Luck of the Irish runs out? Newton St. Patrick's parade canceled for 3rd year due to COVID
The luck of the Irish has run out for the third straight year.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their membership and a shortage in time has led the Newton Fire Department to cancel the annual St. Patrick's Day parade.
"Due to the amount of planning and funding needed to organize this event due to numerous members of our department falling ill to our current pandemic, it has made it rather difficult to hold our meetings and seek funding, while maintaining adequate fire and safety for the Town of Newton residents," the department posted on Facebook Thursday.
The popular parade was on the verge of collapse when its longtime chairpersons retired in 2019 before the volunteer department came to the rescue, vowing to keep the tradition going.
But the pandemic had other plans, forcing the parade's cancellation in 2020 and 2021.
With the pandemic's recent resurgence — Sussex County reported over 7,700 new coronavirus cases since the start of the year, according to county health officials — the department feared putting members at risk of getting sick by attending meetings for the parade, the department posted.
"We are here to serve and protect the Town of Newton, and are doing our best to be responsible and keep our members in good health to allow us to continue to do so," they said.
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The cancelation was first announced on the official Newton Facebook page without explanation, leading to a slew of comments from residents angry at the decision.
"Stadiums that seat thousands of people are opened, why cancel our little parade?" one post reads. "This is crazy, just crazy, what is wrong with this town? Our kids can go to school but can't see an outside parade," another posted.
Thomas Russo Jr., the town manager, was quick to update the post, stating that while the town "appreciates the free speech banter and the conspiracy theories and derogatory comments made towards the town and its staff," it was a simple reality that the fire department did not have the time coordinate the event.
"We trust their judgment and thank them for their continued service to Newton," Russo wrote.
The Newton Fire Department, making its own announcement on Thursday, said it hopes to bring the parade back next year, "if not better than ever."
The parade is often attended by thousands of smiling Irish eyes, so it comes as no surprise that Irish heritage looms large in Sussex County: about 31,000, or 22%, of residents cite an Irish heritage, according to U.S. Census data.
Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Newton NJ St. Patrick's parade canceled again due to COVID
