On a warm Saturday morning, hundreds of Port Washington residents and students took to Main Street to celebrate the 30th “Pride in Port.”
The parade was the highlight of a day to commemorate the peninsula and its people. The crowd — mostly gathered around a stage set up adjacent to the LIRR station — was treated to performances by a couple of local taekwondo studios before students and Port-based organizations made their way down the street.
The parade followed a breakfast to celebrate new inductees to the Schreiber High School Athletics Hall of Fame. Those honorees then walked in the parade, alongside the grand marshals, Co-Presidents Laurie Courage and Rick Krainin and Chairman Curt Trinko of Residents Forward.
They were followed by students from the Port Washington school district’s five elementary schools, Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School and Schreiber High School. The groups each held banners, and John Philip Sousa Elementary created a large float to honor the school’s namesake.
“This is my 12th Pride in Port, and I really like the community aspect of it,” said Eric Sutz, a fifth-grade teacher at South Salem Elementary who was taking in the parade from the sidewalk with his children. “I like the fact that it brings everybody together.”
Keeping the audience on the sidewalk was crossing guard Jeanna Whitely, who was working her 11th Pride in Port. She said she didn’t mind working on a Saturday for this event.
“It’s nice to see everybody connect and show their support for this town,” she said.
The parade ended with a line of firetrucks from the Port Washington Fire Department. Sandy Rosseland said she was there to see her son, a firefighter with the Port department, march in the parade.
“I never knew they had this until today,” she said. “I like that they included all of the children.”
Also in attendance were a number of local politicians. Representing the Town of North Hempstead were Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, Town Clerk Wayne Wink and Supervisor Judi Bosworth.
“The town is always excited to take part in the Pride in Port festivities,” Bosworth said later. “From the Hall of Fame breakfast to the parade, to the celebratory dinner dance — each of these events provides a way to connect our community and to celebrate the spirit of Port Washington.”
State Sen. Elaine Phillips (R-Flower Hill) and state Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso (D-Port Washington) also took in the parade.
The parade ended at Campus Drive, which was followed by a Family Fun Day on the grounds of Weber. The Port Washington football team took on Baldwin later in the afternoon and was defeated 34-7.
Reach reporter Luke Torrance by email at ltorrance@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 214, or follow him on Twitter @LukeATorrance.
