Celebrating St. Pat’s Day on the Court

Random notes and thoughts heading into what will be a very winter-like weekend.

Tomorrow is of course the annual Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Seaside Heights which a lifetime ago was one of my favorite days of the year.

I have some great memories of spending much if not all of the day at Klee’s Bar & Grill which is one of my top destinations.  For years my father and I would always meet there in the morning and toast the day with a shot of Jameson Irish Whisky which I never liked but did so gladly because it was with him.  I would love to do it again but he’s not with us any longer and I’ll be spending the day at the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River.

Speaking of which if you are a high school basketball fan then that is the place to be over the next week or so.  Tomorrow it’s the four Non-Public State Championship games beginning at noon. The Red Bank Catholic girls will play Immaculate Heart at 2 p.m,   on Sunday it’s the four girls Group Championship games including the Group 2 final between Manasquan and High Point at 4 p.m.  Beginning next Tuesday the Pine Belt Arena will host the Tournament of Champions which will run four consecutive nights. 

It was rather surprising news to many that Walmart is abandoning its 13-year plan to build a supercenter on Route 37 West in Toms River right near the townships border with Manchester.  However don’t expect to see that land vacant for long as developer Jay Grunin in a statement Thursday said he’s confident that in the very near future he will find use for the property that will benefit the local economy.

So what will be developed first: that site or the Beachwood Shopping Center (in Berkeley Township)?

Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead before you go to sleep Saturday night!