50+ Lifestyles

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

By Eloise Graham

Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day in the QCA

It is March in the Quad Cities, and everyone becomes a wee bit o’ the Irish. Restaurants and bars offer menus containing, corned beef and cabbage, boiled dinners, green beer, soda breads and bangers ‘n mash. Many communities, in fact, almost all celebrate in this way. But we have two very special emerald gems here in the QCA.

When I first moved here, about 20 years ago, I heard about the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and about the St. Patrick’s Day Race. I assumed they were somehow connected. It was a few years before I learned otherwise. Do you know the differences? The similarities?

The similarities: Both involve lots of people – participants and volunteers. Both have “St. Patrick” in their name. Both have a lot of green being worn. Both involve having part of 3rd Street in downtown Davenport closed for a period of time. Both usually happen on the same Saturday. Both are a lot of fun.

The differences:
The race: CASI’s St. Patrick’s Day Race was started in 1982 as a fundraiser for the not-for-profit Center for Active Seniors, Inc. The race, whose presenting sponsor is Russell Construction, will be March 12 at the Figge Art Museum. Starting time for the first race will be 9  a.m. In its 34th year, it is the largest and oldest St. Pat’s Day race in Iowa. It boasts of over 3,000 runners and walkers going through downtown Davenport to raise funds to support CASI’s programs and services. Race participants come from many miles away. This year participants have already signed up from some of the Eastern states. More than $60,000 was raised from the race last year. This money goes to fund; the senior advocacy program that serves more than 2,000 families in their homes annually, the 7,400 daily activities that are offered annually to its 1200 members, as well as community forums, fitness and health and educational sessions and senior socialization. To find out more about the race or to get involved go to www.CASIseniors.org and click on Get Me Registered. Or call (563) 386-7477. CASI is located at 1035 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport.

The parade:
The St. Patrick’s Society of the Quad Cities Grand Parade, with generous support from the Riverboat Development Authority and the Scott County Regional Authority will be held Saturday, March 12, starting at 11:30 at 23rd Street and 4th Avenue in Rock Island, crossing the Centennial Bridge and ending at the River Center on 3rd Street in Davenport. The St. Patrick Society of the Quad Cities was founded in 1985. It sponsors the Grand Parade, the only interstate St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The Grand Parade has been voted Best in the Quad Cities, named Sixth Best in North America and ranked Thirteenth Best in the World. Activities for the weekend begin with The Gathering of the Clan luncheon on Friday, March 11 at the River Center. The Irish Mother of the Year and the Grand Marshal of the Grand Parade will be introduced. Also on the agenda will be the recipients of St. Patrick Society scholarships. This event is open to the public. Cost is $20 in advance with reservations. Write to St. Patrick Society Gathering of the Clan Luncheon, P.O. Box 4487, Davenport, IA, 52808 or go to www.stpatsqc.com.

There will also be a 10:00 Mass prior to the Grand Parade at St. Mary’s Church in Rock Island, Il.
Now you know of the two great Irish gems of which the Quad Cities can boast! Put on your green and go celebrate the luck o’ the Irish!