Community Corner

The Party Starts Early on Main Street

The Festivities started early on Main Street

The revelry started early on Main Street this St. Patrick’s Day with crowds lining up to get into Old Town’s popular Irish pubs.

The annual wave of green took over Main Street by 4 p.m. as hundreds of revelers hit the four Irish Pubs that anchor Main Street. Interspersed with the green, was a large black and white presence as police officers from Los Alamitos, Cypress and La Palma converged on Main Street to help deal with the rowdy crowds. About 25 police officers were on hand in case there were any problems said, Seal Beach Police Sgt. Steve Bowles. By 9 p.m. police had made four arrests for alcohol related offenses.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for those kind of shenanigans,” Bowles said.

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Police closed of a portion of Central Avenue to set up a command center. However, despite the crowds, it has been a relative tame St. Patrick’s Day for Seal Beach, said Bowles.

As they have done for more than a decade volunteers with the Seal Beach Lions Club offered free rides home for people who drank too much to drive.

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“We gave our first ride at 4 p.m.,” said Allyn Mattox, Lions Club president. “We are here to make sure people stay safe and to keep our roads safe.”

With donations from Straub, about 20 volunteers drove three rented vans, giving people rides home for distances of up to 15 miles, said Mattox.

“I have never had a bad experience driving people home. People usually are very friendly and grateful and they tip us well,” said Mattox. “This year, 100 percent of the money is going to the Disaster Relief Fund for Japan.”

 


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