The skies were as misty as the Emerald Isles, yet the St. Patrick’s parade in Westhampton Beach shined through. Led by Grand Marshal Steve Frano, the 58th annual event drew a festive crowd along Main Street to mark the unofficial start of spring.
Bagpipes sang out beside the marching beat of the Westhampton Beach High School band. Floats from local businesses and organizations, along with emergency responders from throughout the area were on display. Grand Marshals going back a decade or two joined in the pageantry.
Marshal Frano is a lifelong Westhampton Beach resident and high school graduate. He’s been a member of the fire department for 50 years, serving as chief and volunteering with Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance. He was the Fire Marshal for Southampton Town for 40 years and was elected to serve as a Village Trustee by the community four times.
The former coach was a past president of the East End Little League. He was also a Suffolk County Coordinator of Fire Departments and volunteered to teach fire safety at area schools for many years. Many appreciate him as Santa at local holiday events and an essential part of the Westhampton St. Pat’s Parade Committee.