Nutley and West Hudson celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with parades

By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com

In a two-week span, both Nutley and West Hudson celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with parades.

The parades featured marchers from all over the region and both were lively events that were well attended.

Nutley’s parade featured Grand Marshal Francis J. Costenbader, Deputy Grand Mar- shal Joseph H. McNish Jr., Member of the Year JoAnn Dunleavy, Parade Queen Allison Connor and Police Officer of the Year Steve A. Plummer. forced to close opening night after several of the lead players fell ill and, the following year, with the pandemic in full swing, there was no show.

West Hudson’s parade featured Grand Marshal James Lawless and Deputy Grand Marshals LisaAnne Schalago and Marybeth Kennedy.

Be sure to see a selection of photos on pages 7 and 8 of this week’s edition of The Observer.

But last year, the Academy was back in the fold with a successful performance of “In the Heights” and now it’s “Shrek” in the spotlight.

Milagros “Milly” Gonzalez, director/choreographer, said this year’s production is unique in two ways.

“For 90% of this cast (37 girls and 13 boys), it will be

See SHREK, Page 18