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Freeland Celebrates Saint Patrick’s, End of Water Woes

LUZERNE COUNTY — It’s only fitting that on Freeland’s day of celebration, or the 80th Annual Sons of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade, ther...

LUZERNE COUNTY -- It's only fitting that on Freeland's day of celebration, or the 80th Annual Sons of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade, there's plenty of water: rain from earlier in the day and a light mist hovering over the borough.

After all, just three weeks ago, more than 60 homes couldn't get water. It got so bad that the mayor declared a state of emergency.

"Every year, we're on top of a mountain so we do experience some frozen pipes but nothing like this year," said Dave Mahon, Freeland Borough Council President.

Aiden Denion, 9, remembers what that was like.

"When we came home there was no water," Denion explained. "Couldn't flush the toilet or clean the dishes or anything."

After weeks of water woes, it's all back to normal. People in Freeland say they hope the Irish celebration is also a sign to the end of winter.

"It's a good sign of spring the Saint Patrick's parade is here," said Joe Flanagan.

"Finally the weather is starting to break a little bit," Mahon added. "We're seeing temperatures in the 40's."

But even if there were frozen pipes, rain or snow, parade organizers say that wouldn't stop them. Issues like that haven't stopped them for the past 80 years.

"No rain, no snow stopped us," said Flanagan. "There are some old time stories of even in a snow storm, they just did it around the block if they had to."

They'd rather not tempt fate though, given what this borough just went through.

"We're glad the nightmare is over," Flanagan added. "Some of the municipal workers are too since they're not out there working [during the parade]."

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