Published: October 06, 2008 11:56 pm            

TWIN CITIES: Canal events planned for New Year’s Eve

Volunteers and business owners have hatched a plan for the Twin Cities’ first-ever outdoor New Year’s celebration Dec. 31.

Those involved with the planning say it will be like downtown Buffalo’s “First Night,” but in addition to events for youths, will host concerts and a heated full-service outdoor bar on the canal.

“We want to make it where people can walk around and participate in different activities,” committee member Joyce Santiago said.

At the center of it all, of course, will be the burbs’ first lightbulb-laden “ball” hoisted high above Webster Street near Gateway Harbor Park in North Tonawanda and rigged to drop on command.

The ball-drop committee’s volunteer coordinator Evelyn Zupo is gearing up for recruitment and estimates she’ll need roughly 50 people for various scheduled events and stations on both sides of the canal.

“I’m thinking that we may get a good turnout with the 20-year-olds. When the first press release is out I’ll put a thing in the paper looking for volunteers,” Zupo said. “I’m going to put the word out with some of the church groups, the youth groups.”

She asked all those interested to call or E-mail her for information.

More than a month’s worth of planning by the 27-member volunteer committee is set to culminate with a night of events for both adults and children that will climax the second the ball hits the ground with what is officially called the “Gateway Harbor Ball Drop, New Year’s on the Canal 2008/2009” celebration.

The ball drop is spearheaded by a group formed by three committee members and co-owners of Webster Street’s Crazy Jake’s restaurant and bar. Apparatus will be set up on the corner of the building at 15 Webster Street, owned by David and Donna Burgio, said Jim Fingerlow, co-owner of Crazy Jake’s restaurant and member of that group’s contributing organization 4DNT Inc.

A sphere covered in lights and attached to custom-built mechanism will be launched from the “Burgio building,” and is planned to land amid a short burst of fireworks as the clock strikes midnight.

“It will actually shoot up 60 feet and out another 12 feet,” Fingerlow said. “It’s covered in L.E.Ds. It will actually land at the bottom of the apparatus and there will be a short burst of fireworks off the building and then about 15 minutes of fireworks like a finale over the canal.”

Overall, numerous events to celebrate the occasion are tentatively scheduled to take place from about 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Of those, a heated, full-bar under a tent will be set up on the North Tonawanda side of Gateway Harbor Park. Concerts by Nickel City Pimp Choir and the Innocent Bystanders are scheduled on Gateway Harbor Park’s main stage.

Simultaneously from 5 to 9 p.m., “Fun-Zone” parties for kids complete with a balloon drop are being planned at nearby community centers like the WYCA. One is intended for kids 11 to 15-year-old and another will be held for those 11 and younger. Buttons good for admission to both kids events will be sold before and during the event for $5, Fingerlow said. Specific times are still subject to change.

A design contest is planned to determine the button’s appearance, inviting youngsters to put their creative skills to use.

A pub-crawl is also being put together, whereby participants will be invited to drink at what is now a list of eight nearby watering holes, with others invited to sign on. Those who attend the crawl must purchase a $10 card that can be punched at each of the locations and redeemed for an official T-shirt. Fingerlow said it is likely some of the bars will offer their own food and drink specials to bolster their appeal as the procession of revelers hops from place to place. Event planners have stressed the cumulative effect intended by getting more businesses on board, each to cater to part of the overall plan.

Joyce Santiago, executive director with the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas, also sits on the ball drop committee. She acknowledged the collective involvement of bars, restaurants, the city park, vendors and volunteers should be a boon to local commerce during the coldest part of the year. Planners are hopeful this year will be the first of many similar celebrations to ring in the new year.

“One of the nice things is it’s one more way to have our communities recognized and bring even local people down to experience our downtown areas,” she said.

Fingerlow echoed that sentiment, promoting a year-round approach to hitting the town.

“Everybody comes down here for Canal Fest and the summer concert series — we want people to know you can actually come down here in the winter too,” said Fingerlow.

Almost the entire plan is based on sponsorships and volunteer commitment. Santiago said an official Web-site for the event, donated by City of Tonawanda-based Wizard Communications will be launched soon.

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.

        

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