St. Patrick Braves The Rain

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by Thomas MacMillan | Mar 15, 2010 7:32 am

(13) Comments | Commenting has expired | E-mail the Author

Thomas MacMillan Photo Even St. Patrick himself carried an umbrella as his parade marched through a rainstorm on Sunday.

New Haven’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade had a wet reception on Sunday, with persistent rain falling on the thousands of marchers and spectators. Parade chairman Walter J. Nester, Jr. nevertheless declared it “a perfect day.” He said he was pleased with how many people braved the damp weather to join the parade.

Police also reported that the parade went smoothly. New Haven police had promised a crackdown on public drinking this year. While there were pockets of drunken revelry, blatant sidewalk drinking was noticeably absent from the parade.

Chairman Nester said that 160 units were expected to march in this year’s parade, totaling over 3,000 marchers. Although some may have decided not to march, there were still enough fife and drum squads, bagpipers, step-dancers, floats, and marching bands to provide hours of spectacle.

Peter Ortoleva (pictured above) Milford’s very own St. Patrick, was near the front of the parade. He had a black umbrella fixed to the top of his staff. Ortoleva, who’s half Irish and half Italian, has been leading Milford’s St. Patrick’s day parade (next Sunday) for 13 years now, ever since a “little old lady” roped him into it and made him his costume.

Others marched without umbrellas, including these two leprechauns.

U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro was soaked by the end of the parade.

Some Irish step-dancers stayed warm with their traditional Irish sweaters.

Spectators took shelter wherever they could, standing in doorways on Chapel Street ...

... or huddled in bus shelters on Church Street.

As the parade entered downtown, the sidewalks filled up. The corner of Temple and Chapel Streets was one of the few spots on the parade route where visibly intoxicated revelers had gathered. Two police officers were keeping a close eye on the crowd and occasionally moving them back onto the sidewalk. While there were no beer bottles in sight, most members of the crowd had cups in their hands.

The officers tangled twice with Zach Anzel, a Branford resident who was drinking beer right from the bottle. Police asked him to get rid of the beer and move down the street.

Anzel was celebrating his 23rd birthday by wearing a special green T-shirt made for him by his brother. Despite having his “balls broken” by the police, Anzel said, he was enjoying the parade. He ran out several times to shake hands as marchers went by.

A reviewing station was set up in front of City Hall. Mayor John DeStefano stood with past parade grand marshals, watching the procession.

A group of Celtic storm troopers, including a TIE fighter pilot, passed by.

As the parade wrapped up, and the celebration moved to New Haven’s bars, Lt. Thaddeus Reddish said that the parade had gone smoothly from a policing perspective. Police spokesman Officer Joe Avery later said police made six arrests for public drinking along the parade route.

Later, 6 p.m. on Crown Street looked something like 2 a.m. on a Saturday morning. The sidewalks outside the streets many bars were overrun with inebriated young people wearing green. T-shirts read, “Kiss Me I’m Shitfaced” and “Today I’m Irish. Tomorrow I’ll be hungover.”

There was a heavy police presence on Crown Street. One cop stationed on Crown later reported that the evening had gone well. There were no major incidents, he said. The city’s public relations campaign regarding the crackdown on public drinking seemed to have worked, he said.

Avery said about 20 people were arrested on Crown Street for disorderly conduct and breach of peace after the parade.

Comments

posted by: Walt on March 15, 2010 9:11am

Why are kids getting tanked at the many bars in the Parade area perfectly OK, but having a couple of beers from your own cooler is deemed “Verboten” ?

If sobriety and family fun are to be the emphasis, the many bars in the area should be closed during the Parade and for a couple of hours thereafter, and they might be allowed to charge a reasonable fee for use of their restrooms.

The current ban, coupled with the lax enforcement in the bar areas, as shown by your pictures is unfair and ineffective.

posted by: K Tisdale on March 15, 2010 10:08am

I agree with Walt. Leave those of us alone who bring coolers to have a few beers and enjoy the parade. It is also a big social function that friends and families look forward to all year. I’ve been going to the same spot for the last 22 years and have never had a problem. Downtown has young folks who go just to drink and make asses of themselves.They don’t even watch the parade. Former Chief Lewis brought this on and left. I hope he’s happy that he caused all this chaos.

posted by: New Haven on March 15, 2010 10:38am

“no arrests during the parade”

“Heavy police presence on Crown Street”

“As the parade wrapped up, and the celebration moved to New Haven’s bars, Lt. Thaddeus Reddish said that the parade had gone smoothly from a policing perspective.”

It sounds to me that it went rather well; no public intoxication from the usual coolers and KEGS in Red Flyer wagons; with the usual public urination that accompanies “endless” booze.

Were it not for an extensive home renovation, I would not have boycotted this year’s parade. I’ve been sober over a year now, and the parade was just another excuse to go out of control with alcohol consumption. There is violence associated with drunkenness including fights, rapes, and even murder. Keep the booze in bars, keep it off the street, and the families will come back into town.

Walt, congratulations for being the first poster. You’re awesome. But it looks like the City’s PR campaign worked, and justified it’s decision not to allow public drinking in the future. I applaud the City for their efforts!

posted by: cedarhillresident on March 15, 2010 10:47am

I agree. But I think that the police did a good job and used discretion. At least where we were. And they did stop and say hi.

posted by: ktisdale on March 15, 2010 11:23am

Oh Oh I have to post again New Haven. Lt.Reddish must have made his comment at 3:oo pm on Sunday. There were many arrests AFTER the parade. The police had to close Crown
St. and the fights didn’t stop. Two wagons were in constant use bringing them down to detention. Once again - its those idiots who cause all the trouble.Speak to any policeman who worked downtown and was held over and I know they’ll tell you the same thing. Leave us and our coolers alone!!!!

posted by: Ray Willis on March 15, 2010 2:11pm

Tisdale,
bringing coolers to have a few beers is a big social function that friends and families look forward to all year? Why are you spending the rest of the year looking forward to drinking in public? Are you unable to have a good time without being a few sheets to the wind? Real family oriented. Every kid remembers his first taste of beer, but its extra special when its being spilled on him by drunks in public. Have a drink in a bar or a restaurant or the privacy of your own home, regardless of what day it is it doesn’t need to be on the sidewalk. Unless you’re a wino.

posted by: Beaver Hill Resident on March 15, 2010 2:32pm

Former Chief Lewis didn’t bring on all this chaos and leave. He experienced all this chaos and left recommendations on how to alleviate it. It sounds as though the town and the police have at least made a start this year.

posted by: Walt on March 15, 2010 5:40pm

Somewhat obnoxious to Tisdale, aren’t you Willis?

Nothing in the Tisdale posts encourages or defends being 2 sheets to the wind, or spilling drinks on folks or justifies your insinuation that Tisdale is a wino.

Shame, Willis, Shame

posted by: Ray Willis on March 15, 2010 6:35pm

If the people advocating public drunkenness are calling me obnoxious I think I can still get to sleep at night.

posted by: Ellis Copeland on March 15, 2010 7:06pm

I’m just glad the cops shut down the bars early—by 9pm Crown St was dark. I don’t know what they used to justify it, and it was probably unconstitutional, but it was welcomed. Crown St violates about 3/4 of the city zoning code, but, hey, as long as suburban jerks get to get stupid why let rules get in the way, right.

posted by: Walt on March 16, 2010 9:23am

Not one person’s post above advocates public drunkenness, but Willis continues his rant!! ...

posted by: Ray Willis on March 16, 2010 10:43am

(assuming Paul isn’t posting my previous comment, which is admittedly stupid)
Anyone of sober mind would see there is no rant, rather reasonable rebuttal to your view of which you are entitled, Walt. Differentiate between public drinking and public drunkenness. The argument being offered is “those people” are different in their behavior than “us people”, both groups breaking the law which is place to prevent the behavior that has forced this to become an issue. How are the police or families looking for a good viewing spot supposed to tell the difference between group A with beer cans in their hands and group B with the same? Furthermore, how is group B sure they aren’t behaving inappropriately? They are drinking, after all, which on some level will cloud your objectivity. At the end of the day its against the law for a reason. This has been proven. Write a letter to your representatives and build a strong and compelling argument for why public drinking should be legalized as opposed to mewling about it on the internet, if you truly believe you’re in the right. In the meantime, have some good clean family fun.

posted by: Dot Khan on March 24, 2010 12:24am

@Ellis
Its not hard to convince the bars to close by 9PM. Years ago I worked at Toad’s on parade day. We opened about 2. The 6 hours we were open were packed but it didn’t make sense to stay open much later. People had been drinking since before the parade and most had left by 6:30 or 7.