[StBernard] St. Bernard Irish-Italian-Islenos Community Parade a success

[Westley Annis]

Ninth Annual St. Bernard Irish-Italian-Islenos Community Parade a success

Longer route with 1,800 riders and 52 floats greets record crowds

 

Thousands of people filled the streets of St. Bernard Parish on Sunday,
March 8, for the ninth annual St. Bernard Irish-Italian-Islenos Community
Parade. The parade featured 52 floats, 35 marching units and about 1,800
riders tossing beads, cups and of course, 350,000 pounds of produce that
included cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, apples, bananas
oranges, lemons and limes. Members of the parade's marching club preceded
the parade gave out paper flowers and kisses along the route. 

 

Parade organizers, St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr., Chad
and Melissia O'Neil and Danny and Mary O'Neil, said the parade, which rolled
earlier in the day and on a longer, seven-mile route in Arabi and Chalmette,
was a huge success.

 

"I want to thank the citizens of St. Bernard Parish," said Parade President
Chad O'Neil. "It was wonderful to see Judge Perez look like Orleans Avenue
did for Endymion with families roping off areas of the neutral ground with
caution tape to secure spots for family barbecues and family time."

 

This year's parade royalty included the following: The Irish King and Queen
were Judge Robert Buckley and Cynthia Boasso. The Italian King and Queen
were Anthony Amadeo and Kim Duplantier. The Islenos King and Queen were
Thomas Benge and Dorothy Rapp. The Canary Islands King and Queen were
Michael Martin and Donna Martin.

 

For more information about Recovery and Growth in St. Bernard Parish, visit
our website at www.sbpg.net
<https://mail.sbpg.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sbpg.net/> .

 

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