Families celebrate Noon Year’s Eve

Kristin Guglietti/THG Children enjoyed lollipops from the Hammonton Fire Department’s table at the Noon Year’s Eve celebration.

HAMMONTON—People celebrated Noon Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at town hall. The third annual event was in collaboration with the Hammonton Drug Alliance and Groovy Kids.

Several families attend Noon Year’s Eve, so the children can celebrate the New Year before their bedtime.

Dana Strain of Medford N.J. brought her daughter Madeline Strain to Noon Year’s Eve for the first time.

“We wanted to have a fun family event for our family. Our daughter is 4 [years old], so we’re excited to have an opportunity to do something in the community,” Strain said.

Her daughter took a photo with Texas Roadhouse mascot, Andy the Armadillo. The Chick-fil-A mascot was also taking photos with children.

“This has been super fun. There’s lots of crafts and things for the kids to do,” Strain said.

Some of the crafts and activities included making piñatas, getting temporary tattoos and decorating cookies.

Hammonton Drug Alliance Coordinator Mary Young and Co-Chair Rhonda Hummel helped organized the event.

“I think it was a great turnout. Very happy with the turnout and the vendors that came. Everybody seemed to have a good time,” Young said.

Many people enjoyed watching the confetti fall at noon. This year the Noon Year countdown was led by READ Preschool owner Sam Seitles.

“They like to collect it and take it home. That’s what they wait for. You can countdown, but you have to have something,” Young said about the confetti.

For Dhanne Hamilton, she said she heard about Noon Year’s Eve through Groovy Kids.

“This is our first time hearing about this, but it’s really cool. It’s nice for the kids,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said her favorite part of the Noon Year’s Eve celebration was seeing the confetti fall when the countdown hit noon.

Karla Gunter of Newfield with her children Dallin and Emma Gunter said it’s their second Noon Year’s Eve celebration.

Gunter said the difference between last year and this year was the weather with this year’s celebration having cooler temperatures.

“We have little ones, so it’s easier to be able to do a New Year’s celebration during the day and there’s always fun places to visit and good food out here so we’ll make a fun day out of it,” Gunter said.

Gunter’s children enjoyed making piñatas and spinning Seitles’ wheel of prizes. After the countdown, her son Dallin tried the Hammonton Fire Department’s extinguisher game.

Atlantic County Fire Marshal Dave Buzby brought the fire extinguisher training simulator to Noon Year’s Eve so kids can have fun practicing extinguishing fires.

The Hammonton Fire Department also gave out lollipops to children during the event.

Young and Hummel said the next event they will be volunteering at will be during the Hammonton Fire Department’s flapjack breakfast fundraising event on Jan. 13 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s.