3/18/07 — It takes more than cold temperatures and a fresh coating of snow to deter Susan Seeley from one of her favorite spring activities — watching Meadville’s annual Jack Curtin St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration.
“I’m Irish and I like to enjoy the parade,” said Seeley who like her son, Trevor, 9, braved a 22-degree temperatures they waited along Chestnut Street for the 20th annual parade to begin.
While the Seeleys were bundled up against the cold it didn’t mean they weren’t showing off their Irish spirit. Both were decked out in tall green and white stovepipe-style hats and green and white beads.
“My other son’s a teen-ager and he’s outgrown this, but I haven’t,” she said.
Trevor Seeley, 9, said St. Patrick’s Day is his favorite parade in Meadville.
“It’s fun to watch and it’s fun to get candy,” he said.
Farther up Chestnut Street, Laurie Simmons of Meadville decked out in even more green.
In addition to a green blouse and green beads, Simmons was sporting a green wig, shamrock deeley-bopper antenna on her head. She sported green and white fingernail paint with shamrocks and even green-tinted contact lenses with shamrocks.
“I’m three-quarters Irish and I love St. Patrick’s Day,” Simmons said with a smile.
Her daughter, Jackie, 21/2, was decked out as well. She had a green stovepipe hat and beads.
“She’s into it, too,” her mother said with a laugh.
The Seeleys and the Simmons were among some 400 people who were along Chestnut Street between Diamond Park and the Downtown Mall as the parade of passed in review.
It ends at the mall with a round of Irish songs and other brief entertainment.
The Jack Curtin St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration is named for Curtin, a long-time Meadville businessman and civic leader, who died in July 2004. Curtin and former Meadville merchant, Bill Kronenfeld, started the parade in the 1987.
This year, the 18 members of the Curtin family were grand marshals for the parade.
“Getting the whole family here took some coordination,” Eileen Curtin Mullen, Curtin’s daughter, said with a laugh. She served as master of ceremonies for the parade.
Cheryl Davern was winner of Jack Curtin St. Patrick’s Day Irish Spirit Award. Davern has been a member of the parade’s planning committee for a number of years. She also is responsible for decorating Chestnut Street with balloons and other trim prior to the parade.
Jennifer Stevens was named the Irish Rose of the parade — a woman who is filled with Irish spirit.
David Thomas was this year’s Grand Leprechaun for the parade garnering 2,625 votes.
The Grand Leprechaun is chosen through donations of $1 per vote with money raised going to charities chosen by those in the contest.
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Residents brave cold to watch St. Patrick's Day parade
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