Irish Pride Shows In Helena Parade Today

HELENA - The leprechauns were out painting the streets of Helena a St. Patrick's Day green Friday night in preparation for today's annual parade through the hamlet.

"They range from 4 feet high to some of them are 6 foot 7. They've got the green paint already. It'll probably last all summer," said Robert Carter, who coordinates the annual affair with his wife, Irene.

St. Patrick's Day doesn't officially arrive until Wednesday, but the Helena parade is always held the Saturday before its arrival - or on St. Patrick's Day itself if it happens to fall on a Saturday.

"It's always been a local establishment that organizes it," Mr. Carter said, noting it used to be the old Helena House. The Carters, who own Bobby I's, have been doing it for about 10 years since.

"We're doing our same old thing we've been doing for 10 years. I'm just the guy that kind of puts it all together. My wife and I, we hope for the best," he said.

Last year's "same old thing" drew about 800 people to the hamlet, according to Mr. Carter.

"I think we're the first parade in St. Lawrence County for a number of years that I can remember," he said.

This year, however, the numbers may be down as Larries fans from St. Lawrence Central School in Brasher Falls head to Utica to watch their hockey team participate in the state semi-finals.

The parade lines up at 11 a.m. at the corner of Depot Street and state Route 37C. It steps off at noon, heading from Depot Street to the former town hall.

Mr. Carter said it's always anybody's guess how many participants will show up since they're still signing up the morning of the parade. But it does include fire departments from North Lawrence, the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, Helena, Louisville and Winthrop.

Bobby I's beer cart - a golf cart - also makes it once a year trip through Helena.

"They (the entrants) don't send anything back. They just show up," Mr. Carter said. "Tommy and Patty White basically for the last five years have organized the parade as far as who does what. They're the ones that realign everybody so the horses are in the back and the state police are in the front."

Today is also customer appreciation day for customers and friends, and Irish music will be served up at Bobby I's, along with special treats and food all day long to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

"We sell food and those proceeds go to Relay for Life. We do a band or DJ and we auction off different stuff and people donate to Relay for Life," Mr. Carter said.

"There are always treats, plenty of beer and stuff for the kids," he said.