Editor's Note: Parade organizer and Farmingdale activist Chuck Gosline issued a big thank you to the hundreds of people who helped make Sunday's St. Patrick's Day such a success. It appears the parade will become an annual event:
Here's Chuck's thank you note:
Thanks to all for this was truly ‘controlled chaos’ a real team effort from the support of the FV Board, all of the SPD/DM IC members; John Court, Skip, Rich, John Cap, Chuck and other DMP IC teammates Courtney, Tony, Dep Mayor Pat & Trustee Cheryl along with all the sponsor merchants that had chipped in, all three Fire Department teams, MC Brian H, the handy work of the set-up tear down team of FV DPW staff and Supt Andy as well as the security team coordinated by Aux Chief Joann E. Once again thank you everyone…
We also had a ‘little bit of Irish luck’ decent, but chilly weather for the ‘first ever’ event which went as smooth as one could expect, the only cons we heard were ‘not enough pipers’ but we knew that with such short notice and ‘wow it is chilly’ something we could never control. Special thanks to Tony K for the lone piper, John Court’s Irish CD selection and his effort to gain two NC Police Band pipers.
Now that the word is out and 2013 was a reasonable success, 2014 will be even better with more bands and more bag pipers. However, we have much more to do as we have suggested some numerous other events for the rest of 2013. So let that planning continue as well as our efforts on the downtown redevelopment front.
The FV Board and the DMP IC wish to also thank all those that braved the chilly weather to march and all of you who lined the parade route to greet all the marches. A brief summary of the parade; line up at North Side School was in full swing by 12:15 pm , with the green line painted and shamrocks showing the path toward FV Hall toward the FV Green review stand. The parade group all came together at 12:57 pm when the ‘all set’ signal was given. March off took place at 1 pm sharp, the Aux & 8th Precinct Police led the way, 7 cars helped to direct traffic along the Main St route, Green & White balloon clusters thanks to Dr Lamboy & Shamrocks dotted the Main Street route. First off was the American Legion Color Guard & lead NC Bag Pipers, 2013 Co-Grand Marshals Mayor Ralph Ekstrand & Skip Schumeyer/FFD decked out in Irish attire , FV Board marched with US Congressman King, NC Exec Mangano, NYS Senator Hannon (was stuck in Albany), NC Joe Belesi, TOB Supv John Venditto & NC Michael Venditto. The Chamber of Commerce marched with banner, members of SPD committee in Green Bowler hats & ties, Bethpage Federal CU marches with banner (handing out beads) Jim Edelman’s fine antique 1929 Ford Roadster followed, the youngsters of Cub Scouts & Boy Scouts of Pack 601 followed by Brownie Troops, Peanuts Nursery School children and parents, anchored by the Girl Scouts and then Step by Step Dance troupe led by Ms Sharon Director with music, the EF FD Band marching ahead of Firemen and many fire trucks, F’dale Air Power museum truck, both F’dale Rotary Clubs marched with banner and antique car, the F’dale PAL Kick line with music (then performed in front of FV hall), the Kiwanis Club with Addeo Law antique car, Merchant’s & Lucky the Leperacon handing out luckycharms aka Tattoo Ritual on Main, other merchant staff handed out beads, Rich Verdi/F’dale Auto Collision and more antique cars some with Irish music playing and finally Police escort ending the hour long ‘first ever’ Farmingdale Saint Patrick’s Day parade.
A brief closing ceremony was held at 2 pm with words by Co-GM’s Mayor Ralph Ekstrand at the review stand. Then onto the FV Green for Family-kids events coordinated by Rich with Dep Mayor Pat & Trustee Cheryl for games with help from six FHS student helping out painting faces and spreading lady Daler pride, the FFD served up their now near famous ‘ole Fire house Irish soup’. Face painting & fake tattoo tent, a donated inflatable kids game, Kona Ice had their ‘shaved ice’ cart on hand and fun was had by many. A quite sponsor’s buffet lunch was held around 2:30 pm at FV hall for; FV Admin & staff, elected officials, SPD committee and merchant sponsors all thanks to; Mike at Library Café, Jeff at Croxley’s, Mary at Bollinger’s, Phil at Stuff a bagel & John at the Nutty.
It was estimated by a number of parade veterans that this was the most attended parade they have ever seen. It is possible there were some 3500 to 4000 people lining the parade route and then going to the many downtown establishments. Many merchants were at capacity with people being turned away and/or waiting. The ‘first ever’ Lepre-con pub crawl went off with few to minor incidents. John Court of the Nutty Irishman summed it up simply ‘we just put on a very credible and now annual event for the community and downtown Farmingdale’. After 5 pm many folks and families stayed to dine along Main Street where things slowly calmed down after 10 pm...
Once again thanks to the support of the FV Board of Trustees and the efforts the SPD/DMP IC committee team; John/Nutty Irishman, Skip/FFD & co GM, Rich Gosline, John Capobianco and Chuck Gosline. This is the start of a number of new and refined events being planned by the FV Board and the FV DMP IC in conjunction with the downtown merchants over the next year that will be happening as downtown Farmingdale revitalizes and celebrates a renewal. A new opportunity, to better connect merchants and residents to the FV downtown community.
See you all again soon in Farmingdale’s downtown…
