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The woman behind the Stone Pony’s success since 2003 has been named the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal.

“I knew immediately after the start of last year’s event that Caroline should be the next grand marshal,” event founder Garrett Giberson Jr. said. “Everyone on the Board agreed.”

Giberson, who has known the Wall native for years said her selflessness in helping others, expertise and hard work ethic helped make her the right candidate.

“Caroline represents all of Asbury Park,” Giberson said. “She truly is what the city is all about.”

O’Toole has also managed the concessions at the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall since 2008 and works tirelessly to help benefit the many organizations within the city’s limits. At right, O’Toole was awarded an autographed 6-string for helping to organize last year’s Mayor’s Rodeo. 

The Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2014, when a small committee gathered to craft a parade that celebrates St. Patrick while acknowledging the diversity of the people and culture of Asbury Park. Much thought went into the original concept to make certain that it was all inclusive and unique to Asbury Park while still incorporating the most loved traditions of a good old fashioned parade, Giberson said.

Each year the local level participation grows with recognition from not only our veterans, Boy & Girl Scouts, and dance schools, but also for local high school marching bands, police and first responders.

Keeping in parade tradition, there’s participation from the national award winning mummers, clowns on stilts as well as pipe and drum organizations. Highlights include the  live music floats from the Lakehouse Music students, The Saint, Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar. And then there are the crowd pleasers – the bicycle church, animal rescue, roller girls, and of course the beloved zombies.

Through a series of fundraising events, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has not only been able to pay for itself but garnered enough proceeds to make donations to charitable organizations, including the Asbury Park Little League, The Center On Main, the Asbury Park Historical Society, Asbury Park Fire Department Local 384, Asbury Park Recreation and, most recently to the victims of the Orlando Mass shooting.

The Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee includes Giberson, Vice President Sammy Boyd, and members Eileen Chapman, Judi Yaccarino, The Asbury Park Chambers of Commerce, The Asbury Ushers, and Madison Marquette’s Chris Femiano and Debbie Delisa.

This year’s fundraising kicks off off next month with the following:

Feb 12: 11 am – 2 pm GREEN DRAGON BRUNCH, hosted by TAKA, 660 Cookman Ave 

Feb 19: 3 – 7 pm BRISKET & BREW, hosted by ACHOR’S BEND, on the boardwalk at 1300 Ocean Ave

Feb 26: 3 – 9 pm SHAMROCK & ROLL, hosted by The Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Ave

March 2: 7 – 10 pm GRAND MARSHALL DINNER, hosted by Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant, 1405 Asbury Ave

For more information on upcoming events or how to be involved with the parade, visit asburyparkstpatricksparade.com, on Facebook, and via GoFundMe donation page.

[feature photo courtesy of  Rose A. Montana]

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The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

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