It's St. Paddy's Time
The 35th annual St. Patrick's Day parade seems to have arrived as swiftly as the winds of March did last week. All told, 32 floats, 15 marching bands, 14 fire departments, and six color guards are expected to participate.
Before the Montauk Friends of Erin get down to making last-minute preparations for Sunday's parade and attending this weekend's parties, they'll have to pick up the green blazers from the dry cleaners and perk up the snazzy derbies they wear. But the rest of us can just sit back and enjoy the weekend's festivities.
Tomorrow morning, weather permitting, the East Hampton Town Parks Department will paint a green stripe along the parade route. Starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, the parade will step off at the Montauk Firehouse, head south on Edgemere Road, then turn east and pass the Montauk Post Office before beginning its westward descent down Main Street. It concludes at the Montauk I.G.A. about two hours after it starts.
Preparatory Parties
The festivities actually begin tomorrow afternoon with a lunch saluting the parade's grand marshal, Richard White Jr.
The event starts at noon at Gurney's Inn and includes a chicken or fish lunch, salad, and dessert. The Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums will make an appearance and Mr. White will receive the honorary shillelagh, top hat, and green sash needed to complete the finery required to serve as leader of the parade. Tickets will be available at the door, but reservations with Ann Duffy of East Lake Drive have been requested.
Saturday brings on the Friends of Erin cocktail party, also at Gurney's Inn, from 4 to 8 p.m. The Amityville Highland Pipers and the band Direct Effect will provide the musical entertainment. There will be an open bar and all-you-can-eat buffet. Tickets will be available at the door but cost $5 less if purchased ahead of time at Becker's True Value Hardware Store in Montauk and Balcuns service station in East Hampton.
Excitement Builds
On Sunday the excitement starts to build early in the day. Main Street will be roped off and spectators will start lining up early to get a good spot. A viewing stand for visiting dignitaries will be set up on the green. Government representatives representing Montauk in any capacity have been invited to attend the parade - including President Clinton, from whom there has been no response. County Legislator George Guldi, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., and East Hampton Town Board members have said they will attend.
Meanwhile, across the street, in front of the Chamber of Commerce building, steaming hot vats of soup donated by local restaurants will be sold by Chamber members, who will pick up their ladles at noon and put them down only when the soup is sold out. Nearby, outside Suffolk County National Bank, the Montauk School's Parent Teacher Association will have a bake sale from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
A caravan of cars can always be seen heading into town before the parade begins. Local restaurants and motels do a brisk business throughout the weekend, and many are reopening with that in mind. East Hampton Town police officers will work overtime enforcing the law, particularly the one prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public places.
Financial Cloud
Unfortunately, this year's parade has a financial cloud hanging over it. Members of the Friends of Erin are pleading for donations to help defray the cost of the parade. This year's has been estimated to cost about $25,000, with marching bands and bagpipers the biggest expense.
Members have approached the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, the East Hampton Town Board, local civic organizations, and business owners for donations. The Chamber has agreed to donate a portion of its members' dues, and the Town Board on Friday approved a $1,500 budget transfer from a general community fund to use for the parade.
On the big day, clowns will circulate through the crowds soliciting donations and large glass jars will be strategically placed in local businesses.
"We're not opposed to those $1 or $20 bills, they're the ones that add up," said Mike Finazzo, the parade coordinator. "If everyone gives just a little bit rather than a few giving a lot, we'd do okay."
And maybe the sun will break through the clouds.