Parade brings fun – and plenty o’green for restaurants

By MELISSA KLARIC

Herald Staff Writer

SHARON – Grady Clark’s favorite part of the St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday in Sharon was the candy.

His sister, Ella, said the best part was Rachel’s Tumbling of Sharon, which also won the parade’s most festive/fun entry.

“My favorite part of the parade was just watching the kids have fun,” said Nicole Clark, of Brookfield, Grady and Ella’s mother.

The Clarks were in a parade crowd of about 5,000, as estimated by Sherris Moreira, Sharon downtown development director.

Downtown restaurants were teeming with customers, Moreira said.

“Restaurants were impacted most of the day, with Elephant No. 8 Thai Taste, The Block by Nova Destinations, Julian’s Bar & Grille, Allie’s Sweet Tooth popup booming most of the day,” Moreira said.

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Downtown Sharon was a sea of emerald green Saturday in honor of St. Patrick’s Day during the city’s annual parade.

ERIC POOLE | Herald

Bagpiper Ross Williams of Sharpsville was judged the Most Irish entry in the parade.

ERIC POOLE | Herald

Parade brings plenty o’green for downtown Sharon restaurants

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“Quaker Steak and Lube did almost double the business from last year’s parade day as well.”

The city had Andie Lugg, from Strayhaven Animal Shelter, Greenville; April Shernisky, Tails of Hope; Jennifer Flynn, Animal Protection League, and Hermitage Commissioner Lou Squatrito, who is also on the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter board, judge the roughly 75 parade entries. Paradegoers were encouraged to bring donations of pet supplies for the animal charities – and to bring their pets to the parade.

The city also ran a parade pet promo contest Saturday on Facebook where they invited followers to post pictures of the pets to win four passes to Keystone Safari animal park near Grove City. Among more than 200 animal pictures posted, Lyla Werger, Greenville, won the contest.

“Overall, a really busy day for the city,” Moreira said.

The Zem Zem Shiners’ Mercer County Wheel Patrol performed motorized acrobatic routines along the parade route and were honored with the judges’ award for Best Team Spirit (uniformity of organization).

MELISSA KLARIC | Herald

The parade included a horseback color guard from Trails End Conservancy in Hermitage, which runs an equine therapy program for veterans. The organization was judged Most Distinguished entry in the parade.

ERIC POOLE | Herald

Entertainment and fireworks – appropriately mostly green – concluded Sharon’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration Saturday.

ERIC POOLE | Herald

Gymnists from Rachel’s Tumbling in Sharon performed along the parade route. The judges awarded them the prize for Most Festive/Fun entrant.

MELISSA KLARIC | Herald

Ned Seeger, a recent arrival in Sharon from St. Petersburg, Fla., keeps an eye on his bulldog, Tabitha. P aradegoers were encouraged to bring their pets to the parade, and donations of pet supplies were collected for local animal charities.

ERIC POOLE | Herald