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Community Corner

Residents Paint the Town Green

St. Patrick's Day in Nutley attracts residents from the area in an early celebration.

The day may have started out overcast, but the sun broke through and added to the festive spirit of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

All along Washington Avenue, Nutley residents and neighbors from surrounding communities lined the center of town for the prade on Saturday.

 They waved Irish flags, wore green beads and headbands, shamrocks on their hats and green, orange and white feather boas.

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Wearing matching green headbands with her daughter, 21-month-old Michaela, Susan Minicozzi said she looks forward to the parade every year – and Michaela loves picking up the candy that marchers throw to the crowds.
“She says candy. She has three pocketbooks to fill up with candy,” said Minicozzi, who lives in town. “We’re Italian but I like to dress up and I like to dress the baby up.”
Christine Sarro said her six-year-old daughter, Keaton, especially looks forward to the parade.
“We come every year. I just like the community, everybody comes out for it. It’s nice for the kids.”
“There’s a little bit of Irish in us,” she said.
The parade kicked off at 1 p.m. from Holy Family Church. Marchers continued down Harrison Street and onto Franklin Avenue, concluding at the intersection with Chestnut Street.
Spectators heard pipe and drum bands, bagpipers and Irish dance groups. The children seemed to revel in the festivities most of all.
Gabriella Roberts, 5, even wore green eyeshadow for the occasion. Her mom, Lauren, said the whole day was a big thrill for her little girl.
“She likes wearing her beads and headbands,” Roberts said. “She likes the bagpipes. They’re her favorite.”

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