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Regional wrestling: Memorable day for Crestwood’s O’Rourke in Class 3A

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Route 309 closed in Shavertown due to 700-gallon fuel leak

<p>PITTSTON &#8212; Pittston&#8217;s fifth annual St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade brought a bit of Ireland to its Main Street on Saturday with music, color and spirit &#8212; all reflecting the celebratory mood of the holiday.</p><p>Many of those who attended said they were especially grateful to be able to enjoy the event in spite of a Friday snowstorm that threatened to postpone it.</p><p>City administrator Joseph Moskovitz said the willingness of the mayor&#8217;s office, former and current officials, employees and volunteers to work to clear the city of snow in spite of harsh winds and cold temperatures was a testament to the city&#8217;s heritage. Pittston is not only a city filled with many Irish residents, he said, but one whose citizens are committed to community and service.</p><p>The parade &#8212; about an hour in length &#8212; brought area bands, cheerleading squads, businesses and nonprofits down Main Street with smiles to give and candy to share.</p><p>And candy, hands down, was the favorite of the younger set watching the parade, most willing to leap to their feet again and again to gather brightly wrapped candy and stuff it into their mouth before a parent saw them doing it.</p><p>For those who loved cookies, West Pittston&#8217;s Brownie Troop provided a chance for residents to buy their favorite treats while supporting a worthy cause.</p><p>&#8220;This is a great experience for the girls,&#8221; said Girl Scout leader Heather Santee. &#8220;They learn about business while having fun with others scouts.&#8221;</p><p>Lindsay Rysz, Wilkes-Barre, enjoyed the event with her family, settled into a spot in the middle of Main Street.</p><p>&#8220;My niece Lily is enjoying everything about the parade,&#8221; Rysz said.</p><p>Missy Mitchell-Wedsko, a member of the parade committee, said Friday&#8217;s weather left some people &#8220;holding their breath&#8221; about pulling off the parade.</p><p>That&#8217;s why she was &#8220;jumping up and down&#8221; when the procession started to make its way down Main Street, realizing the committee had, once again, made it happen.</p><p>Linda Barlett, a member of the committee throughout the parade&#8217;s five-year history, said although attendance has been impacted by weather each year, the march continues to grow in popularity.</p><p>The official grand marshal sash was accepted by members of Joseph Keating&#8217;s family. Keating was slated to be grand marshal, but the former Pittston mayor died in January.</p><p>Jim McFarland, another parade committee member, said, &#8220;Keating was a mayor, a fireman, a school board member. He was very well-loved.&#8221;</p><p>Joe Long, president of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, said the holiday and parade provided opportunity for both faith and celebration.</p><p>Long, wearing a shamrock tie, called it &#8220;a day to celebrate heritage with our friends from all over the Greater Pittston area.&#8221;</p><p>The Times Leader Media Group was the official media sponsor of the parade.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Chelsea McFarland, 5, left, and Mia Slusser, 6, grab candy thrown from vehicles during Pittston&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-a-RGB.jpg</photo0><caption0>Chelsea McFarland, 5, left, and Mia Slusser, 6, grab candy thrown from vehicles during Pittston&#8217;s St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-b-rgb.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Pipes &amp; Drums of the Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department was invited to Pittston for its St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-b-rgb.jpg</photo1><caption1>The Pipes &amp; Drums of the Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department was invited to Pittston for its St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-d-RGB.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">2018 Little Miss Leprechaun Mila Schuler, 4, of Pittston, waves to the crowd gathered on Main Street for the Pittston St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-d-RGB.jpg</photo2><caption2>2018 Little Miss Leprechaun Mila Schuler, 4, of Pittston, waves to the crowd gathered on Main Street for the Pittston St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-e-RGB.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">This group, watching the Pittston St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade from a second-floor balcony, attempts to catch candy tossed out by people marching in the procession. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-e-RGB.jpg</photo3><caption3>This group, watching the Pittston St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade from a second-floor balcony, attempts to catch candy tossed out by people marching in the procession. </caption3><photoCredit3>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-c-RGB.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Joe Long, president of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, foreground, gives the thumbs-up to the crowd at the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade along Main Street in Pittston on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Pittston-St.-Paddy-27s-TL-c-RGB.jpg</photo4><caption4>Joe Long, president of the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, foreground, gives the thumbs-up to the crowd at the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day Parade along Main Street in Pittston on Saturday. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Pittston celebrates its Irish heritage at annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade