Generally Speaking: Two St. Patrick’s Day Parades this Sunday

This coming Sunday is certainly going to be a challenge for many local participants who have for many years marched in both Bay Ridge’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and its older brother, the Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Park Slope.

Due to an apparent scheduling conflict, both parades start at 1 p.m., but miles apart. The 41st annual Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sponsored by the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee, kicks off from 15th Street and Prospect Park West, goes down to Seventh Avenue to Garfield Place and back along Prospect Park West.

The reviewing stand is located at Bartel Pritchard Square, Prospect Park West and 14th Street. The 2016 Grand Marshal is Mary Hogan, the national president of the Ladies Ancient Order of the Hibernians (LAOH). This parade is dedicated in memory of the men, women and children of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Bay Ridge’s 23rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off from Marine Avenue and moves along Third Avenue to 67th Street. The reviewing stand is at 77th Street. Frankie Marra is the president and parade chair, and well-known executive banker and civic leader James McHugh is the grand marshal. McHugh is also the recipient of the Bay Ridge Community Council’s prestigious Civic Award.

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Next Saturday (March 26), Gerritsen Beach holds its seventh annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, starting at 1 p.m., and stepping off from Gerritsen Avenue and Whitney Avenue. Decorated Marine Corps combat veteran George Broadhead, former president of the Property Owners Association, is the grand marshal.

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Former Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, who beat City Councilmember Vincent Gentile to win the seat vacated by Congressmember Michael Grimm, looks like he has a good shot at being re-elected for a full term. He just recently received endorsements from the Independence and Conservative Parties, and will be facing a not-so-strong Democratic contender, Richard Reichard, who I’m told never ran for public office before. Reichard is also seeking support from the Working Family and Green Parties.

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Three big cheers for Xaverian High School’s basketball team, now the 2016 citywide Catholic high school champion. The team cinched the crown with a 59-56 win over Bishop Loughlin High School.

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Three busloads of students from the chorus, marching band and concert bands from Fort Hamilton High School are on their way to Orlando, Florida to compete in musical competitions with students from high schools around the country at Walt Disney World.

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