* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:03:42] GOOD EVENING. COME ON. LET'S HEAR FOR STEAM PIPER JOE MCGON. UH, PLEASE BE SEATED, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CARLOS POMAR AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. IT'S BEEN MY TURN TO DO SO. I FOLLOW SOME PRETTY HEFTY FOOTSTEPS WITH MY GOOD FRIEND BRENDA GILL AND OTHERS, AND THEY'LL BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. UH, I'M VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME TO THE 2026 SALUTE TO THE AVERAGE BOARDS VERSION OF ENJOYING THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION. SO WELCOME ALL EVERY YEAR WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT. IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, OF COURSE, TO RECOGNIZE THE DIVERSITY OF ESSEX COUNTY, AND IT COMMEMORATES A STRONG IRISH HERITAGE PRESENT IN THIS COUNTY. IN THE 1760S, SO MANY IRISH LABORERS SETTLED IN, IN, UH, IN THE NORTH OF NEWARK, WHERE THEY CALLED IRISHTOWN A CENTURY. LATER, AFTER AN INFLUX OF IRISH CATHOLICS FLEEING THE POTATO FAMINE PART OF NEWARK'S IRON BOUND SECTION WAS DUBBED LITTLE IRELAND. THE IRISH COMMUNITY WAS, UH, HAS WOVEN A RICH CULTURE AND STRONG TRADITIONS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, UH, ESSEX COUNTY. WE ARE HAPPY THIS YEAR TO RECOGNIZE ESSEX COUNTY'S THREE WORLD CLASS, ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, NUTLEY, I'M SORRY, NEWARK NUTLEY AND [00:05:01] WEST ORANGE. AND I WANNA SAY THAT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDERS OF THE , WE'RE GIVING FOR PREFERENCE AND WE WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THIS COURSE. THEIR PARADE COMMITTEES, THEIR CHAIRS, THE GRAND MARSHALLS, DEPUTY GRAND MARSHALS, AND SPECIAL HONOREES. EACH OF TONIGHT'S HONOREES ARE PROPELLED BY THEIR LOVE FOR ALL THINGS IRISH. AND THEY BRING THE IRISH SPIRIT CULTURE AND TRADITIONS INTO EVERY PART OF THEIR LIVES. THEY TRULY WARM OUR HEARTS AND WELCOME, UH, WE WELCOME THEM WITH GREAT GRATITUDE. SO LET'S ALL PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. UM, BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, JUST TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE. ALTHOUGH MOST OF YOU KNOW ME AS CARL, A CUBAN GUY, I'M ACTUALLY A WEE BIT IRISH, AND THAT MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, FLORA FRIEL KELLY, FELL IN LOVE WITH A GENTLEMAN NAMED AVE EZ FROM SPAIN. AND MEN, THE WEATHER MUST HAVE BEEN BAD BECAUSE THEY WOUND UP IN HAVANA, AS MANY SPANIARDS DID AT THAT TIME. AND GENERATIONS LATER I CAME, WHICH I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS 15 YEARS AGO. SO GROWING UP MY ENTIRE LIFE ALWAYS ASKED ME OUTSIDE OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD IF I WAS IRISH. SO NOW I CAN SAY I'M A WEE BIT IRISH. AND DON'T LET THESE GUYS FOOL YOU. THEY'RE ONLY HALF IRISH. THEY'RE GONNA YOU, THEY'RE BETTER, RIGHT? THEY'RE BETTER HALF TODAY, THAT'S FOR SURE. I ALSO WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UM, A LITTLE, IT'S NOT ON THE SCRIPT. I WANNA WELCOME, UH, UH, HOLLOW WHO CELEBRATES HER 25TH BIRTHDAY TODAY. GIVE SOME LOVE EVERYONE. AND YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE CAKE. AND SO THAT'S THE BEST PART OF THAT. SO, TO BEGIN THIS EVENING'S CELEBRATION, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE VOCALISTS, VERONICA. SHE WITH US TO PERFORM THE IRISH AND ANTHEM THE SOLDIER SONG, AND TO STAR SPANGLED THEM. SO PLEASE WELCOME AND SHOW YOU UP TO THE FRONT AND STAND FOR BOTH. THANK YOU. WHICH ONE IS FIRST? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IRISH GREAT. NO, WHEN I GET IT WRONG, ALL NOW, WE SEE SO PROUD THE [00:10:17] GOOD EVENING, VERONICA AND DAN AGAIN. SO TO EVERYONE THAT'S HERE, WELCOME JUST TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER GILL. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS THE 15TH YEAR THAT WE'VE CELEBRATED THE IRISH AND IRISH HERITAGE, UH, TOGETHER AS A TEAM. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE TERMS, 15 YEARS, AND I TELL YOU, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. WE WERE DOING THIS AT THE HALL OF RECORDS, AND I KNOW DEIDRE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, UM, WERE PART OF THAT. I SAW SOME OLD PICTURES ON MY OLD SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GREATEST PARTS OF SERVING IN ELECTED OFFICE ISN'T SO MUCH THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF, UH, COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND HANDLING THE BUDGET AND ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE RUN, BUT IT'S HONORING THE DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES, RELIGIONS, RACES, AND CULTURES OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY. ESSEX COUNTY'S A TRUE MELTING POT. UH, MOST FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY OR YOU DON'T EVEN LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, SOMEHOW SOME WAY YOU CAN TRACE YOUR ROOTS BACK TO, UH, NEWARK, UH, OR HUDSON COUNTY. AND, UH, IT'S PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE. EVEN WHEN I TRAVEL AROUND, I SPEAK TO PEOPLE, I TELL THEM I LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY, AND SOMEBODY ALWAYS HAS SOME STORY OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR THEMSELVES THAT HAVE LIVED HERE, OR, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UH, HAD SOME KIND OF MEMORY HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY. YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COUNTY EXECUTIVE. HIS NAME IS JOE DI VINCENZO. THERE'S NINE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. UH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S MY ROLE RIGHT NOW. IT'S GONNA BE MY COLLEAGUES TO INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. BUT THE REASON I WANTED TO MENTION JOE D IS BECAUSE WE MOVED THIS, UM, THIS ANNUAL CEREMONY TO THIS BEAUTIFUL, UH, RECREATIONAL BUILDING HERE IN, UH, NOR I WANNA SAY, I GUESS THIS IS CONSIDERED NORTH NEWARK, UM, BECAUSE THIS BUILDING REALLY HIGHLIGHTS WHAT ESSEX COUNTY'S ALL ABOUT. AND OF COURSE, WE CAN CHANGE THE LIGHT AND MAKE THEM GREEN, AND WE HAVE A TV SCREEN, BUT IT'S HIS VISION, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH HERE, AND WE'VE SUPPORTED, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTY, A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND RECREATIONAL CENTERS. BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, UH, BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC IT GETS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE, UH, I THINK IT'S CLOSE TO 6,000 CHERRY TREES THAT ARE ABOUT TO BLOOM. SO PLEASE COME THROUGH HERE AGAIN IN THREE WEEKS. I PROMISE YOU, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. UM, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR US TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD AND FOR ALL THE PARADE DIGNITARIES TO BE HERE, UH, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO IN A FEW MINUTES. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO SHARE IN THIS EVENT 'CAUSE OF MY HERITAGE, UM, MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, UH, BEING OF COUNTY ROSS, COMMON DESCENT. AND OF COURSE, I'VE HAD MY MOTHER, WHO SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, UH, HAS TAKEN ME JUST ABOUT TO EVERY PARADE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, AND EVEN IN PHILADELPHIA SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. AND IT STILL STEMS INTO MY, YOU KNOW, MY, MY OLDER YEARS, WHETHER IT WAS IN MY TWENTIES IN COLLEGE, UH, MY THIRTIES, AND NOW MY FORTIES. UH, FOR MANY OF YOU TONIGHT, YOU WERE ABLE TO MEET MY FOUR AND A HALF YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, ANGELINA, WHO'S HERE, AND SHE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH ME AT A LOT OF THE PARADES AND FUNCTIONS AS WELL. SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE PROGRAM ALONG. BUT AGAIN, I WANTED TO WELCOME YOU AND SAY THANK YOU. AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, I'M GONNA BRING UP REVEREND CAMILLO CRUZ. HE'S THE RECTOR OF ST. PATRICK'S PRO CATHEDRAL AND PASTOR OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH HERE IN NEWARK. UH, REVEREND, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP AND LEADING US IN A PRAYER, AND THEN WE WILL BEGIN THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET US PRAY. GRACIOUS AND FAITHFUL. GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS THIS EVENING FOR THE GIFT OF HERITAGE, MEMORY, AND COMMUNITY. AS WE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE RICH IRISH TRADITION IN SES COUNTY, IN NEWARK NOTLEY WITH STORAGE AND THROUGHOUT OUR TOWNS, WE REMEMBER THE GENERATIONS WHO CAME TO THESE SHORES WITH LITTLE BUT WITH FAITH, COURAGE, HOME [00:15:03] ALIVE AS STRANGERS, SEEKING DIGNITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND A PLACE TO BELONG. THROUGH PERSEVERANCE, SACRIFICE, AND DEEP TRUST IN YOUR PROVIDENCE, THEY HELP BUILD THE COMMUNITIES WE CHERISH TODAY. WE REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY THE WITNESS OF ST. PATRICK, WHO PROCLAIMED FAITH WITH HUMILITY AND COURAGE, AND WHOSE LEGACY REMINDS US THAT FAITH IS LIVED NOT ONLY IN PRAYER, BUT IN COMPASSION, JUSTICE, AND CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE. BLESS THOSE WHO ARE HONORED THIS EVENING, AND THEIR FAMILIES BLESS THEM BECAUSE THEY KEEP THESE TRADITIONS ALIVE, MADE THEIR DEDICATION INSPIRE US TO CONTINUE BUILDING BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING, WELCOMING THE STRANGER, DEFENDING THE DIGNITY OF THE POOR, AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD. AS WE CELEBRATE THIS HERITAGE, REMIND US, REMIND US THAT EVERY GENERATION IS CALLED TO RENEW THE PROMISE OF THIS LAND. A PROMISE THAT THERE IS A ROOM AT THE TABLE FOR ALL WHO SEEK HOPE, OPPORTUNITY, AND BELONGING, GUIDE OUR LEADERS, STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND HELP US REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE VALUES OF FAITH, JUSTICE, AND SOLIDARITY. WE ASK THIS IN GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, AND IN HOPE FOR THE GENERATIONS YET TO COME. WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS, OUR SAVIOR, AND LORD, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU, REVEREND. THANK YOU. SO GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, . IT'S AN IRISH CELEBRATION, RIGHT? . UH, MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GALE. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU. UH, AGAIN, AS WE CELEBRATE, UM, NOT ONLY ARE THE THREE GREAT PARADES, UH, THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY, BUT WE CELEBRATE THE IRISH. I WANT TO AGAIN, THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUE ON THE BOARD, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, UM, UH, STRONG IRISH NAME THAT, UM, THAT, UM, HAS BEEN, UH, PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER WITH ME NOW FOR, UH, FOR 15 YEARS. UM, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO DID SOMETHING. HE'S TALKING ABOUT OLD PICTURES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I SAW SOME OF THOSE PICTURES TODAY. YOU DID SOMETHING QUITE AMAZING. YOU GOT MORE HAIR AS 15 YEARS WENT ON THAN, THAN LESS, UM, . IT IS EARLY, IT'S EARLY, UH, BUT JUST KIDDING. EXACTLY. SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. , SOMETHING THE IRISH ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR. UH, BUT IN ALL SERIES THAT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE, AB ABSOLUTELY. BUT IT IN ALL SERIES IS I'M VERY HONORED TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, UM, WITH COMMISSIONER LUCIANO EACH AND EVERY YEAR, UH, FOR SURE. UH, ALSO, UM, ANOTHER PAST PRESIDENT, UH, OF THIS BOARD COMMISSIONER WAYNE RICHARDSON, UH, WHO IS WITH US, UH, WHO ALSO DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, UH, CARRIED ON, UH, THIS TRADITION. THANK YOU, UH, WAYNE FROM THAT. AND YOU HEARD FROM OUR CO OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER RIS, UH, WHO'S CONTINUED, UH, THIS TRADITION, UH, THAT WE REALLY REENGAGED WITH, I GUESS, UM, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO OVER 15 YEARS PLUS AGO. IT STOPPED FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND WE WERE VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO REENGAGE AND, AND TO DO THIS, UH, AGAIN. AND I'M HONORED, UM, TO BE WITH ALL OF YOU, UH, TONIGHT. UM, AS IT'S SAID, UM, AS THE OTHER HALF OF THE UNOFFICIAL IRISH DELEGATION, UM, MY HERITAGE, MY IDENTITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART AND A SOURCE OF GREAT JOY. AND I'M SO PROUD NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY OWN ROOTS, BUT ALL OF OUR OWN ROOTS WITH YOU NOW. AND I UNDERSTAND THE PRIDE IN PARTICIPATING, UH, IN THESE PARADES. I HAD THE INCREDIBLE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE 2014 GRAND MARSHALL OF THE NUT LEAGUE, UH, PARADE. AND BESIDES, I WOULD SAY THE BIRTH OF MY CHILDREN, UM, AND MY WEDDING DAY, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I WILL, IT IS, IT IS NOT SOMETHING I WILL EVER, EVER FORGET. I'LL BE FOREVER HUMBLED AND THANKFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THAT PARADE AND TO CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU, TO BE WITH ALL THE PARADES, BUT THAT, THAT'S AN HONOR. THAT IS AN IRISHMAN. YOU JUST DON'T EVER FORGET . SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, [00:20:01] FOR THAT. SO, UM, I ACKNOWLEDGE ALREADY OUR, UM, OUR COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE, UH, AND OUR DIGNITARIES. UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME AND CELEBRATING, UH, THIS EVENING. TONIGHT, I, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF MAKING THE FIRST PRESENTATION OF OUR THREE PARADES. UH, THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH, THE 91ST ANNUAL NEWARK ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE WILL TAKE PLACE IN OUR COUNTY SEA. THE IRISH AND NEWARK IS A STORY THAT BEGINS IN THE EARLY 17 HUNDREDS WITH WAVES OF, I, I'M NOT HERE WITH WAVES OF IRISH IMMIGRANTS. ARRIVING THROUGH THE 18 HUNDREDS, THEY BUILT OUR FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCHES, POPULATED OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND. THE REINS AS LABOR LEADERS, COMMISSIONERS, AND MAYORS, IT IS WITH PRIDE AND GRATITUDE THAT I INVITE THE NEWARK PARADE CONTINGENT TO JOIN US. SO WE MAY PRESENT YOU WITH OUR A COMMENDATIONS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR PARADE, OUR PARADE CHAIRWOMAN SUSAN GARLAND, OUR GRAND MARSHALL, JACK DAHL, OUR DEPUTY GRAND MARSHALL'S, CHASE, HAMILTON, SISTER JANE MCKENNA, MONSIGNOR WILLIAM RILEY, FRANK YORK, AND SEAN APPLAUSE. OH, OF COURT. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SO SORRY. HE THINKS HE'S GONNA CANCEL . MIKE FARROW IS OUR, OUR GENERAL CHAIRMAN. I'M SO SORRY, MIKE. I'M SO SORRY. IT'S A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SO THANK YOU. UM, SO PROUD TO PRESENT YOU WITH THESE COMMENDATIONS FOR THE AUDIT THAT YOU DO TO ENRICH THE IRISH COMMUNITY AND THE ESSEX COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. SO WE'RE GONNA FIRST DEPUTY GRAHAM MARSHALL CHASE HAMILTON. CONGRATULATIONS. CHASE. ARE WE DOING THE PICTURES LEFT OR HOW DO YOU WANNA DO IT? WANNA DO IT? YEAH, YOU WANNA COME? UH, NEXT UP. UM, SISTER JANE MCNA, OUR NEXT DEPUTY GRAHAM MARSHALL. MONSIGNOR WILLIAM RYAN. OH, NOT HERE, HERE. SENIOR IS NOT HERE. OUR NEXT DEPUTY GRAHAM MARSHALL. FRANK YORK, YAY. AND DEPUTY GRAHAM, MARSHALL. SEAN, MANU, SEAN NOT HERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO, UM, EACH YEAR THE NEWARK ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE IS DEDICATED TO SOMEONE SPECIAL THIS YEAR, UH, IT WILL MARCH IN HONOR OF THE LATE JAMES CRIME, A MAN DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY ADVENTURE AND SELFLESS SERVICE. UH, THE CRIME FAMILY IS WELL KNOWN, UM, OF COURSE, ESSEX COUNTY. SO MAY HIS MEMORY INSPIRE US TO BRING GOODNESS INTO OUR WORLD. UH, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS, A COMMENDATION HONORING THE PARADE COMMITTEE. SO MIKE, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO COME UP. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THE, THE GENERAL CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WORK. [00:25:02] YES. YEP, YEP, OF COURSE. SO FINALLY, UM, AND OF COURSE, CERTAINLY, UM, NOT LEAST, I'M DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE THE 2026 GRAND MARSHALL OF THE NEWARK ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. JACK DAH. I'M GONNA, UH, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, JACK, I'M GONNA LEAD A LITTLE BIT FROM THE CCOMMODATION FOR EVERYONE HERE, UH, TODAY. SO, UM, JOHN DOLL, AKA JACK IS AN I. YES, IT IS. AN IRISH NAME IS A THIRD OF FIVE CHILDREN, FOUR TO JOSEPH F AND JOAN, A DOLL. GROWING UP IN THE BALES SECTION OF THE NEWARK OF NEWARK'S WEST WARD, THERE WERE JUST A FEW IRISH OVER THERE IN BABO . IN 1977, TRAGEDY STRUCK THE DOLL FAMILY WITH THE LINE OF DUTY DEATH OF JACK'S FATHER, A CAPTAIN, AND THE NORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT. HIS FATHER SACRIFICED PROFOUNDLY SHAPED JACK'S LIFE AND INSPIRED HIS OWN FALLING TO SERVICE. IN 1978, JACK ENTERED THE NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT AS A THIRD GENERATION FIREFIGHTER. OVER 32 YEARS, HE EARNED SEVERAL, A COMMENDATIONS FOR BRAVERY AND RETIRED IN 2010 AS A BATTALION CHIEF JACK'S DEDICATION EXTENDED BEYOND THE FIREHOUSE. HE SERVED IN NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP RULES, INCLUDING TREASURER OF THE NEWARK FIREFIGHTERS UNION, A BOARD MEMBER OF THE FIRE OFFICERS UNION, AND MANY MORE. HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT, HOLY NAME SOCIETY, WHERE HE CHAIRS THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL MASS NOW IN ITS HUNDRED AND NINTH YEAR, SINCE YOU CAN GIVE ROUND APPLAUSE FOR THAT. SINCE 2004, HE HAS ALSO OWNED AND OPERATED JOHN M DOLE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, A LONG SERVING MEMBER OF THE NEWARK ST. PATRICK STATE PARADE COMMITTEE. JACK HAS HELD NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP ROLES, ULTIMATELY ALSO SERVING AS THE GENERAL CHAIR FOR THE 2020 AND 21 PARADE. HE IS A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE ESSEX COUNTY POLICE AND FIRE EMERALD SOCIETY, THE GIBLIN ASSOCIATION, AND SERVES AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF BRIAN PERU. HE'S AN AVID SKIER AND GOLFER. HE HAS SHARED 35. WHICH ONE DO YOU DO BETTER? SKIING. OKAY. HE HAS SHARED 35 YEARS OF MARRIAGE WITH HIS WIFE VERONICA. THEY ARE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO SONS, JACK JUNIOR, WITH HIS WIFE SHARON AND MATTHEW, A COMPUTER ENGINEER. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT YOU HAVE EARNED THIS HIGH HONOR. WE SHARE YOUR PRIDE AS WE PRESENT YOU THIS COMBINATION AS THE GRAND MARSHAL OF THE 2026 NEWARK ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. MIKE, MY BEFORE WORKS. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT, UH, TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. UH, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. UH, RECREATION SEEMS TO BE AT THE TOP, YOUR NEAR THE TOP OF YOUR PRIORITY LIST BECAUSE THE GOLF COURSES ARE GORGEOUS . BUT I DIGRESS. UM, THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST 250 YEARS COULDN'T BE WRITTEN WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF IRISH AMERICANS. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY, LONG BEFORE THE MASS MIGRATIONS OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, THE IRISH ESCAPING TYRANNY CAME TO THE SHORES IN SEARCH OF A BETTER WAY TO LIVE, AND THEY FOUND IT. HOWEVER, THEIR FRANCHISE IN AMERICANISM CAME AT A PRICE. MANY WERE HANDED MUSKETS AS THEY STEPPED OFF THE SHIP AND SENT TO PLACES CALLED ANTI IN, IN FREDERICKSBURG, THAT SACRIFICE FOR THE FREEDOMS THEY ENJOYED CONTINUED THROUGHOUT OUR GREEK HISTORY AS A NATION AT UE WOOD, WAAL CANAL, CHO RESERVOIR, CASON FALLUJAH, WHERE MANY OF THEM DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES. THEY CAME HOME [00:30:01] TO A NATION YEARNING THAT SPREAD ITS WINGS, AND PARTICIPATED IN EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICAN LIFE AND CULTURE. THEY MAINSTREAMED OUR CATHOLIC FAITH, BUILT THE RAILROADS, CLIMBED THE HIGH STEEL, PUT OUT THE FIRES, AND CHASED THE BAD GUYS. IN A NUTSHELL, THEY SETTLED THIS LAND AND IN THE PROCESS ENRICHED OUR COUNTRY AND HAD BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN WHAT IT HAS BECOME THE GREATEST NATION AND THE MOST RENOWNED CULTURE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. MANY HAVE COME AFTER US, BUT IT WAS THE IRISH THAT PAVED THE WAY. AND THAT'S WHY OUR STORY IS NOT MERELY A STORY OF MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT. OURS IS TRULY A UNIQUELY AMERICAN STORY, ONE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE WRITING EVEN TODAY. AND THAT IS WHY IN ST. PATRICK'S DAY, WE SAY EVERYONE IS IRISH, BECAUSE ALL AMERICANS SHARE IN THE FREEDOMS AND BOUNTY GREATLY MADE SECURE BY THE IRISH DIASPORA. SO ON MARCH 13TH IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, IN A TRADITION THAT STRETCHES BACK 91 YEARS, NOW, WE WILL CELEBRATE THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS AND GLORIFY GOD THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND. PATRICK, THE OLDEST PARADE OF ITS KIND IN NEW JERSEY, DEDICATED THIS YEAR TO MY OLD FRIEND JIM PRY, WHO WE DEARLY MISS. IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT I'M THRILLED TO LEAD THE NEWARK CONTINGENT DOWN THE STREETS OF MY CHILDHOOD HOME, PAST THE PLACES WHERE I WAITED FOR THE BUS WHILE ATTENDING ESSEX CATHOLIC ON, ON BROADWAY, OR RODE AN ENGINE AERIAL LADDER OR CHIEF'S CAR, WHILE SERVING AS A THIRD GENERATION MEMBER OF THE NEWARK FIRE DEPART FOR 32 YEARS. AS THE COMMISSIONER NOTED, AND SADLY, THE PLACE FOR MY FATHER, DEPUTY CHIEF JOSEPH AL, MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN 1977. I WISH TO SALUTE AND THANK THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR STAFFS FOR THIS EVENING, FOR THIS FINE GATHERING OF ALL THE COMMITTEES AND HONOREES OF THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADES. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE NUTLEY PARADE, DEIDRE, AND THEN PARTICIPATED IN THE WEST ORANGE PARADE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. THE HARD WORK OF YOUR COMMITTEES IS EVIDENT IN THE SCALE, PAGEANTRY AND REVERENCE OF BOTH EVENTS. OF COURSE, I WILL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN ON SUNDAY. BUT FIRST, I'LL SEE YOU ON FRIDAY. , UM, I COULDN'T SIT DOWN WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE WORK BY OF MY OWN COMMITTEE. OUR CHAIRMAN, MICHAEL FARROW, UM, MY FELLOW HONOREES, SISTER JANE FRANK CHASE HAMILTON, UH, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, KATHY CON, BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS, IN THIS JOURNEY. AND, UH, MY WIFE, VERONICA, VERONICA, STAN, TAKE A BACK AND SOME OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN THE BACK, DON COLE, GWEN GLAZER, BARBARA LYONS, PATTY, BY AND SUE GARMAN. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. HAVING BEEN A GENERAL CHAIR, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO, UH, TO PUT THESE THINGS ON THE STREET, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, BEING GRAND MARSHALL IS MUCH BETTER. ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR GRAND MARSHALL AT THIS TIME. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR TALENTED BAG, VIPER JOE MCGONAL UP TO THE FRONT FOR ANOTHER PERFORMANCE JOINING US THIS YEAR. JOE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR DOING THIS AGAIN. UM, JOE IS THE LEADER OF THE UNITED GAELIC PIPE BAND OF KEARNEY, WHICH WAS FOUNDED 77 YEAR NOW 77 YEARS AGO BY HIS GRANDFATHER. SEAN, WE ARE ALWAYS DELIGHTED WHEN YOU CAN JOIN US. JOE, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY. [00:37:59] SO ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT. THANK YOU. I'M NOW HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT PARADE HONOREES OF THIS EVENING ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH. NUTLEY BROUGHT OUT THE IRISH AND ALL OF US AT ITS 47TH ANNUAL ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INVITE THE NURY PARADE CONTINGENT CONTINGENCY TO THE PODIUM TO RECEIVE COPY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. SO PLEASE WELCOME, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE NUTLEY IRISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION. DEAR JOE HOLLYWOOD, GRANT MARSHALL, STEVE BLANK. DEPUTY, DEPUTY GRANT MARSHALL. NO, HAN FIREFIGHTER. EXACTLY. WE LOST OUR FIREFIGHTER. OKAY. LOST OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR. OKAY, WELL, WE'LL GIVE, WE'LL STILL GIVE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR. BRANDON GRIFF, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. OUR MEMBER OF THE YEAR C BENNETT AND OUR PARADE, QUEEN VICTORIA KEELEY. SO, AGAIN, WE ARE PROUD TO THESE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO ENRICH THE ESSEX IRISH COMMUNITY AND THE ESS COMMUNITY, UH, AS A WHOLE, WE HAD BEAUTIFUL DAY, UH, ON SATURDAY. IT WAS IRISH BEACH WEATHER PERFECT , WHICH WAS, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC TO, UH, KIND OF KICK OFF OUR ESS COUNTY SEASON. SO, FIRST, LET US CONGRATULATE, UH, OUR FIRST DEPUTY GRAND MARSHALL NOEL LENAHAN NOEL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. [00:40:04] OUR MEMBER OF THE YEAR. CATHERINE BETTY. OF COURSE, OF COURSE. UH, JUST OUR, OUR BREAK IS NOT, YEAH, SHE'S NOT HERE. OKAY. YES. OKAY, SO YES. SO NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE. SHE'S ACTUALLY GOT A FEW OF THESE NOW, , SO I WONDER WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THEM ALL. , IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NUTLEY IRISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, UH, DEIRDRE HOLLYWOOD. YEAR AFTER YEAR, DEIRDRE HAS LED THIS ORGANIZATION AN EVENT WITH GRACE, HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB ORCHESTRATING, WOULD ASSURE, UH, ALWAYS TO BE A VIBRANT AND EXUBERANT EXPRESSION OF IRISH LOVE AND HERITAGE. UH, RA IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT YOU WITH ACCOMMODATION, TO HONOR YOU AND YOUR PARADE COMMITTEE, WHICH ALSO, UM, RENAMED FRANKLIN AVENUE AFTER ALL OF OUR, UM, VARIOUS HONOREES, BOTH FRANKLIN AVENUE AND CENTER STREET. SO, I KNOW THAT'S ALSO A BIG, BIG DEAL, SOMETHING I ALSO WILL NEVER, EVER FORGET. BUT, UM, YOU HAVE CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF OUR, YOU KNOW, OF YOUR PREDECESSOR AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HELD THAT POSITION, UH, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE NUTLEY ONE OF THE BEST PARADES IN NOT ONLY THE COUNTY, BUT IN THE STATE. CONGRATULATIONS. SO, BRENDA, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MINUTE. UM, AND THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER PRETTY MUCH ALL 15 YEARS. UM, I THINK I MIGHT HAVE ONE YEAR ON YOU THOUGH. SO I THINK , BUT YOU'VE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER AND FRIEND TO THE IRISH COMMUNITY, A FRIEND TO NUTLEY, AND YOU'VE BEEN A FRIEND TO ME. UM, AND IN YOUR NEXT STEP IN LIFE, I WISH YOU ALL THE WELL, ALL THE BEST. UM, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU AND, UH, YOU'RE LEAVING US WITH LENNY, BUT THANKFULLY WE HAVE KATHY BROWN . SO THANK YOU KATHY, FOR ALL THE US BUT BRENDAN, THANK YOU TREMENDOUSLY. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH DEAR. YOUR JOB. I'M, UM, I, I DO APPRECIATE THAT. FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, UM, I'M, I'M NOT SEEKING REELECTION, SO THIS IS MY OUT MY 15 YEAR ON THE COURT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BUT I WILL ALWAYS MAKE IT TO BE AT THIS EVENT FOR SURE. I'M SO, AND, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT MUCH. SO FINALLY, AGAIN, THE 2026 GRAND MARSHALL OF THE NUTLEY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. STEVE BLANK. COME ON, STEVE. SO, STEVE IS PROUD OF HIS HERITAGE, WHICH ON HIS MOTHER'S SIDE, HIS MOTHERS SIDE COMES FROM COUNTY KILKENNY AND DOWN. HE WAS BORN IN THE IRON BOUND SECTION OF NEWARK. PRIOR TO MOVING TO NUTLEY AS A CHILD, HE ATTENDED ST. MARY'S SCHOOL AND IS A PROUD GRADUATE, HIGH HIGH SCHOOL. AND WILLIAM PATTERSON. NOW WILLIAM PATTERSON POWELL UNIVERSITY, WILLIAM. HE'S CURRENTLY RETIRED, BUT STARTED HIS CAREER IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT BEFORE A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN FINANCE. HE'S ONE OF THE FOUNDING ME MEMBERS OF THE NUTLEY IRISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AND THE NUTLEY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. HE SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE IRON BOUND IRISH ASSOCIATION AND WAS HONORED TO BE NAMED A MEMBER OF THE YEAR IN 2007. HE IS ALSO A BASS DRUMMER FOR THE ST. BRENDAN, THE NAVIGATOR PIPES AND DRUMS IN POINT PLEASANT. STEVE MOVED DOWN TO THE SHORE IN 2001 WHERE HE AND HIS WIFE CINDY, LIVED IN TOMS RIVER. TOGETHER THEY HAVE A DAUGHTER, BRIANNA, WITH HUSBAND PHIL, AND SON BRETT AND WIFE MARIA. UH, AND BRETT AND MARIA ARE EXPECTING A BABY BOY ANY DAY. . NO, HE'S OVER. WAS HE HERE? I'M SORRY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS. GIVE THAT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE STILL HERE. . STEVE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF NUTLEY AND FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY IRISH, UH, COMMUNITY. WE SHARE YOUR PRIDE AS WE PRESENT YOU WITH THIS ATION. IT [00:45:01] WAS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU, UH, ON SATURDAY TO MARCH WITH YOU, UH, ON, ON THE 2026 NUTLEY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SO, SO, UM, AS, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR HONOREE FROM THE NETFLIX ST. PATRICK DAY PARADE, IF THEY TAKE THEIR SEATS, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK, UH, TO THE FRONT, THE TALENTED VERONICA SHEA FOR ANOTHER MUSICAL, UH, INTERLUDE. UH, VERONICA IS A SINGER, ACTOR, PRODUCER, AND DIGITAL MARKETER, PASSIONATE ABOUT STORYTELLING AND SHARING AUTHENTIC ONSTAGE CONNECTION WITH AUDIENCES. SHE'S ATTRACTED TO ART FORMS AND STAGES OF PRODUCTION, FROM PLAY READINGS TO FULL SCALE OPERAS, EXPERIMENTAL, EXPERIMENTAL, CONTEMPORARY MUSIC, ORAL WORK. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT HER AND ALL OF OUR HONOREES IN THE PROGRAM REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, UH, TO TAKE, UH, THE PERFORMANCE, UH, TO TAKE THE PROGRAMS WITH THEM, UH, AS WELL. UM, I THINK ACTUALLY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO ONTO THIS, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE TAKING THE PROGRAM OVER. SO I DID JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE, UH, FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS OF BEING ABLE TO DO THIS WITH ALL OF YOU. UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, DEAR. NOT GOING IN TOO FAR. WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN ANY WAY I CAN TO SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND OF COURSE, ALWAYS TO CELEBRATE OUR IRISH HERITAGE. THANK SO I WAS THUMBING THROUGH THAT. HOW MANY OF YOU DANCED FOR PETER SMITH I IN ALICIA , MY SISTER? HAHA, WEST ORANGE, OR WHERE WE DID THE NEWARK PARADE A LOT? YEAH. NO. WHERE DID YOU TAKE CLASS? WHAT WAS THE CLASS? WAS IT A STORY? I WAS THE YWCA IN GLEN RIDGE. GREAT TIMES. UH, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW THIS ON IS A HUNDRED PERCENT. SO PLEASE JOIN, IF I CAN REMEMBER [00:50:35] THE ONE. LET'S GIVE IT UP AGAIN TO OUR MUSICIAN, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT HARD BUDGET CUTS AND DOING AWAY WITH THE FINE ARTS AND MUSIC AND ART. YOU KNOW, I, I READ ABOUT IT, I SEE IT EVERYWHERE. UM, BUT YOU GUYS ARE AN INSPIRATION AND THANK YOU. AND EVEN TO MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK, I HOPE THAT SHE DECIDES TO TAKE UP AN INSTRUMENT OR DECIDES TO SING. UM, SHE TRIES. NOW, THAT'S FOR SURE. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, UM, THAN YOUR VOICE, BUT IT'LL GET THERE ONE DAY. BUT THANK YOU GUYS. UM, AGAIN, LET'S GIVE IT UP. SO TALK ABOUT SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. THAT WOULD BE ME. I'M JUST KIDDING. . UM, NO, THAT WOULD BE THE WEST ORANGE PARADE COMMITTEE IN DIGNITARIES. UM, AND THAT WE WILL START WITH BY SAYING, WELL, FIRST, LET ME JUST TELL YOU GUYS, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, LISTEN, MY FRIEND OVER HERE WHO'S BEEN MY PARTNER FOR 15 YEARS, YOU KNOW, HE TALKED ABOUT GAINING HAIR. I, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU, I GAINED A COUPLE OTHER THINGS TOO. POUNDS, RIGHT? GAINED A CHILD. UM, YOU KNOW, I TOOK THE TIE OFF. SO I DID LOSE A COUPLE OF THINGS. BRENDAN LOST A COUPLE OF THINGS TOO. HE LOST SOME MORE HAIR, HE LOST SOME POUNDS. UH, THE STRESS OF HAVING TWO TEENAGERS AT HOME, RIGHT? UM, BUT WE'VE BEEN PARTNERS TALKING ABOUT THAT HE LOST THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT HE DID. UH, WE WORKED REALLY HARD. A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS ROOM SUPPORTED HIM. AND, UH, THAT'S DEMOCRACY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE ALL GOT OUT THERE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE FOR DIFFERENT OFFICES. AGAIN, I TELL PEOPLE, YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME. I STARTED BY LOSING TWO, THREE ELECTIONS. UH, I'VE WON THE LAST SIX FIVE GENERALS IN A PRIMARY, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO WINNING AGAIN THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, BRENDAN DECIDED, YOU KNOW, RETIREMENT, OR AT LEAST TEMPORARY RETIREMENT TO REGROUP AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NEXT. YOU KNOW, TO MY TWO COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT AGAIN. UH, PRESIDENT PALMER AND FORMER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON, THEY TOO LIKE ME, WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR. THEY'RE SEEKING REELECTION. AND AS A TEAM, WE WILL WIN AND WE WILL CARRY THIS, UH, TRADITION ON AND CONTINUE. I KNOW WE ALSO RAED ON MY LAST NAME AND, AND MY FATHER'S ACTUALLY IN THE BACK. SO I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HALF GAELIC AND HALF GARLIC MY ENTIRE LIFE. . UM, SO I HAVE BEEN A PROUD ITALIAN IRISH AMERICAN, UM, DEAD. I KNOW YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT YOUR NIGHT. OCTOBER WAS YOURS. UM, FOR COLUMBUS DAY. BUT, UH, YEAH, I, I'VE, I'VE HAD THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED IT. I LOVE THESE PROGRAMS. UH, BUT LET'S MOVE ON AND SAY, LISTEN, WE'RE ALL EXCITED, UH, FOR THE UPCOMING 73RD ANNUAL WEST ORANGE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE SUNDAY MARCH 15TH. UH, AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA INVITE UP OUR WEST ORANGE PARADE CONTINGENT, AND THAT'LL START WITH OUR PARADE CHAIR, MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM, WHO DOES A GREAT JOB. WE'LL BRING EM UP. WE HAVE OUR GRAND MARSHALL, TOM BRANDON, LET'S GO TOM THERE. OUR DEPUTY GRANT MARSHALLS, EILEEN S KER, AND DANIEL CUNNINGHAM, BILL MACLE AND STEVE SHAFER. LET DEPUTY GRANT MARSHALLS, I DID SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU GUYS, UH, [00:55:01] JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO OVER AT THE HANOVER MANOR. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING EVENTS THAT I'VE BEEN TO OVER THE YEARS, VERY WELL ATTENDED. UH, AND THAT'S AGAIN, UH, A TREAT TO OUR CHAIRPERSON AND THE YOU CHOSE, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO FILLS THOSE SEATS. AND THANK YOU GUYS. UM, SO AGAIN, I'M PROUD TO PRESENT YOU THESE ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENRICH ESSEX IRISH COMMUNITY AND ESSEX COUNTY, UH, AS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. OUR FIRST DEPUTY GRAND MARSHALL IS EILEEN SELLS ACRE. LET'S COME UP HERE. EILEEN. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS, CASTILLO. ONE MORE. GIVE IT UP FOR EILEEN. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ACTUALLY JUST JOINED US. COMMISSIONER TAMI COOPER. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR COACH AMI, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. NEXT WE HAVE DEPUTY GRAHAM MARSHALL, DANIEL CUNNINGHAM. DANIEL, COME ON UP. IF ANYONE WANTS PICTURES, COME ON UP. DON'T UP. WE DON'T BITE FOR A VOTE. YES, I MIGHT. ANYTHING TRUE, TRUE. MAX MAX. DEPUTY GRAHAM MARSHALL, BILL MCY. LET'S BRING UP BILL AND DEPUTY GRAHAM MARSHALL. STEVE SCHAFER. STEVE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELCOME. NOW, BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR GRAND MARSHALL, AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW YOU WELL, BUT I DO KNOW YOUR FATHER OVER THE YEARS. WE'LL GIVE IT UP FOR OUR FORMER ESSEX COUNTY AREA, JOE BRENNAN. JOE BRENN IS A VERY STRONG OF BRENDAN AND I OVER THE YEARS, OVER THE YEARS AS A MENTOR AND FRIEND. UH, BEFORE I DO THAT, I'M GONNA BRING UP MIKE CUNNINGHAM AND MICHAEL, PLEASE. UH, I WANT TO PRESENT YOU FIRST WITH THIS ACCOMMODATION FOR THE BOARD, AND IT ALSO RENAMES MAIN STREET ON SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH, AS BRENDAN BOULEVARD IN HONOR OF OUR GRAND MARSHALL. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND ALWAYS BEING HERE AND, UH, EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE IRISH COMMUNITY. ONE MOMENT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LASH. UH, I DO WANT TO, UH, ECHO YOUR WORDS ON WISHING, UH, COMMISSIONER GALE, BEST LUCK, UH, THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN. YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR PARADES, NOT INC IT'S A LITTLE MORE SPORT THAN EVERYONE ELSE, , BUT, UH, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, THE PAST 15 YEARS WITHOUT YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING. THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS EVERY YEAR FOR HELPING US OUT THROWING THE CEMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR TOWNS EVERY YEAR, AND THE TOWNS CAN BE ONE PROBLEM. IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BIG A BIKE WITH THE COUNTY. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND A BIG, BIG SHOUT OUT TO KATHY BROWN FOR ALL THE WORK SHE DOES FOR COMMISSIONERS. EVERY YEAR. I'LL, I'LL LET TOM SAY A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT OUR PARADE, BUT IT IS THIS SUNDAY. I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE GREAT WEATHER. I HOPE IT'S NOT AS HIGH IT WAS TODAY IN THE MORNING AS WE WHERE IT MIGHT GET A LITTLE SWAMPY IN THERE, . IT'S TRUE. BUT IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT DAY. WE ALL ARE VERY EXCITED TO MARCH AND NEWARK ON FRIDAY AND SHARE YOU'RE PARADE WITH YOU. WE HOPE WE SEE EVERYONE ON SUNDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, THANK YOU MICHAEL. UM, AND FINALLY AGAIN, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR 2026 GRAND MARSHALL. AND THAT WOULD BE TOM BRENNAN. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR TOM BRENNAN. COME ON UP HERE. [01:00:02] JUST A FEW. BOLD M TOM IS THE PROUD SON OF WEST ORANGE, YOUNGEST OF SON OF JOE, WHO I MENTIONED. AND, UH, EILEEN BRENNAN IN HIS TWENTIES. TOM WORKED LOCALLY AT A PLACE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, AND I'M SURE ART DYLANS AVER, ART, DYLANS TAVERN, , UH, ALONG A FEW OTHER LOCAL SPOTS, UH, YOU KNOW, MO'S PIZZERIA AND, YOU KNOW, HE MET, UH, THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, RENA AND TOCO. RIGHT? AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW THESE THINGS WORK. THESE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE, BUT IT'S USUALLY IN THE WORKPLACE OR SOMEWHERE IN YOUR COLLEGIATE CAREER. YOU KNOW, TOM'S CAREER STARTED AT THE HOME DEPOT WHERE HE RECEIVED MANY PROFESSIONAL AWARDS. IN 2008, HE JOINED PRECISION ESCALATOR PRO PRODUCTS RISING TO HIS CURRENT ROLE AS PRODUCTION PLANT MANAGER. TOM'S VALUES ARE DEEP ROOTED IN FAMILY, FAITH AND TRADITION. HE AND RENA ANN RESIDE IN ROCKAWAY WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN, DOMINIC AND LEAH. HE'S DEEPLY INVOLVED IN HIS COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERS FOR YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. TOM IS ACTIVE IN MANY IRISH ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, THE DILL ASSOCIATIONS, IRISH IRISH SOCIETY OF THE ORANGES, ANCIENT OWNER OF THE HIGH BURAN DIVISION NINE FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PATRICK. AND ST. PATRICK'S GUARD OF HONOR, TOM'S CATHOLIC FAITH REMAINS CENTRAL IN HIS LIFE. HE GREW UP IN OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY CHURCH COMMUNITY WHERE HE AND RENA WERE MARRIED IN 2010. FOLLOWING HIS FAMILY'S TRADITION, THE PARISHIONER HAS SEEN CECILIA LIAS IN ROCKAWAY AND CHILDREN AND HIS CHILDREN IN DIVINE MERCY ACADEMY. TOM HAS MARCHED IN THE WEST ORANGE ST. PATRICK'S DAY BREED SINCE HE'S BIRTH HOLIDAY IN THE BRENNAN HOUSEHOLD. AND OF COURSE, OF COURSE, WE'LL CC THAT OUT THERE. AND EVERYONE WITH YOU THIS SUNDAY FOR OVER 25 YEARS, HE HAS SERVED ON THE BRAVE COMMITTEE SERVING AS SERGEANT OF ARMS, VICE VICE AND CHAIRMAN AND CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN TOM WILL BE MAKING PARADE THREE, THREE GENERATION FAMILY TO HOLD THE DISTINCTION OF GRAND MARSHALLS FOR THE WEST ARMY. PRETTY IMPRESSED. RIGHT? RIGHT. SO, I'M SURE I'M ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ABOUT YOUR RESUME AND YOUR HISTORY, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. AND OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A FEW WORDS FROM YOU. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU AGAIN. UH, I'M GONNA TRY AND KEEP IT BRIEF. I KNOW THAT'S TOUGH IN A ROOM FULL OF IRISH AND POLITICIANS, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY TRY, CERTAINLY TRY. I WANT TO SEND A SINCERELY THANK COUNTY BOARD OF YEAH. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR HOSTING THIS WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. YOU'RE A COMMITMENT TO RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY SERVICE, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND CIVIC PRIDE MEANS MORE THAN I COULD ADEQUATELY EXPRESS. WEST ORANGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE TRADITION AND A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY GO HAND IN HAND. AND I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD TO REPRESENT OUR TOWNSHIP IN THIS SPECIAL WAY. I WANT TO EXTEND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW WEST ORANGE HONOREES. BILL, STEVE, EILEEN, AND DAN. EACH OF YOU EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND GENEROSITY THAT DEFINES OUR COMMUNITY. WE MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND WALKS OF LIFE, BUT WE ARE UNITING BY A SHARED LOVE OF HERITAGE FAMILY, AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE LED BY MIKE CUNNINGHAM. NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT A PARADE ON THE STREET UNTIL YOU SEE IT FIRSTHAND. AND THEY DO A WONDERFUL, EXCELLENT JOB. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT. IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PROUD TRADITIONS OF THE NEWARK AND NUTLEY ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADES AND THEIR DISTINGUISHED HONOREES. THESE PARADES ARE MORE THAN FESTIVE GATHERINGS. THEY'RE LIVING TRIBUTES TO THE GENERATIONS OF IRISH AMERICANS WHO HELP BUILD OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, STRENGTHEN OUR INSTITUTIONS, AND ENRICH THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF ESSEX COUNTY. ST. PATRICK'S REMINDS US NOT ONLY OUR IRISH HERD, BUT ALSO THE UNIVERSAL. THE UNIVERSAL VALUES ITSELF, FAITH, RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY, AND HOPE IN TIMES THAT CAN OFTEN FEEL DIVIDED. OUR PARADES BRING US TOGETHER AND REMIND US ALL [01:05:01] THAT OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH. AND THAT SERVICE OTHERS IS AMONG THE HIGHEST CALLS TO THE COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THE POSITIVE WORK BEING DONE THROUGH OUR COUNTY. YOUR RECOGNITION REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVED MENT AND INSPIRES OTHERS TO STEP FORWARD AND SERVE. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS HONOR AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ALONGSIDE SUCH INDIVIDUALS DEDICATED, DEDICATED FROM WEST ORANGE UGLY. MAY WE CONTINUE TO MARCH FORWARD TOGETHER PRIDE IN OUR HERITAGE COMMITMENT TO OUR, TO OUR COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES AND OPTIMISM FUTURE. THANK YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS THIS SUNDAY. MARCH 15TH. MARCH 15TH. MARCH 15TH ON MAIN STREET, WEST ORANGE. THANK YOU. ONE MORE. LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WEST ORANGE. YOU GUYS CAN. YEP. UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THE PROGRAM, UH, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW MY COLLEAGUES THAT HERE, THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONER MARISSA AND NICOLE LATIFA. WE HAVE KYLE. THESE FOLKS REALLY HELP US DAY IN AND DAY OUT, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP THESE, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE STEP AND REPEAT BACKDROP HERE. UH, SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING US ALL TOGETHER. UM, I HOPE TO SEE A LOT OF YOU MAYBE TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE BRIAN BARU DINNER IN EAST STANDOVER. I WILL BE THERE, UH, AS WILL MY COLLEAGUE, BRENDA GILL. UH, WE WANT TO ALSO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FRANK, THE OWNER OF MICHAEL'S ROSS, COMMON IN BELLEVILLE. UH, BECAUSE FRANK PROVIDED US WITH A BUNCH OF FOOD. UH, WE HOPE THAT YOU STICK AROUND. UH, HE'S ALWAYS SO GENEROUS AND SUCH A GREAT GUY. UH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FOOD. UH, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, REALLY QUICKLY, REVEREND CRUZ ACTUALLY HAD TO GET BACK TO, UH, ST. PATRICK'S. SO I'M GOING TO ASK SISTER JANE TO, UH, LEAD US IN A FINAL BLESSING AND A BLESSING OF THE FOOD. AND AGAIN, YOU WEREN'T, YOU WEREN'T READY FOR THIS ONE RIGHT. HERE YOU GO. COME ON IN. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. AND PLEASE HANG OUT AND ENJOY THE FOOD. THANK YOU. OH, GOOD. AND GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL CELEBRATION TONIGHT. WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON ALL OUR ENDEAVORS IN THE FUTURE. AND, UM, JUST THANK GOD FOR OUR BLESSING TO THANK GOD FOR BEING IRISH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. YES. AND FORMALLY WE ANNOUNCED STATE RAISE. THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT I FORGOT. UH, OUR FORMER MAYOR OF CALWELL. I KNOW WE MENTIONED YOU, BUT SUSAN GARLAND SERVED, UH, AS OUR FORMER MAYOR. LET'S PUT IT UP THERE. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? I FORGOT. UM, YOU KNOW WHAT WE WOULD LIKE, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO BEFORE, BEFORE YOU GUYS EAT, IF YOU'RE WEARING THE SESSIONS, YOU'RE PART OF THE BASE, THE GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A GROUP PHOTO WITH, WITH EACH GROUP, NOT LEE, UH, WEST ORANGE AND NEWARK. SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, UH, AND WE CAN GO IN ORDER. WE'LL START WITH, UH, NEWARK. WE'LL START WITH NEWARK AND THEN NOT LEE, AND THEN WEST ORANGE WITH OUR GROUP. THANK YOU GUYS. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.