Family friendly New Year’s event returns to Wellsburg

WELLSBURG -- While many will be watching a lighted sphere descend upon New York's Time Square when the clock strikes midnight Friday, some area residents will gather at Wellsburg's Town Square to watch the city's own illuminated ball mark the arrival of the new year.

The tradition, followed by a fireworks display supported by Wellsburg Council, is part of a family-friendly celebration that's returning following a one-year hiatus spurred by the pandemic.

It will begin about 10 p.m. and continue to about 12:30 am.

"Last year there were fireworks only," said Mayor Dan Dudley, who noted they normally can be seen from many Wellsburg homes.

Dudley said the return of a celebration on the square "is something special. The feedback I'm getting is there are a lot of people who want to be there."

He said over the years turnout has depended on the weather, but many families and others have enjoyed meeting at the square to listen to music and partake of cookies and hot chocolate while awaiting the new year.

Disc jockeys Music Done Knicely will be on hand for this year's observance.

This year, Mary Ann Habbit, the city's collector-treasurer, joins a long line of city staff members and volunteers who have organized the event.

On Wednesday morning, city crews led by Randy Watson, wastewater superintendent; raised the ball to the top of a flagpole in front of City Hall.

Five feet in diameter, it was created in 2008 by vocational students at Brooke High School to replace a smaller, apple-shaped one that had fallen into disrepair.

An electric winch is used to raise and lower it.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)