Irish pride

This year's St. Patrick's Day parade in Newton was one to remember By Laurie Gordon NEWTON — It was as if a rainbow had suddenly emerged when, amidst overcast skies, the sun broke through the clouds over the St. Patrick's Day parade in Newton on Saturday, March 17. Led by a beaming leprechaun who threw candy to the children lining Spring Street, the parade and fabulous weather combined to make the parade nothing short of spectacular. People of all ages and walks of life gathered to enjoy everything from authentic Irish dancing and local dignitaries to an antique tractor parade and real live alpacas from the Awesome Alpaca Adventures 4-H Club. The parade's end featured local equestrian Michelle Morville atop a grand horse complete with a green cloak and flowing curled locks. Attorney Mark Hontz of Fredon was the parade emcee and described each group of marchers that passed by the grand stand with all due pomp and circumstance. Children ran for various sweets that were tossed to them by parade marchers, and ogled as large carts bearing all sorts of St. Patrick's Day souvenirs passed by. Long green horns were a popular sell and a steady chorus of them could be heard along the street throughout the day. An Clar School of Irish Dance did a dance number in front of the grand stand that started with the younger students, then moved up in age as the number progressed, and capped off with a grand finale that included all of the dancers. And then there was the crowd. Judge Weber was surrounded by his family as they watched his grand daughter, Mia, march with St. Joseph's School. Denise Goble, of Stillwater, did all she could to move around and stand by the music. Nine months pregnant, she was hoping her son would choose St. Paddy's day for his birth. Others scrambled to find parking and then hustled to the parade sidelines. A conversation was heard about whether corned beef and cabbage was still on sale at ShopRite and if so, whether it was possible to get there before it sold out after the parade. As one of the bagpipe marching units went by, one young boy asked his father (who seemed a little caught off guard), "Why are the men wearing dresses?" But dad had a great come back, "It's an honor in some countries and it even has a name: it's a kilt," he said. The true pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was Wallkill Valley Regional senior Mary Adams singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the parade's end. Like this particular St. Patrick's Day parade in Newton, she simply shone.