News from the city of Peekskill’s Saint Patrick’s Committee on the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade this weekend:
The 24th Annual Peekskill St. Patrick’s Parade will be held in downtown Peekskill, NY on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 3pm. This year’s Grand Marshal is Deborah Carlin Polhill.
The Parade Route starts at the Firehouse on Crompond Road, makes a left on First Street, right on Union Avenue, right on Central Avenue, left on North Division Street, right on Main Street, right on North James Street, and right on Brown Street. The reviewing stand is located on the corner of James & Park Streets.
On Saturday, March 9, the day’s events start with the Elks Club’s All You Can Eat Brunch from 11am – 1pm at the Lodge at 1038 Brown Street. Members of the Elks will be serving up eggs, pancakes, cereals, sausages, bacon, muffins, toast, fruit, juices, coffee and more. Donations: Adults: $15, children 5 – 12 years old: $5, under 5 years old: Free. Proceeds support the Lodge and the parade. Walk-ins welcome, reservations not required.
A Mass to honor St. Patrick will be celebrated at Assumption Church starting at 1:30pm, featuring local musicians and performers. The Grand Marshal, Aides and dignitaries will be present. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early since the Mass has grown in popularity.
The parade steps off at 3pm. Bagpipers, bands, community groups, businesses, floats, fire trucks, ambulances, and dignitaries will be part of the parade. A police motorcycle escort will signal the start the parade, followed by Pipe Major Joe Brady, Jr., who also leads the New York City St. Patrick’s Parade.
This year’s Grand Marshal is Deborah Carlin Polhill. Deb is a Peekskill High School graduate, held a variety of positions at Peekskill City Hall, and spent 24 years in the US Postal Service before her early retirement. Deb has served on the Peekskill St. Patrick’s Committee for more than two decades and has co-hosted the cable television coverage of the parade with longtime anchor and former Grand Marshal Bill Powers for several years. After retirement, Deb started her own business, Visions & Vibes, a marketing and communications company, but when she suffered the sudden loss of her youngest daughter Caitlin, she transitioned the company to Visions & Vibes, Inspired by Cait Chivonne, offering original music, poetry and writings. Deb is an accomplished vocalist, performer and writer.
Peekskill’s close knit Irish community recently suffered a tremendous loss when one of this year’s aides, and the father of Pipe Major Joe Brady Jr., bagpiper extraordinaire Joe Brady, Sr., passed away. His beloved Granddaughter Lauren Brady will march in his stead in his honor at the request of the family. The other Aides include: Peekskill St. Patrick’s Parade organizer Joanne Connor; Businessman Tom McCaffrey, Owner of McCaffrey Signs; and former Peekskill High School teacher and former City Councilmember/Deputy Mayor Cathy Pisani.
The parade has been presented in cooperation with and co-sponsored by the City of Peekskill for the past 24 years and led by an all-volunteer group of dedicated community members who desire to keep the rich tradition of Irish culture, music and history alive. They conduct fundraisers all year round to fund the parade. The parade, with encouragement and support from “Pride in Peekskill,” was created to enhance the City’s image and celebrate its cultural diversity.