St. Paddy's Roast
It may not be as well known as the breakfast in Boston, but Holliston's St. Paddy's Breakfast on Sunday at Anthony's on the Green at Pinecrest was held with the same spirit that "all politics are local."
After a complete breakfast which included corned beef hash and Irish bread the local politicians and notables took on the problems of the town and country in jokes, zingers and song.
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Jay Marsden whose beard was aptly dyed in the colors of the Irish tri-color led the crowd in singing his rendition of "wasting away in (Holliston) Margaritaville" With guitar strumming, Marsden was able to interject the major complaints of Hollistonians - high taxes, no sewage, pot holes, the plight of the Andrew's School and the possibility of an override into his lyrics.
The cause for the morning was that of Holliston in Bloom (HIB) which will enter the National in Bloom contest for the 5th straight year. The brainchild of Mary Greendale back in 2012, HIB will be competing against 38 other cities and towns across the country this summer. In 2017 Holliston will be the host for the National America in Bloom Symposium.
Town Historian Joanne Hulbert told the story of Cornelius J. Driscoll, the lone Irishman on the Board of Selectmen in 1878. Figuring he constituted one third of the board, Driscoll took it upon himself to hire fellow Irishman Andrew Curran to fix a few bad spots on dirt roads in town. Fellow board members Orrin Thompson and Franklin Stone called for a cease and desist on the job and refused to pay Curran. While petitions were circulated by both parties, a lawsuit resulted and Town Meeting voted to pay Curran his wages of $4.00 three years later. Hulbert noted that those same selectmen would be surprised today to learn that the board now holds three Irishmen.
Former selectman, community activist, ringleader of the effort to restore the 8 Arch Bridge and co-founder of the HIB group Mary Greendale said that she had done her DNA and found a smidgen of Irish in her blood. Greendale who originally was a stand-in for Hulbert read about the history of the Irish in Holliston but part way through her gig decided the laughs weren't there and said "this isn't working." What Greendale may lack in stage humor she certainly makes up in community activism cede mile (one hundred thousand) ways.
Theresa Lampkin shows off her prize for answering correctly one of Selectman Kevin Conley's "who said this" lines.
Selectman Kevin Conley changed up his act this year and dropped the internet Irish jokes of the previous year for a "who said this" contest for the breakfast diners. Donald Trump clearly not one of Conley's favorites took the brunt of Kevin's humor.
Rep. Carolyn Dykema clearly nervous about her first time speaking at the event, erred toward the straight and narrow of attacking or plundering any people, places or things during her stand up and opted for all the reasons -- not to. Dykema's subtle wit and class has earned her a chair at the front table to next years event.
Event organizer Mayor Bobby Blair told selectmen that applicants for the newly created Holliston Community Farm Advisory Board were dismayed that interviews for the positions hadn't taken place yet. Blair joked that the applicants had taken matters into their own hands by sending out RFD's (requests for donations) for the farm located on Rogers Road. Donald Trump has offered to build a wall around the property to keep out the deer, Blair said.
Standing by in the wings were Town Administrator Jeff Ritter and former State Rep. Barbara Gardner who were both put on notice to start writing their gigs for next year. If you would like to contribute to the Holliston in Bloom efforts, you can do so here on their website; http://www.hollistoninbloom.org/
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