By Donald Wittkowski
At the corner of Landis Avenue and 53rd Street sits an attractive white house that has the name of the owners written on the garage.
"The Guarini's," it says.
On Saturday, Sea Isle City's Columbus Day Parade passed by the Guarini home while proceeding in grand style down Landis Avenue amid the thumping beat of a marching band and the blare of sirens from three fire engines.
Heading the parade as the grand marshals were three members of the Guarini family, Marie Guarini, 92, her sister, Rita Trulli, 90, and their brother, Hank Guarini, 83.
Marie Guarini, left, her brother Hank Guarini and sister Rita Trulli, longtime residents of Sea Isle, served as grand marshals of the parade.
Their selection as grand marshals was in recognition of the Guarini family's longtime ties to Sea Isle. They have lived in town since the 1940s.
"I was shocked when they asked us to be grand marshals," Marie Guarini said. "I've lived here for 75 years and I'm 92. To be called to do this was a pleasure."
Rita Trulli noted that she was excited and felt "very important" while leading the parade in a chauffeur-driven sport utility vehicle.
Hank Guarini said the parade will add to the fond memories he and his family have had of the town.
"It was wonderful, because for so many years Sea Isle has been our place to live," he said.
Marie occupies the family's longtime home at 53rd and Landis, while Rita lives on 67th Street. Hank, who had lived in Sea Isle for many years, now resides in Dennis Township.
Parade marcher Lynda Fraizer, a member of the Italian-American Club Women's Auxiliary, waves the Italian flag.
Rainfall that washed out most of Saturday stopped just in time for the parade to get underway at the base of the John F. Kennedy Boulevard bridge, across from Sea Isle's Italian-American Club.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio, whose family has sponsored the city's Columbus Day and St. Patrick's Day parades for 26 years, exchanged handshakes and high-fives with the marchers to give the procession an enthusiastic start.
"The Italian-American community has played a large part in Sea Isle City for many, many years," Desiderio said. "A parade brings a community together. On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish. On Columbus Day, everyone is Italian."
The Ocean City High School Red Raider Marching Band provided the musical backdrop for the parade. Local veterans and members of Boy Scout Troop 76 of Sea Isle carried the flags. Police cars and fire engines flashed their lights and blasted their sirens.
The parade also included representatives of the Italian-American Club and the Knights of Columbus Madonna Maria Council, the city said in a press release. Elected officials, business leaders and local dignitaries were also on hand.
The parade route went down JFK Boulevard, turned south on Landis Avenue and finished at 63rd Street. Spectators lining the street at Landis and 63rd waved and clapped to welcome the marchers.
In partnership with the parade, an Italian Festival featuring food, live music and vendors was held Saturday at Kix McNutley’s, the nightclub and entertainment complex on 63rd Street owned by Desiderio.
