There’s been a big dust-up lately about changes to Roanoke’s Shamrock Festival, which is held in conjunction with the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

My beef is not with the festival, but with the parade itself.

We quit going two years ago, when, as usual, we arrived and set up our chairs an hour early only to have latecomers squeeze in front of us.

Other people along the parade route — who apparently felt they couldn’t see well enough — stepped out into the street. Everyone behind them moved forward, too, sometimes far enough to put them squarely in the path of the marching units.

Standing is not a option for me, and so my view was completely blocked.

I think only part of the blame rests with selfish people who are inconsiderate of those around them. Most of it belongs to the organizers who don’t bother with crowd control.

I understand that this is one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the nation. Maybe it’s time to acknowledge that this Saturday and put security officers and barriers along the parade route, so everyone there can enjoy it.

— Betsy Biesenbach

Weather Journal

4 hours ago