WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Irish eyes were smiling as the 55th Annual Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day was making its way through the village on Saturday.
The Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. Patrick nominated Patty Ziparo-Dalton as the 2024 Grand Marshal.
“Patti was chosen to lead the 55th annual parade because of her community service to the greater Westhampton Beach community,” organizers said on the website. “Patty worked for the Westhampton Beach School District as a teacher and athletic director for nearly 40 years. She was a longtime member of the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance and currently serves as treasurer for the Ambulance. She and her husband, Bill Dalton, ran the local Scout unit for many years, too — helping many young people to become Scouts.”
“Patty is a perfect example of what the Parade Committee looks for in a Grand Marshal,” added Tim Laube, committee chairman. “Community service is so important to our town and Patty embodies that. She has made Westhampton Beach and the surrounding communities a better place for more than 40 years. We are proud to have Patty leading us into 2024.”
According to long-standing tradition, the Grand Marshal may choose the theme of the parade. Ziparo-Dalton chose this year's theme of “rock, paper, scissors” because it was “a successful and simple mediation technique” she used to get students to settle their differences while she was a physical education teacher in Westhampton Beach, organizers said.
The much-loved parade included pipe bands, fire departments, ambulance units, high school bans, floats, classic cars, marching bands and more.