It was a great day for the Irish on Sunday, March 5. The pipers were playing, the dancers were dancing and the horses were prancing as thousands watched the St. Patrick's Day parade led by the beautiful Bridie Mahoney, the grand marshal and past president of the Irish American Society sponsors of the parade. I marched with the Knights of Columbus. Among the 60 Knights marching, led by the Grand Knight Nick Pennacchio, I had a chance to talk to a few including Denis O'Sullivan, John McGuire, Charles Ribando, Tom Doherty, Dick O'Callaghan, Scott Fairgrieve, Marcel Chaillol, Tony Donnelly, Jim Agnew, Bill Cassidy, Bob Teemsma, Ed McGinty, John Mulrooney, Steve Grosskopf, Kevin Reilly, Jim Gibbons, Jack Sullivan and Mike Dougherty. The parade also gave me a chance to celebrate my distant Irish heritage, Derry around 1820. During the afternoon I also had a chance to talk briefly with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy. Also thanks to Anne Magaffin of the Irish American Society for her help.

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Eileen Higgins, Teddy McCormack, Mary Jane Deignan, Vera Barrick, Pat Stryjewski and Alice Grodotzke enjoyed breakfast at the Jericho Diner.

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The Corpus Christi Choir does a wonderful job. Its members are Elaine Bergman, Rose Cangelosi, Tom Carpenter, Irene DeMedeiros, Christina Errico, Coleen Garvey, Rose Gresalfi, Mary Guarino, Franni Luisi, Dolores Mangold, Thom Murphy, Robin and Kevin Roach, Ginny and Tom Schmitt, Janet Bromfield, Nancy Portoghese Bauer, Roseanne Toritto, Mario Valdellon and Maria Wojcik. The choir is led by Troy Gordon, the music director and organist.

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Elaine Vario of White Road is an usher at the Nassau Coliseum and an ardent Islander fan.

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Harry and Mary Montoux of Beebe Road enjoyed lunch at our favorite diner. Harry is a retired policeman with 35 years with the county.

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Joe Galante of Foch Boulevard enjoyed a vacation in Alcapulco.

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Ed Panzella, past grand knight, likes dining at Cugini's.

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Maryanne Warnecke, our trustee, always returns calls very promptly with answers to our questions.

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Nick Haller and Carl DelVecchio lunched at TR's. Nick is a former trustee and Carl, the former mayor of Williston Park.

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Mary Madson of Hampton Street now works in our circulation department. Mary has two children in the Mineola school system, Rebecca and Jeremy.

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Jack, Karen and daughter Laurie Gayson enjoyed dinner at Eleanor Rigby's. Jack is Mineola's fire chief.

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Enjoying a meal at Mahoney's were Mal and Diane Nathan. They have a three-month-old baby named Hunter, who was recently baptized at St. Aidan's.

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We were sorry to hear of the death of Hayward Cirker, president of Dover Publications. He was the past president of the East Second Street Business Association and at one time an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a philanthropist and was widely respected for his generous support of many charities.