BELLEVILLE POST
VOL. 36 NO. 25
APRIL 2026
ESSEXNEWSDAILY.COM
Honorees announced
— See Page 2
First place in Hackathon Photo by Joe Ungaro
— See Page 3
It’s time for baseball
— See Page 22
Mayor Michael Melham, center in orange, prepares to raise the Irish flag at town hall with dignitaries from the Nutley St. Patrick’s Day Parade including Grand Marshal Steve Blank, Nutley Irish American Association President Deidre Hollywood, and Firefighter of the Year Brandon Griffitt.
Honoring Belleville’s Irish history The Irish flag was ceremoniously raised in front of town hall on Friday, March 6, a day before the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Nutley. “The history of Belleville is rooted in two cultures; Irish and Italian,” Mayor Michael Melham said during the ceremony. “The traditions we have in Belleville, we hold true to us. We never forget where we came from.” The event, which was emceed by Councilman Vincent Cozzarelli, began with a singing of the national anthem and included remarks from Deidre Hollywood, president of the Nutley Irish American Association. “This is what makes a community,” Hollywood said. “You honor everyone’s heritage.” Hollywood also asked everyone to put their statues of Mary, mother of Jesus, in their windows facing outward to increase the chances of good weather for the parade happening the next day.
It must have worked because while the day was cold and damp the rain held off on parade day. Steve Blank, grand marshal of the parade, was given a proclamation in recognition of his title. “I’m a Nutley guy but I have family in Belleville too,” he said. “I appreciate this ceremony and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.” The Irish flag was raised while the Irish national anthem was played before the event concluded with Chase Hamilton playing a song on the bagpipes. Hamilton, a Belleville High School graduate and firefighter with the Belleville Fire Department, is a deputy grand marshal of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day parade, which was held on March 13. Hamilton was previously a deputy grand marshal of the Nutley parade in 2022.
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