Irish Eyes Smile on Main Street for Center Moriches Parade

Irish eyes were smiling on the crowds lining Main Street in Center Moriches Sunday for the annual St. Patrick’s parade sponsored by the chamber of commerce. Bagpipe bands and marchers from numerous local organizations were part of the spectacle, which was headed by Grand Marshal Joe Townsend and Irish Princess Jillian Ryan, and featured past marshals Art Gerhauser, Joe McHeffey, Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine and Gerry Sapanaro, treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches, along with Councilman Dan Panico and Legislator Jim Mazzarella. Celebrating its 20th year, the parade enjoyed beautiful weather and the enthusiasm of a green sea of faces happy to be out after a cold winter. After retiring from the Suffolk Sheriff’s office, Townsend has been revered as a Center Moriches school security guard for almost three decades keeping watch over school events and now, a parade in his honor.

Photo Credit: Robert Chartuk