Countywide St. Patrick's celebration planned

SUSSEX COUNTY — The ninth annual Grand Marshal’s Dinner honoring Peggy Cofrancesco will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Lake Mohawk County Club located at 21 The Boardwalk, Sparta. The event begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7; followed by entertainment, recognition of the Grand Marshal and lots of craic. The traditional presentation of the Grand Marshal’s Sash will follow. It has become a practice that the Grand Marshal designates a charity to receive the net proceeds of the St. Patrick’s Day charitable events. Accordingly, Cofrancesco chose Ginnie’s House as the beneficiary; beginning with a tricky tray at the dinner. Make your reservation at least a month ahead of time. Mass and traditional Irish breakfast On March 3, a Mass honoring St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, will be held at St. Jude the Apostle Church located at 4-24 Beaver Run Road in Hamburg. The Mass will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the choir from Pope John XXIII High School will again participate. The traditional rendition of “Lady of Knock” will be performed by John Christiano Jr. Following the Mass there will be a traditional Irish breakfast at the Irish Cottage Inn, located at 602 Route 23 in Franklin. A traditional Irish breakfast includes bangers (Irish sausages), rashers (Irish bacon), eggs, potatoes, beans, black pudding, white pudding, tomato and brown bread. Reservations should be made at least two weeks early. St. Patrick’s Day Parade The ninth annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Newton will take place on Saturday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day). Leading the parade will be Grand Marshal Peggy Cofrancesco and her family and guests. The parade steps off at 11:30 from Spring Street near Stuart Street; proceeding up Spring Street then turning right onto Moran Street to Memory Park where it will disband. Spring Street will be closed at 11 a.m. from Union Place to Moran Street. Parade units will stage starting at 9 a.m. in the lot located between the Moose Lodge and Camp Iliff on Spring St.. Fire department and ambulance squad units are instructed to stage on Halstead St. near the middle school, but not on school property. The parade will feature nearly 100 units, including state, county and local dignitaries, bands, floats, police, fire and other emergency response vehicles, military personnel and their vehicles, girl and boy scouts, local schools, antique vehicles, beauty queens and Irish step dancers. Based on the 2010 turnout, the coordinators estimate about 500 participants. The award winning Lt. R.A. Madden VFW Post 10152 of Ogdensburg will be the parade honor guard. In the past, with good weather, several thousand spectators have gathered along Spring St. to watch the floats, bands, marching units, dance groups, animal organizations, novelty entities, and motorized units. Children’s favorites — Irish theme characters and animals, sweets and other free treats — will be featured in the parade. Mark Hontz will again be the Parade M.C. He is a favorite of the spectators and parade participants alike. He will warm up the crowd with his comedic wit, Celtic songs and self-accompaniment on his bagpipes. For more information on the parade and attendant activities, call Dennis Harrington, chairman at 973-827-9179 or visit sussexcountynjirish.com.