Community Corner

March 17: Top O' The Morning

Wishing everyone a fun-filled — and safe — holiday

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Little Neck! It is today that the Irish and the Irish-at-heart honor the patron saint of Ireland by donning the color green, partly in a nod to the three-cornered shamrock he used to explain the Holy Trinity.

But to a large extent, today's holiday in the U.S. has evolved from being a purely religious observance to a celebration of the Irish-American experience, which like that of so many other immigrant groups, shaped the heart and soul of a nation. 

So in a way, today's Fifth Avenue parade — — marks the sacrifice of all who came before us, regardless of religion or nationality, who suffered through poverty, back-breaking work and discrimination to make a better life for their children. And for that, we say, "Erin Go Bragh."

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Here are your 5 Things for this Thursday:

1. Looking for a place to grab a beer along the parade route along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan? Take a gander at our . 

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2. And for a quick St. Patrick's getaway tonight, consider featuring Irish music, corned beef and, of course, cabbage.

3. The celebratory mood at today's parade will likely be tempered by the continuing crisis in Japan, which seemed today to open a new and even more distressing chapter with this grave pronouncement by one of the top nuclear experts in the U.S. 

4. A plume of radiation from the damaged Fukushima Daiishi nuclear plant will reach California by late Friday, according to experts from the United Nations.

5. For those closer to home: remember to stay safe this holiday. If you choose to imbibe, use a designated driver or ride mass transit. 


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