The Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Parade will celebrate its 41st anniversary on Sun., Mar. 10 when the parade kicks-off at 1:00 p.m. along Market St., beginning at McClurg Rd.
      The Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Parade is one of the largest parades in the state of Ohio. Each year upwards of 25,000 spectators line the parade route along Market St., from McClurg Rd. to Southwoods Dr
      Grand Marshal for this year annual march is Maureen Collins. The Ockerman Award recipient is Buzz Kelty and the Lord Mayor of Kilkenny is Lenny Fisher.
      The Ockerman Award was created in memory of the parade’s first head marshal, Bill Ockerman, who served as chief organizer of the parade for many years. The Kilkenny honors recognized contributions to enable the parade to continue every year.
      Leading the parade will be the Shamrock Balloon, the Boardman High School Spartan Marching Band and Boardman Township Trustees.
      The Spartan Marching Band is one of six bands in this year’s parade. Others participating are the South Range Marching Band, the Ursuline Marching Band, the Youngstown State University Marching band and the Steel City Ambassadors.
      Master of Ceremonies at the Ed Reese Reviewing Stand, at the end of the parade, will be Casey Malone.
      Upwards of 150 units will march in the zany parade, including Aut Mori Grotto clowns, the Capt. Thomas W. Patton Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Llucky Llamas 4-H Club, the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club, the Beaver Creek Horseman’s Association, Struthers Little Wildcats and Youngstown Phantoms Hockey Team.
       Maureen Collins
      Collins is co-founder of Easy Street Productions, Youngstown’s first and only professional-stock theatre company. Probably best known for musicals such as Pump Boys and Dinettes and their annual Christmas spectacular Miracle on Easy Street, the troupe’s unique brand of family entertainment has been a Mahoning Valley favorite for the past 30 years.
      Some of Collins’s past honors include Woman of the Year for the YWCA and Distinguished Alumni at Ursuline High School. She is the daughter of Raymond and Virginia Collins, and her entire family has served the Youngstown community and is proud to be Irish!
      Lenny Fisher
      Fisher is the owner and president of Handel’s Ice Cream. He credits local residents who grew up on Handel’s with the growth and success of the company. What started as Alice Handel serving ice cream to her neighborhood has turned into a nationally recognized brand, with locations from coast-to-coast.
      Handel’s has been a loyal division sponsor of the Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Parade for many years.
      Buzz Kelty
      Kelty is the son of Buzz Sr. and Eileen Conaboy Kelty and has lived in the Mahoning Valley his entire life. He is a graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School and Youngstown State University. He is a member of Holy Family Church where he serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Adult Altar Server. He is a member of the Holy Family Council of Knights of Columbus #15573, Mahoning Valley Gaelic Society, and Teamsters Local #377.
      Kelty has been a marshal for the Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day Parade since its inception.