Wearin' of the green, not worrying about winter

NEWTON — Despite chilly temperatures and the appearance of a few midday snowflakes, hundreds of spectators lined Spring Street dressed in green and orange, to cheer, clap and toot horns as the 10th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade filed past and to celebrate the heritage and culture of the Ireland on Saturday, March 16.

Singer songwriter Mary Adams of Hamburg warmed up the crowd singing the National Anthem and playing several Irish songs.

Mark Hontz then took his place behind the podium to delight the crowd by playing the tin whistle and leading a sing-a-long of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" before hosting the day's festivities. While Hontz is of Scottish descent, he has hosted the Newton parade several years and believes that St. Patrick's Day is "the time when the community comes together in preparation for spring and to shake off winter."

The parade was officially on when Town Crier Bill Joseph led the way down Spring Street followed by the Newton Police Honor Guard and the Newton Memorial Post 5360 Color Guard to declare the start of the parade.

The Morris County Police Pipes & Drums, led by Manager Scott Wagner, was close behind playing as they marched to the viewing stands. The band served as an escort to the 2013 Grand Marshals Dawn Delaney, John L. and Sue Sullivan who were welcomed to the stands by Newton Mayor Sandra Lee Diglio.

Military transport trucks then made their way up Spring Street under the leadership of Peter Schindo. Their fees for appearing in parades are earmarked toward assisting the brave men and women currently serving in the armed forces.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1002 Color Guard marched with their leader John "HA double RIGAN" Harrigan holding their flags high, as did members from Newton Memorial Post 5360, Jeffrey S. Patterson Marine Corp League, and Knights of Columbus groups Dominick A. Calabrese Assembly 4th Degree 2716 and Columbian Squires.

Fire and ambulance squads from Newton, Andover, Lafayette, Fredon, Hamburg, Stillwater and Vernon cruised along slowly in their engines and response vehicles waving to the crowd and the Hampton Township Fire & Rescue Department came to the parade equipped with the Jaws of Life, shiny shamrocks fastened to their trucks and drivers with mustache disguises.

More wonderful Celtic tunes were played by the Passaic County Emerald Society Pipe and Drums, Rory O'Moore Pipe & Drums, the Tri-County Pipes & Drums and the award winning Franklin Band.

Performances were made by the Endean Academy and the An Clar School whose students showed off their Irish step dance routines, and from 13 members of the The McDonald Family Singers, all whom delighted the spectators and Grand Marshals seated in the viewing stands with their music, song and dance.

On a day that commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, children from various Catholic schools marched and waved to spectators. Other groups of youngsters took part in the parade included members of the Barnyard Bruisers 4H Junior Roller Derby who skated down Spring Street and local Brownie, Cub, Boy and Girl Scout troops.

Several characters from the area also marched in the parade bringing smiles to the faces of all, including Jake The Red Cross Boxer from the American Red Cross, Rangers from Wild West City, Civil War re-enactors from the 5th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regimen led by Captain John Smith and a big brown bear from The Great Divide Camp Grounds.

Horses of all shapes and sizes also took part and were decked out in green and two ducks named "Ashley" and "Big Ed" were pulled in a wooden wagon by Elizabeth Gould and her father.

To keep with the rural roots of the area, tractors of all shapes, sizes and colors from the North Jersey Antique Engine & Machinery Club rambled down the parade route.

Political dignitaries and past Grand Marshals of the parade dotted the parade's line of marching, waving and greeting spectators.

Within minutes of the parades end, the crowd dispersed to escape the blustery snow that eventually blanketed the area once again.

But many revelers took shelter in nearby in O'Reilly's Pub & Grill on Spring Street. Owner Michael Rodriguez welcomed them all as is custom every year on St. Patrick's Day along with various bagpipers that would come in to the pub to play for the crowd.

"It's a day for everyone to get together and celebrate."