Jamesport’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be led for the first time this year by two grand marshals, husband and wife Patrick and Joann Waski of Jamesport.
Patrick Waski, a retired Riverhead Police detective, said he was surprised by the invite by the parade sponsor, East End Emerald Society.
“We are very honored to take the reins this year, keeping in mind the past grand marshals selected in prior years,” he said. “Big shoes to fill.”
His wife, the owner of a title abstract business in Riverhead and chairperson of the Riverhead Planning Board, agreed. “Such great members of the community,” Joann Waski said. “I’m not sure that we’re as deserving as they are. However, we are sure proud of our Irish heritage and cannot wait to lead the way,” she said.
“We get asked all the time how are two Waskis leading the Irish parade,” Joann Waski said.
Both are descendants of Irish immigrants.
“My grandmother was a Murphy. My maternal great-grandfather came over from Ireland. So I am very Irish. I do not have any Polish, except for my Polish last name,” she said.
Patrick Waski’s mother was a Twomey, whose family farm and homestead was in Calverton. They farmed potatoes there until “the expressway came through and ended things,” he said.
“My mom is very proud of her Irish heritage and growing up in Calverton,” he said. “The family has deep Irish roots that I’m very proud of,” he said. “There’s Twomeys still around — a little scattered here and there, but we’re still here,” he said. “My mom was very surprised and proud that the Twomey name is out there.”
The 2023 grand marshals will receive their top hats, staffs and green jackets at the annual parade fundraising ball, which takes place this year on March 2 at Vineyard Caterers in Aquebogue.
This year’s aides to the grand marshal are Joe Hartmann and Steve McKay.
“Both are lifelong residents of Riverhead. They both have a great love for the community and simply are all-around great guys,” Joann Waski said.
The parade, which first stepped off in 2014, is Riverhead Town’s first and only St. Patrick’s Day parade. Though it entered a crowded field in the annual celebration of the holiday across the region, the East End Emerald Society has fielded a large contingent of marching bands, area fire departments and community groups for the parade each year. The parade always draws a good crowd to Main Road, wearing the green, to cheer on the marchers.
The 2023 Jamesport St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place this year on Saturday, March 25, beginning at 1 p.m. It steps off on Main Road at Washington Avenue and continues east, ending at the Jamesport Fire Department headquarters on Manor Lane.
The East End Emerald Society was founded in 2014 by five Irish-American friends — Sean O’Neill, Walter Magee, John Cuddy, Brandon Hewes and Richard Stephenson – to honor their heritage and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in their hometown of Jamesport.
Past grand marshals:
- 2014 Jack Cuddy
- 2015 Allen Smith
- 2016 Sean McCabe
- 2017 James Wooten
- 2018 Sean Walter
- 2019 Joseph Grattan
- 2020 Postponed by COVID-19
- 2021 Postponed by COVID-19
- 2022 Dawn Thomas (Aides: Kevin Carrick and Keri Najdzion)
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