Home   Chamber News 55th Rocky Point Saint Patrick Parade 2005 March 13, 2005, Jan-30-2005, 8:42 PM Grand Marshal of the 55th Rocky Point St. Patrick Parade is Mr. Kenn Barra The Friends of St. Patrick are proud to announce their choice for the Grand Marshal of the 55th annual Miller Place, Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day parade, Mr. Kenneth Desmond Barra. Mr. Barra, a successful local business owner and humanitarian, is the proprietor of the Inn at East Wind, The Estate at East Wind, the Country Gardens at East Wind, and Desmond’s restaurant, all located in Wading River. Mr. Barra was raised in Northport and is the youngest of four siblings. At the early age of eight years-old, Kenn realized that hard work proved successful by organizing a shoe shine service at the East Northport train station before school hours servicing the local commuters. Nine years later he became familiar with the owner of Alfie’s Pizzeria in Northport and mastered the art of that business. The following year after high school graduation, Kenn locates property on Broadway in Rocky Point and renovates a building into what is known today as Alfie’s Restaurant. He ran a successful business for eighteen years at this location and dabbled with another local restaurant, The Sea Basin in Rocky Point where he became a partner and later on turned his skills to another opportunity - catering. In 1991, Mr. Barra purchased property that housed the Knights of Columbus Hall in Wading River and renovated that structure into what is known today as the Country Gardens at East Wind. A few years later he constructs the Estate at East Wind, a larger catering facility and as fate would bring him, the successful expansion in 2001, Mr. Barra acquires and constructs upon the adjacent 26 acre parcel the Inn at East Wind, a hotel, spa and Desmond’s restaurant. As you can witness, Mr. Barra is a man of many achievements who was honored by the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce with an award titled, “Business of the Year”; the Rocky Point Rotary honored him with another award titled, “Person of the Year” and the Rotary International presented Mr. Barra with yet another award, “The Paul Harris Fellowship” which recognizes his generosity, compassion and humanitarian efforts toward the community. Please come and join us in honoring Kenn Barra at the 55th Annual Dinner Reception on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at the Grand Ballroom of the East Wind Inn from four in the afternoon until eight in the evening. Tickets are $35.00 per person with a served traditional Irish dinner, door prizes, dance to Gerry Finlay’s Cara band, watch Irish step dancers perform as well as the famous Peconic Warpipes. Call these members for tickets: Gracie’s 744-9179 Hartlin Inn 744-9234 Secrets Lounge 473-9591 McCarrick’s Dairy 744-2502 [ external link ] Go Back