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Set your calendars: the date for the East End Emerald Society’s Second Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is officially set, and the man leading the parade has been announced.

The parade date of March 28 was approved by town leaders on Wednesday night, and will kick off at 1 p.m. about a week and a half after St. Patrick’s Day comes.

John Cuddy, one of the men who founded the East End Emerald Society last year, explained on Thursday that competition for people to march in the parades can be fierce — namely for the bands — so holding the parade after some of the other bigger parades in the area seemed to make the most sense.

“You probably have to book the pipe bands now for next year,” said Cuddy.

He added that this year’s grand marshal will be Allen Smith, current Town Justice and former Town Supervisor and town attorney. Mr. Smith is also a longtime Riverhead Fire Department volunteer, former school board member and member of the Riverhead Rotary.

“We had floated some names out there of people who are reputable in the community and have given back to the community,” Cuddy said. “He was one of several names, and he got the most votes.”

The EEMS is holding a dinner on Feb. 21 at Jason’s Vineyard to announce Justice Smith as the parade’s grand marshal. In addition, the group has organized a St. Patrick’s-themed pub crawl that will take place in downtown Riverhead on March 7. Both events will go to benefit the EEMS and help pay for the costs of the March 29 parade.

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