Montpelier welcomes in 2009
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The Dear trio performs at first night. |
Toolbox
By Sarah Hinckley Times Argus Staff - Published: January 1, 2009
MONTPELIER – Pink ribbons and leaves shaped the hat Evangeline Bulick, 5, modeled for her father, who was wielding a camera.
"It looks like a fairy hat," said June Cook of Craftsbury, Bulick's grandmother.
"It is a fairy hat," said Bulick, of Arlington, with conviction and a hint of pride. "I have more princess hats, but that I didn't make."
It was the second Montpelier First Night celebration that Bulick had attended with her family. More than 250 people made their way to the Bethany Church Hall from 3 to 6 p.m., where The ReStore had laid out all sorts of design and decorating elements. Many of the hand-made creations were expected to be featured in the parade through town later in the evening.
Organizers figured at least 2,500 people were milling around downtown for First Night, taking in the music, food and magic. Temperatures outside did not get much above 10 degrees and the wind made it feel colder.
At 8 p.m., revelers gathered at School and Main streets and formed a procession headed for the Statehouse. Fire, puppets, unicyclists and enthusiasts making celebratory noises filled the streets and rushed the Statehouse lawn once the first bang of fireworks sounded.
Despite the cold, more than 1,000 people took in the show in the night sky and toasted the last year, welcoming in the new.
"As cold as it is, I think we've had colder years," said Beverlee Hill, assistant city manager and keeper of the fort.
"We knew about the hat making last year, but we didn't get to make one," said Justine Cook, Bulick's mom, who was helping with the pieces of the hat. "It was her idea, she's the concept person."
Along with the ribbons and a string of material off the top, Bulick found a strip of faux fur to put around the inside of the brim.
"Because it keeps the head warm," she said about her choice.
Asked if she was planning to wear the hat again, "Oh, yes, I am," she replied.
Straps were stapled on for stability and a flower bloomed from the top of Bulick's princess hat. Once she realized dad was finished capturing the moment, Bulick was ready for the next activity.
"OK, let's go," she said to the adults in the group and headed off with her new lid on top.
People crowded into the City Hall Auditorium to watch Marko the Magician. Suzanne Griffel and her daughter, Karen Weiner, 10, were sporting their new hats waiting for the show.
"We love the hat making," said Griffel, who was visiting from Chicago. "This is a great event. I love that you don't have to get special tickets for different events."
Most of the people roaming the streets were sporting the square First Night buttons, which is the pass into events throughout the evening. Theresa Murray-Clasen stood with her crafted hat that included fur, white doves and lots of holiday ribbon.
"I was going for the warmth thing," she said about the creation that fit over her knit hat.
"Warmth and Peace '09," Murray-Clasen called her design.
Riley Zeno, 4, of Milton was sitting on his mother's lap and munching on snacks before the magician took the stage. His cool, new hat sat next to them on the floor with shiny blue knobs sticking off the top. Alien antennas, Zeno called them. Other than the antennas, the coolest feature of his hat was a strap that hung below the brim.
"So it won't fly off," said Zeno who was at the event with at least 10 other family members from Williamstown and Indiana.
"This is our first First Night ever," said Alison Moser of Rockfield, Md., who was watching the Bubble Bros. Soap Suds Circus in the Unitarian Church Vestry with her two children. "We live in suburban D.C., and they don't do anything like this."
The Moser family had begun the New Year's Eve celebration with free ice skating at the Central Vermont Civic Center. After watching the wonders of bubbles, they ventured on to hat making.
Kristin Schuyler stood at the doors of the vestry, volunteering for the event. She was impressed with the number of people who continued to stream in for the show.
"I've done it before, it's a more fun way to be part of it, to be more useful," she said about her third year of volunteering for the chemical-free event.
Amapola played for a crowd gathered in the Trinity Church across the way. At least 100 people gathered to hear Miriam Bernardo swoon in Spanish, backed by trumpets, guitar and drums.
"They were so good," one attendant was heard saying while walking out after the performance.
Although some were working their way through the downtown, hitting as many venues as possible, the Ceruttis had one definite stop.
"Making hats is one of our central activities," said Mary Cerutti, surrounded by Helen, 9, and Adam, 12, who were both wearing their new hats. "It's a favorite draw for us … It's worth the whole price. The parade and fireworks are just icing on the cake."
Adam Cerutti's hat was decorated with foam cylinders, sparkling material and a purple zipper that wrapped around the top.
"I just looked around and grabbed stuff," he said about the hat that fit over his knit cap – on purpose. "It's always cold right on this day."
John Poten had manned the table where hat makers signed in throughout the night.
"Every single year the hats get better and better and better," he said. "You never know how they're going to turn out… Adults and kids made hats. That's the neat thing. It's a happy place and it's a family place."
Contact Sarah Hinckley at sarah.hinckley@timesargus.com.
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