Community gathers for food, fun, fireworks
Photo by Aaric Bryan<br>St. Regis' Joanne and Tom Heacock cut up the rug to an old county song played by the Eagle's Nest Assisted Living band at the St. Regis Community New Year's Eve party at the community center.
Over 100 people of all ages rang in the new year with food, music and fireworks at the St. Regis Community New Year's Eve Celebration Monday.
The party at the St. Regis Community Center started with a pot-luck dinner at 6 p.m. that culminated around 10 p.m. with a fireworks show. In between the dinner and fireworks show, people had the chance to dance to the musical styling of the Eagle's Nest Assisted Living Band, win a prize in a raffle drawing, watch a movie or just visit with other community members.
The New Year's Eve party was organized by the St. Regis Community Council. John Cheesman, the vice president for the council, said the group has been putting on the party for six years. He said the party offers adults an alternative to spending New Year's Eve at a bar and is also a great way to spend the evening with their family and other community members.
St. Regis resident Susan Martinez, who was attending her first New Year's Eve Celebration in St. Regis, enjoyed the family atmosphere of the party. "This is what makes St. Regis neat. It is so family-orientated," Martinez said. While finishing the pot-luck dinner, she told her nine-year-old son, Austin Peters, "You don't get this in big cities, you only get it in small communities. This is why we live here."
The Eagle's Nest Assisted Living trio of Mike Stepan, Jim Tisdale and Gary Woodson were also newcomers to the event. Woodson said it was the band's first time playing at the party and he was surprised at how many people showed up. He joked that whenever the band plays they expect nobody to show up.
The Superior-based band did not disappoint in their debut at the party, as people, young and old, filled the dance floor as the band went through their set of old county classics and 50s rock and roll. Tom and Joann Heacock were one of the first couples to make it to the dance floor. While taking a break after dancing to the first couple of songs, Tom said that they had been coming to the St. Regis party for four years and plan to attend for many more. "This is the hottest party in town," Tom said.
The party ended a little after 10 p.m after the St. Regis Volunteer Fire Department set off fireworks donated by local businesses.