St. Pat’s parade closes its year with donations and celebration

The Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s parade committee celebrated its 14th annual Awards Night on April 22 at Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails restaurant.

The highlight of the evening was the donation of $20,000 to representatives from each of the three 2010 designated charities: the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)—Greater New York Chapter; Mollie’s Fund and the Long Island Gaelic Athletic Club, at right.

The $60,000 awarded this year raised the total amount of money donated by “the parade that cares and shares” since 1997 to $622,000 —money that has been shared by 42 different charities. The evening also marked a farewell to 2010 Grand Marshal Bernie O’Brien.

Over 100 people attended the festivities, from the ranks of the parade’s committee members and dedicated volunteers, representatives from the three charities and the winners of the various marching units. Also attending were the winners and classmates of the annual Molloy College poster contest that produces the parade’s official poster each year, as well as the artwork used on the cover of the Grand Marshal Reception Journal.

Marching unit winners were: Best Fire Department — East Rockaway FD; Best Military/Historical Group — RVC American Legion #303 Color Guard; Best Performance Group — Nassau County Sheriffs Dept. Emerald Society & Honor Guard; Best Dance Group — Hagen School of Irish Dance; Official 2010 Poster winner —Dan Metzger / runner-up winner, Chantal Lockward.

On a sad note, the untimely passing of committee member Denis Cronin was announced. Denis was an active member of the parade committee since its inception in 1996, and he chaired the judging committee for the parade’s judges. His attention to the integrity of the judging process had become legendary. He will be missed.

The Annual Awards Night closes the 2010 Parade year, and begins the planning and anticipation for next year’s parade, scheduled for March 19.

For a detailed look at the Awards Night festivities, and the many other parade activities carried out in 2010, visit www.rvcstpatrick.com.