Tree farmer Greg McLaughlin named Irish Person of the Year
ROBBINSVILLE — The Robbinsville Irish Heritage Association has selected Fire Chief Chuck Petty as its 2013 St. Patrick’s Day parade grand marshal.
Mr. Petty, who was sworn in as chief of the volunteer firefighters earlier this year, is a retired township police lieutenant and a longtime member of the Robbinsville Little League. Mr. Petty founded the town’s Police Athletic League in 2004, which sponsors football and cheerleading programs for children ages 5 to 12.
A graduate of Florence High School in 1976, Mr. Petty retired from the police force four years ago and now works part-time for Federal Express in Hamilton.
The RIHA also announced Nov. 17 that local Christmas tree farmer Greg McLaughlin is the association’s 2013 Irish Person of the Year. Mr. McLaughlin is the owner of McLaughlin Tree Farm and Nursery on Route 539, across from Herbert Road, in Robbinsville.
Mr. McLaughlin donated the ceremonial Christmas tree to the township, which was planted near the Foxmoor Shopping Center and will be lit on Dec. 4 when the township holds its tree-lighting festivities.
Mr. McLaughlin also has donated trees to Pond Road Middle School and Sharon Elementary School, and serves as a coach and board member of the Robbinsville Soccer Association. He currently serves on the township’s Shade Tree Advisory Committee and the subcommittee working on the new recreation building for Community Park on West Manor Way.
Both Mr. Petty and Mr. McLaughlin will march in the RIHA’s 4th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 23.
The RIHA has two upcoming fundraisers for the parade: RIHA Night from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27 at Centro Grille, 2360 Route 33, Robbinsville; and an Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Applebee’s, 333 Route 33 in Hamilton.