The Elmont community celebrated the 17th annual Paul Sapienza Parade, a tradition that honors the late Paul Sapienza, a beloved community leader and former president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce.
Despite rainy weather looming in the forecast, marchers lined up at the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex on Hempstead Turnpike at 9:30 a.m. With a bit of luck, the weather held out.
The parade committee, consisting of community leaders from the Argo, Parkhurst, Locustwood Gotham and Jamaica Square civic associations began organizing the event in January.
According to parade committee member Sandra Smith, chairperson of the Coalition for Sustainable Development and an Argo Civic Association member, the same group of committee members that began organizing the parade 17 years ago continue to do so today.
“I feel that the community really comes together and supports the betterment of the community,” Smith said of the parade.
Smith, who was named one of two grand marshals of the parade in 2018, said the committee chose in January that Tiffany Capers, president of the Elmont Board of Education and active Elmont leader, was the grand marshal for this year’s celebration.
“She’s very serious about the work she does,” Smith said of Capers. “She doesn’t shy away from volunteering her time, and she gives 100 percent when she’s doing it.”
Capers sits on the parade committee, Smith explained, but she was absent for the January meeting, which allowed the committee to covertly nominate her and surprise her with the honor at the February meeting.
Capers said she was shocked when the parade committee announced that she would hold the title this year.
“These folks are phenomenal,” Capers said. “They’ve been planning and running this parade for 17 years, and they have so much knowledge.”
Morgan Capers, Tiffany’s daughter, an Elmont Memorial High School alumnus, used to march in the parade with the district band, Tiffany recounted. She said memories marching alongside her daughter are what make her so proud to be on the parade committee.
As an Elmont resident for over 25 years, and an active member of the community sitting on several boards, Capers said Elmont is everything to her.
“Elmont is my heart,” she said. “That is why I volunteer and get involved in so many things — because I always want Elmont on top!”
In addition to her role on the Elmont board, Capers is a trustee of the Sewanhaka Board of Education, a member of the Elmont Peer Assistance Leadership program and serves as the director of internal communications for the Nassau Region Parent Teacher Association.
According to Julie Marchesella, president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, this year’s parade was bigger and better than ever.
“The amount of people that came out from the community — it was just great,” Marchesella said.
The parade kicked off at 10 a.m. sharp, with marchers from the Sewanhaka District Marching Band, consisting of Elmont and Sewanhaka school district band members, playing their instruments with pride. Under their musical guidance, cheerleaders from the Tip Tap Toe Dance Studio raised their pompoms and matched their beat.
As the lively group marched west on Hempstead Turnpike toward Belmont Park, residents along the 1 1/2 mile parade route cheered on the cavalcade, which included Elmont and Sewanhaka school district students, local business leaders, youth organizations, veterans of American Legion Elmont Post 1033, and members of the Elmont Fire Department and Nassau County Police Department Fifth Precinct.
The Elmont Chamber of Commerce, the New York Racing Association, the New York Islanders and Home Depot sponsored the event — all of which are longtime supporters of the parade — and marched in the procession.
Between appearances from elected officials, the marching bands, the Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, and food caterers — one of which was Sapienza Bake Shop, previously owned by the late Paul Sapienza whom the parade now honors — she said the morning was filled with community spirit.
Marchesella gave a shout-out to the owners of Mr. Flavors Ice Cream, Leon and Alexa Williams, new members of the ECC, who she said quickly got involved in the parade planning shortly after joining. When Leon asked what they could do to help make it even better this year, Marchesella gave a simple answer — serve kids some ice cream!
She said she couldn’t thank New York Racing Association enough for their sponsorship and going “over the top” in providing all resources the parade committee needed to organize the annual Elmont tradition.
While Robert Hines, manager of community affairs at NYRA, could not attend the parade because he was in Saratoga Springs for the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, he was happy to hear from the parade committee that the event was a success.
Hines said as the lead sponsor of the parade, NYRA supports the parade committee’s efforts with resourcesdonations and materials to ensure they can execute a “world-class” event.
“I think for NYRA, Elmont really is home,” Hines said. “The community is an important part of what we do.”
Smith said the parade is not only an opportunity to celebrate the Elmont community but also promote community establishments like Belmont Park. Residents are often surprised to see what lies behind the park gates, she said.
“It’s an eye-opener for them to see they have such a beautiful place right in their backyard,” Smith said.
As for Marchesella, she is already excited for next year’s parade.
“We all had a wonderful time, and it was just a lot of fun,” she said. “We are so looking forward to next year!”
