Here in Hudson County there will be parades in Jersey City, Bayonne. And of course New York City will have there’s too! Hoboken will not have a parade this year.

 7. Kansas City, Missouri: Kansas City has been celebrating St. Patrickâ€s Day as a city since 1873. Its population is 10.4% Irish according to city-data.com and their parade is one to be reckoned with. Drawing a crowd of approximately 200,000 people, the grand prize winner of the parade procession in Kansas City wins an all expenses paid trip to Ireland. Thatâ€s some serious parade marching! Their night life consists of many Irish pubs including haunts like Oâ€Dowds Little Dublin and Laffertyâ€s.

6. St. Louis, Missouri: Although city-data lists the Irish population of St. Louis as only about 8.6%, their celebration made the list for many other reasons. Every year, St. Louis kicks off their March 17th celebration with the Michelob 5 Mile Run. The 2012 run is slated to involve over 13,000 runners. Thatâ€s more than the lawn seating capacity of the St. Louis Verizon Wireless Amphitheater! After the race thereâ€s a St. Pattyâ€s Day parade featuring balloons, Irish dancers, horses and large floats. The celebration often goes into the night at clubs and pubs like Oâ€Connellâ€s and John D. McGurks.

5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Not only does Philadelphia have genuine Irish fare and drinks at places like the Black Sheep Pub and McGillinâ€s Olde Ale House, they also boast the nationâ€s second oldest St. Patrickâ€s Day parade. The city brings in over 500,000 people for a parade that features thousands of walkers and was so big last year that local CBS affiliate conducted a live broadcast of the city-wide celebration. With a 13.6% Irish population, itâ€s easy to see why Philly is the place to be on St. Pattyâ€s Day

4. New York, New York: The most densely populated city in the country is only made up of 5.3% Irish. Regardless, New York has become a swarm of green with an annual parade dating back to 1762. The NYC St. Pattyâ€s Day Parade features over 150,000 marchers and draws a crowd of over 1 million spectators. Many in the city flock to take in the breathtaking site of the infamous St. Patrickâ€s Cathedral while others attend establishments with a bit more flair. Take for example, Paddy Reillyâ€s Irish Pub who has just one draft on tap: Guinness.

3. Chicago, Illinois: While others may put Chicago a bit higher on their list, Shindigz attributes their number three spot to the fact that just 6.6% of their population is of Irish decent. However, the diverse population provides for TWO parades to choose from for the city-wide celebration. The parade on Columbus Drive usually draws in the biggest crowd with 350,000 while the South Side Irish Parade is more of a community event with 250,000. Thatâ€s a big community. But the most exciting part of the Chicago festivities is the Dyeing of the River. For the past 43 years, Chicago has dyed its river a spectacular shade of shamrock green prior to the parade and city festivities. Itâ€s truly a sight to behold.

2. Savannah, Georgia: With an Irish population of just 5.9%, Savannah is still near the top of the Shindigz list based on several other factors. For a city that has half the square mileage of Chicago, it still draws in over 300,000 spectators. And like Chicago, Savannah has its own dyeing tradition. They dye the city fountain green in the morning and cap off the night with Gaelic music and Irish eats at places like Kevin Barryâ€s Irish Pub, which has also been voted one of the top 10 Irish Pubs in America. With a smaller, more genuine feel than Chicago, Shindigz awards Savannah the number two spot.

1. Boston, Massachusetts: The celebration in Boston begins a full week before St. Patrickâ€s Day and doesnâ€t stop until the green beer runs dry. A whopping 15.8% of Bostonâ€s population is made up of Irish or their descendants. An incredible 850,000 people attend some portion of the celebration, whether itâ€s the Gaelic Gourmet Gala, the numerous Irish band concerts, or the infamous parade with nearly 600,000 spectators. For the night owls who prefer to dance a jig, the Black Thorn Bar in Southie is elbow to elbow with regulars with a rough-around-the-edges feel but always welcoming newbies on St. Patrickâ€s Day. If Southie isnâ€t your style, check out the Black Rose on State Street, offering Irish food, pints of ale, and Irish music.

Source: shindigz.com via prnews2.com

The post The Top 7 Cities for Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day-In Hudson County There’s Jersey City & Bayonne, New York City! first appeared on River View Observer.

  The holidays should be a time of joy, good cheer and high hopes for the upcoming new year. However, after the gift shopping, holiday decorating, and family get-togethers are done, many people are often left with elevated levels of stress or depression this time of the year.

The holidays are also a time when people feel the loss of a loved one more sharply. Even the memory of a traumatic event, such as a serious illness, can dampen one’s holiday spirits. Older adults, for example, may feel isolated or forgotten, as the season reminds them of happier times.

Whatever the reason, there are strategies that we can use to fight holiday depression.

 The health care professionals at Christ Hospital offer the following suggestions to help ease the stress in the midst of this holiday season:

 Make a list and prioritize the activities that are important to you.

•  Limit your alcohol consumption. Drinking too much can lead to uninhibited behavior, hangovers, and remorse, all of which can lead to depression.
•  Make an active effort not to worry too much or get bogged down with details.
•  Avoid overeating and get enough rest. Though it may be hard to do, the benefits of both are obvious.
• Play games to keep your brain sharp. There are many different kinds of games — such as trivia, memory and math — and skill levels to suit all kinds of people. Games can also be a fun way to spend time with others.
•  Increase your physical activity. Go for walks at safe and warm locations, such as the mall, which will help improve lower body strength, maintain mobility and help prevent cognitive decline. Being active increases your endorphins, which decreases stress levels.
•  Spend time with supportive and caring people. These kinds of social connections are good for your emotional well-being.
•  Laugh a lot. Laughing increases circulation, immune system defenses and mental function. As the saying goes, laughter often is the best medicine.
•  Remember to take some time for yourself. Do the things that you enjoy, such as reading a book or listening to music.

 For more information about depression, anxiety, and substance dependence, please call Christ Hospital’s Department of Behavioral Health Services at (201) 795-8375.

 

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Photo Caption: Eileen Clyne, Christ Hospital’s Human Resources Director (left), and Miriam Rodriguez, Benefits Analyst, offered healthy snacks and tips to quit smoking for employees and visitors who visited the hospital’s Great American Smokeout display on November 19. The event also served as the kick-off towards the hospital becoming a totally smoke-free environment by June 2010.

Each year cigarette smoking accounts for approximately one of every five deaths, or about 438,000 people. While smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, it costs billions of health care dollars every year.

In an effort to keep its employees and patients healthy, officials at Christ Hospital announced on November 19, the 34^th anniversary of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, that its campus will become totally smoke free- inside and out. This new policy change means patients, visitors, and Christ Hospital employees (including volunteers, medical staff, and affiliates) will be asked to refrain from using lighted tobacco products on all Christ Hospital- owned property, including outdoor areas and parking lots.   

“While our buildings have been tobacco-free for many years, we have permitted smoking in designated areas outside of our facilities. These smoking areas will be eliminated in the near future to reduce the dangers from second-hand smoke as we continue to fulfill our mission by promoting a healthy lifestyle,” says Christ Hospital President and CEO Peter Kelly.  

Research confirms the role of second-hand smoke in asthma, emphysema and lung disease- even in non-smokers. “As the healthcare provider of choice for over 100,000 people annually, we have an obligation to provide a healthy, smoke-free environment for our patients, guests and staff. The decision to eliminate smoking on our campus comes as over 60% of all hospitals nationwide have already developed policies addressing this issue and it is anticipated that by the end of next year, over 90% of U.S. hospitals will be completely smoke-free as well.”  

 “This new policy is simply extending the reach of wellness to the entire campus,” says Kelly. “To make this transition as easy as possible, employees will be encouraged to utilize resources provided by the state’s department of health and human services as well as attend local support groups that will soon be offered by the hospital.”

 

 

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