Wednesday, March 4, 2026 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXVIII, Issue No. 43 Don’t forget — clocks go ahead an hour Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m. BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
On the same night, at the same venue, Kearny celebrates parade marshals & PBA’s finest By Kevin A. Canessa Jr. kc@theobserver.com
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n the social calendar in Kearny, there are certain days that serve as a reminder of just how much civic pride this town has. From events such as the annual senior citizens picnic, to the Passaic River Cleanup to the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Town Hall, there are days most people know about before the yearly calendar is even published — and make their way to witness or take part in these events. But two not-yet mentioned yet events that happen every year — the United Irish Associations of West Hudson’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Kearny PBA No. 21’s gala to honor the town’s top cop, among others — often happen late in the winter. But by some stroke of luck — depending on whom one asks, that luck is either perfect timing or horrid planning — both of those events took place in 2026 on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the same place, the Graycliff in Moonachie, at the same time. More than 300 people attended one or both of those events, as several well-known and well-loved and admired people were honored. Since both events are equally important in their own right, we’re going to take them in alphabetical order — first the parade and then the PBA ball. Kevin Quinn The parade gala feted this year’s honorees — Kevin Quinn, grand marshal and Michael Conlon and Ellen McGirr Murray, deputy grand marshals. Scores of former parade honorees — from Mark Wiggins to Maggie Millar to Marybeth Kennedy to Bill Dow among others — were also on hand. Following a sit-down dinner, the St. Columcille United Gaelic Pipe
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Photos by Melanie A. Ryan
n the top photo, parade Grand Marshal Kevin Quinn speaks to the crowd assembled. He is flanked by former Marshals, from left, Larry Bennett, Joe Reese, Patrick O’Donnell Jr., Deputy Grand Marshal Michael Conlon and Kearny Mayor Carol Jean Doyle. In the bottom photo, Det. Jordenson Jean, Kearny’s Police Officer of the Year (2025) during the PBA’s annual gala.
See HONOREES, Page 4
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