Parade lineup listed for St. Patrick's event
The 13th annual Carbon County St. Patrick's Day Parade, sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Alec Campbell Division 1 of Carbon County and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Molly Maguire Division 1 of Carbon County, will take place along Broadway in Jim Thorpe starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 14. The event will be held rain or shine.
In preparation for the parade, Broadway will be closed to all traffic at 11:45 a.m.
Since no parking will be available in the downtown area, parking will be provided at the Carbon County parking lot, with additional parking at Jim Thorpe Area High School, 1 Olympian Way. A shuttle service, running at every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., between the high school and the county courthouse annex will be provided. These shuttles will also stop at Ninth and North streets; and Sixth and North streets. Signs for buses will be posted. Three shuttle buses for participants will also be provided from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Motorists are advised that parking along Route 209 will not be permitted. Vehicles parked along Route 209 on the Mansion House Hill in Mahoning Township will be towed.
Additionally, the members of the AOH would like to remind spectators to respect the parade and its participants by not interfering with the parade or any private parties along the parade route.
"We have lost some participants in the past due to rude and improper behavior from spectators," states Hugh Dugan, chairman of the AOH's parade committee. "The quickest way to ruin this great parade is by spectators giving it a bad reputation. We ask that people respect all participants and that everyone join in by policing the area around you for bad behavior."
The line-up for this year's parade is as follows.
Division 1: Jim Thorpe Police Department; Pennsylvania State Police; banner of St. Patrick; Hugh D. Dugan, grand marshal; aides to the grand marshal; The Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band, sponsored by the Mauch Chunk Trust Company; AOH Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County Color Guard; AOH Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County; LAOH Molly Maguire Division 1, Carbon County Color Guard; LAOH Molly Maguire Division 1, Carbon County; Molly Maguire Van; California Raise VW Beetle, driven by George McDonald; Jim Thorpe Area High School Marching Band, sponsored by Charles and Carol Getz; Olympian Booster Club/cheerleaders; O'Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance, sponsored by Highland Beverage; state Rep. Keith R. McCall; Jim Thorpe Borough Council and Mayor; Congressmen Paul Kanjorski; Carbon County Commissioners William O'Gurek and Charles Getz; Carbon County Sheriff Dwight Nothstein; Carbon County District Attorney Gary F. Dobias; Carbon County Prothonotary Joann M. Behrens; Mauch Chunk Trust Company; Brian Boru Pipe and Drums, sponsored by Kovatch of Nesquehoning; Jim Thorpe Fire Department; Ceol Neamh Pipe Band (Keel Nave), sponsored by Molly Maguire Pub & Steak House; "C" Company No. 1 109 Infantry (heavy); American Fire Company No. 1, Lansford; Switchback Gravity Railroad Foundation; Lehigh Valley Pipe Band, sponsored by Carol and Charles Getz; Pocono Fishing Adventures; Tattoo Island; Seitz Brothers Exterminating; AOH Lehigh County Division 1; Walsh Oil Company; Celtic United Pipe and Drums, sponsored by Reinhart Food Service; St. Joseph Regional Academy cheerleaders; St. Joseph Regional Academy.
Division 2: Carbon Lodge No. 242 Jim Thorpe Masons; Pocono Region Pipe and Drum, sponsored by Jim Thorpe National Bank; Prince and Princess Irish Dance; Irish American Association of Panther Valley; Schuylkill Carbon Marine Corps League; McDonald's of Nesquehoning; Hawk Mountain Highlanders; West End Quarter Midget Racing; Penn Forest Fire Company No. 2; 81st Pennsylvania Company K Civil War Reenactors; Mackay Pipe Band, sponsored by William F. Tinsley, D.M.D., P.C.; Nesquehoning Hose Company No. 1, Nesquehoning Ambulance Corps; Endless Ink Tattoo; Lehighton Fire Department; Navy Club of the United States, Ship 260 USS Carbon County; Coaldale Fire Company; Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company; Nae Breeks Pipe and Drum, sponsored by Summit Foods Marketing, Inc.; Gene Durigan Real Estate; Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company; Pennsylvania Department of Forestry, Smokey Bear; Parryville Volunteer Fire Company; Blue Eagle Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, sponsored by Merritt Beck Cleaning; Heisler Dairy Milk Wagon; Brodheadsville Chevrolet; Patty, the Irish Dancer; S and S Motorsports; Northampton County AOH, Divisions 1 and 2; Quittaphilla Highlanders, sponsored by the Honorable John and Attorney Marianne Lavelle; Germantown Grove Club; Mahoning Valley Ambulance Association; Pennsylvania Army National Guard; 10-foot Guinness can.
Division 3: Loch Rannoch Pipes and Drums, sponsored by David J. Stianche Funeral Home; Lehighton Ambulance Association; 903 Rentals Inc./Carbon Taxi; Towamensing Township Fire Company; Diligence Fire Company No. 1, Summit Hill; City of Bethlehem Bag Pipe Band, sponsored by Guinness Imports Company; Mauch Chunk Rod and Gun Club; Jim Thorpe Burlesque Festival; Lochiel Emerald Society Pipe and Drum; West End Fire Company No. 2, Palmerton; Lansford AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, Post 83, and Sons Post 83; Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center; Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company; Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
The parade committee is thankful for the assistance of the Borough of Jim Thorpe, as well as the borough police and public service departments; the Borough of Palmerton; the Jim Thorpe Fire Department; Doug Rontz Signs; George's Transportation; the Carbon County Commissioners; the Inn at Jim Thorpe; Tom Huber, parade announcer; JTNB; and the marketing and graphics classes at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute.
