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Watch The Parade REPLAYS!
Sooooo… you can’t make it to the parade? Well, we won’t guilt you for not being there… instead, we’re going to broadcast the parade LIVE – right here – starting at 12:30pm on March 1st 2020… We are excited to offer LIVE streaming directly from YouTube and periodic shout outs of Line of Marchers via Youtube chat.
Ad Journal form
Support the 2020 parade or honor this year’s Grand and Deputy Grand Marshals with an ad in our annual commemorative journal distributed at the Investiture Luncheon. Due date for all ads is February 7.
Directions
FROM North: NJ Turnpike South to Garden State Parkway South, to exit 98. Take 138 east to end. Stay left to Rt. 35 North.
FROM South: NJ Turnpike North to 195 East, Take 195 East to end. Stay left to Rt. 35 North.
FROM West: Take 295 to 195 East, Take 195 East to end. Stay left to Rt. 35 North.
RT. 35 North: about 1 mile to Belmar Marina, Park in Marina, Parade on Main St.
EXTRA TRAINS TO OPERATE FOR BELMAR ST. PATRICK′S DAY PARADE
Click HERE for information
(NJ Transit will announce exact schedule as date gets closer)
TWO IMPORTANT CHANGES for parade participants:
The Ocean Avenue bridge is closed for repair and Main Street will be closed starting 8am on parade day. Those coming from the north should enter Belmar via Main Street bridge from Avon and turn left on 5th Avenue (see pic for directions).
The reviewing stand will be on the East side of Main Street – to your right when marching – still at 9th Avenue.
Please plan accordingly. Thank you!
Scott Fitzgerald
Grand Marshal
Scott was born in Manhattan, New York to parents, Margaret (Gray) and David Fitzgerald.
Scott’s Grandparents and Great Grandparents emigrated to the United States from Counties Cork, Limerick and Longford in the late 1850’s and mid 1920’s. They settled in the Bronx and owned hotel and bar establishments.
He lived in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx until the family moved to the Madison Park section of Old Bridge in 1963.
Scott was born in Manhattan, New York to parents, Margaret (Gray) and David Fitzgerald.
Scott attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Perth Amboy for 1st through 5th grades and Our Lady of Victories in Sayreville for grades 6th through 8th. Scott was always involved in youth and high school sports, including basketball, little league, pop warner football, soccer and wrestling. Scott graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in 1976.
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He married his bride, Cathleen Johnson on June 12, 1982 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Old Bridge and together they have four children: Bryan, Erin, Matthew and David. Scott is Poppy to Liliana Fitzgerald who is two-years-old and a joy. Thank you to Bryan and Christina.
Scott began his career in the family window treatment business in 1982 and has worked his way up to owner. He has grown Spotless Shade into the thriving and successful business that it is today.
When his children were growing up, Scott took great pride in coaching them in soccer and baseball. He loved both sports so much that he became a member of the board of directors at both the Old Bridge Soccer League and Little League, while later becoming a soccer referee.
He joined the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh in 2004. Scott has been a member of the Executive Board from 2006 through 2015. He served as President from 2013-2014. Serving as a member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh has always been rewarding. In 2019, Scott was named Irishman of the Year. He is proud of the organization and all its good work.
Scott is happy to support the Belmar-Lake Como parade committee. He has attended the parade for many of the last 30 years and is always proud to march with the FSOS of Old Bridge, this will be his 16th year marching. This year Scott is humbled and honored to have been named the Grand Marshal and will look forward to leading the parade this year with his family and friends beside him.
Eileen Donnelly Biennas
Deputy Grand Marshal
Eileen Donnelly Biennas was born in South Amboy, and raised in Old Bridge, New Jersey. Eileen is the daughter of the late Charles Edward and Kathleen Marie Noel Donnelly, who were both very proud Irish Americans. Charlie was President of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh and a long time member, a committee member on the N.J. State Irish Festival, a member of the Belmar Lake Como Parade Committee and the Grand Marshal of the 2002 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Kathleen was a member of the Women of Irish Heritage and the Deputy Grand Marshal of the 1998 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Eileen’s maternal great-grandparents were from County Meath and County Donegal. Her Grandparents hit the Irish Catholic trifecta and were parents to a Priest -Father Raymond Schmidt, a Nun -Sister Patricia Schmidt, and a Brother -Donald Schmidt along with her Uncle Kenneth and Mother. She has three Aunts on her Father’s side, Elizabeth, MaryJo and Maureen.
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Eileen attended Montclair State University until she took on a management position at Casey O’Tooles Restaurant. From there she went on to own and operate Fearns Control, Inc. In 2002 she sold the company and started another small business along with substitute teaching, working for Donnelly’s Top Hat Catering and raising her daughters. In 2012 she was employed by the Monroe Township Police Department as a Private Billing Clerk and was promoted to Office Manager and Confidential Secretary. Eileen currently is the Executive Administrative Assistant to The Mayor. She works on several commissions in Township of Monroe including the A.D.A and the Human Relations Commission.
Eileen’s biggest joy is her family and friends. Her husband, Michael Biennas, has been with the Monroe Township Police Department for 34 years and is currently the Chief of Police and a member of the Old Bridge FSOS. Her daughter Caitlin Noel is a junior at Montclair State University studying Justice Studies with a minor in Psychology, daughter Madeline Anne is a high school senior and will be attending Stockton University next year, Jacqueline is a Nursing Student at Brookdale, Zachary is a warrior battling Beckers Muscular Dystrophy and Gabriel is a sophomore at Monroe Township High School. They enjoy attending concerts and shows, traveling and summer vacations in Long Beach Island New Jersey.
Eileen has always valued community involvement. She was on the Executive Board of the New Egypt PTO and served as treasurer for two years and president for four. Eileen worked along with her Dad with the New Jersey Irish Festival, and served as their secretary in 2006 and 2008. Eileen has been a member of the Woman of Irish Heritage Jersey Shore since 2004 and currently serves as the Treasurer to the Belmar Lake Como Parade Committee. The Biennas family has worked together to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Special Olympics through annual walks, polar plunges and plane pulls.
Eileen is honored to lead the best St. Patrick’s day parade in New Jersey with Scott Fitzgerald, and looks forward to sharing the day with her family, good friends and all of the wonderful spectators who also love their Irish heritage, whether they are first generation or just Irish for the day!
CONTACT INFO
Chairmen: Chip Cavanagh Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee PO Box 331, Belmar, NJ 07719 Tel: 732.280.2648 Fax: 732.280.6787 Email: info@belmarparade.com