Wellsburg New Year’s tradition to continue
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WELLLSBURG -- While hundreds of thousands of people will meet Sunday night to usher in 2024, local residents and visitors will have an opportunity to celebrate the new year's arrival at a family-oriented event on Wellsburg's Town Square.
City Collector-Treasurer Mary Ann Habbit said the celebration will be much the same as in previous years for a tradition that began more than three decades ago.
Starting at 10 p.m., disc jockeys Music Done Knicely will be playing music while party hats and noisemakers are handed out and hot chocolate and cookies are served outside City Hall.
An air cannon will be used to launch a limited number of commemorative T-shirts to attendees.
It is one of two devices being tested on Tuesday by city Wastewater Superintendent Randy Yost and crew members Brandon Yost, Kevin Greene and Cliff Welch in preparation for the event.
The other was the lighted ball that will be lowered onto the square just before midnight.
It is one of at least three globes that have descended to the square as cheerful attendees counted the seconds before the start of the new year.
Initially an apple-shaped "ball" was used, a reminder of the city's link to Grimes Golden apple and the Wellsburg Applefest inspired by it.
In 2008, vocational students at Brooke High School built a new ball that was 5 feet in diameter and required a winch to lower it.
During renovations to the entrance to City Hall last year that included new front steps and the addition of a handicap-accessible side ramp, the flagpole used to lower that massive globe was replaced with one that couldn't support it.
So, this year a new pole and ball, built by Randy Yost and city crews, were installed at the square's east end.
Habbit noted one thing that won't change for this year's event is the fireworks display that also will mark the new year.
She said turnout on the square has varied according to the temperature and precipitation.
"It depends a lot on the weather," said Habbit, who said barring a major weather catastrophe, the New Year's Eve event will be held.
She said whether on the square or at home, many Wellsburg residents enjoy viewing the year-end fireworks display.
"In years when we didn't come down, we'd always watch from our porch," said Habbit.
She also recalled bringing her children, now grown, to the celebration and noted it's an occasion that can be enjoyed by families.
Last year, Mayor Dan Dudley added a new element he likes to call the Pajama Jam. Everyone is invited to dress in their warmest sleepwear for a chance to win prizes awarded to an individual and a group wearing the best pajamas.
Dudley said he got the idea after seeing a family at the event in their pajamas.
"They had come from a wedding, I believe, and had changed clothes when someone said, we still have time to get to Wellsburg," he said, adding, "I thought that (the pajama contest) was a good idea because it's a family event."
Habbit said in addition to Wellsburg Council, which approved funds for the fireworks, and city personnel involved in the preparations, the event was supported by the following local entities: Tom Brown Handyman, Cipriani and Thomas Law Office, Assure America, Wellsburg Auto Sales, DiCarlo's Pizza, the Wellsburg Moose Lodge, First National Bank and Fonce's Market.