Boulder City brings in 2009 with First Night event

Richard Brian

Boulder City residents, from left, Vera Lemp, Nancy Ward, Virginia Dyson and Edith Zinn blow their whistles during a New Years Eve celebration at the Boulder City Senior Center on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

By Frances Vanderploeg (contact)

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 | 2:32 a.m.

Richard Brian

Members of the bluegress band Aspen Ridge perform a set during a New Years Eve celebration at the Boulder City Senior Center on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Friends and family members gathered for an opportunity to purge their woes and express their hopes for the new year as part of Boulder City's fifth annual First Night.

Things were a little different this year, with the event narrowed down to only two venues, one for adults and one for children. The idea is the same, though: a night of fun dedicated to remembering the past and celebrating the future.

"I shouldn't have blamed myself for what mother nature did," "I should've asked him," and "I should have spent less time worrying about things that never happened" were some of the regrets written out on the "wall of woes," a sheet of paper placed in the recreation center next to the "wall of hope" and the graffiti wall.

Children skated around the hardwood floors of the rec center laughing and screaming while music blared through the speakers, all in the name of ringing in 2009.

A lack of grants will prevent Boulder City residents from seeing any fireworks at 9 p.m., as they have in the past. They still enjoyed the bounce houses, skating and music, though.

Maribeth McLay, chairwoman of the board for First Night, said this year was a much bigger success than previous years. By 7 p.m., more than 100 adults had made their way through the senior center, and at least as many children and families were at the recreation center.

"Last year it was too spread out," she said. "It's cold, and people would get into one place and want to stay."

This year was much more successful, she said.

The wall of woes and wall of hope were two popular spots for the Boulder City youth. Summer Runion, 11, took time from her evening to write her woes. She chose a few, including not having enough fun last year, and not embracing enough opportunities.

"I could have had a lot of things," she said.

Next year she plans on following through with some of her plans to have more fun, as well as drink Dr. Pepper instead of Diet Coke, because "it tastes so much better."

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or frances.vanderploeg@hbcpub.com.