A week after the Shamrock Run kicked off the Old First Ward's celebration of Ireland's

patron saint, the pace on the streets was a bit more relaxed Saturday for the "Old

Neighborhood" St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The Caledonian Pipe Band kicked things off and was followed by community, church and school

groups that tossed candy from their floats as people watched the annual tradition from front

porches and sidewalks.

Dave Cerroni of South Buffalo held his 2-year-old son, Barrett, at the corner of South Park

Avenue and Smith Street. He was joined by his wife, daughter, sister-in-law and nieces, who

liked the Irish dancers best.

"It's a good holiday weekend," Cerroni said. "I can see a lot of familiar faces —

people I haven't seen in a while."

About 35 friends and family marched in honor of Lt. Thomas J. "Shakey" Masterson Sr., of

South Buffalo, who at the time of his November death was the senior most active-duty member of

the Buffalo Police Department.

"It's mixed emotions," said his wife, Kathy. "He's supposed to be the one here marching, not

me."

Masterson, a member of the police traffic squad, helped organize the parade route for many

years.

Farther along the parade route, Shelly Mulvaine, a drummer for the Buffalo City Guard Gordon

Highlanders drums and pipes, affixed a plastic covering over her snare drum to protect it from

the biting rain.

And West Seneca residents Ted Delecki and his wife, Karen, huddled in the doorway of the St.

Clare Shrine of St. Jude Parish to watch the procession for the first time.

"We wish it was sunnier and warmer, obviously," Karen Delecki said as she huddled against the

icy drizzle and stiff wind. "But we're tough in Buffalo, we can take it."

"You just gotta dress for the weather," added Ted Delecki.

Today brings more marching, as the 68th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, organized by the

United Irish-American Organization of Erie County, starts at 2 p.m. from Niagara Square and

proceeds along Delaware Avenue.