet in bunny ears, creativity and brand appeal. Think your pet looks perfect in bunny ears?