News and Poltics // Current

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Ted Nugent wants to be Drug Czar

"[Drug traffickers] are as evil an adversary as the voodoo terrorist Taliban our soldiers face in Afghanistan," writes... more

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What else gets dropped for the New Years Celebration? A Drag Queen and Possum!!!!!!

"Ball drops" weren't always reserved for New Year's Eve. The idea of lowering a sphere to measure time was first used in Greenwich, England, where a ball descended every afternoon at one o'clock so ship captains could calibrate their navigational tools. The concept eventually made its way to New York City, where it's now used to usher in the New Year in front of thousands of freezing-cold spectators, who wish their only option wasn't a port-a-john.

Key West, Fla.
A conch, a wench and a drag queen
In Key West, eccentricity runs rampant. So it's no wonder that the quirky Key has enough energy to host three separate drops: an enormous fiberglass conch shell, a pirate wench and a drag queen. As the official symbol of the Florida Keys, the conch has been making its descent from the roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar since 1993. (The founder of the bar, incidentally, was the inspiration for Freddy in Hemingway's "To Have and Have Not.") A few blocks away at the Schooner Wharf Bar, co-owner Evalena Worthington dons full pirate maiden attire and drops from the crow's nest of an antique ship. And lastly there's Sushi the drag queen, who brings in the New Year in a six-foot sparkling red, high-heel shoe at the Bourbon St. bar and guesthouse complex.

Havre de Grace, Md.
Wooden Duck
In 1789, Havre de Grace nearly became the nation's capital, losing to Washington D.C. by one vote in a House of Representatives decision; instead the city went on to become the self-proclaimed, Decoy Capital of the World. In the early 20th century duck hunting was all the rage in Havre de Grace and as a result, wooden decoy carving developed into a local folk art. To honor both the tradition and the New Year, in 2000, the city started dropping a giant plywood duck. The current bird -- carved by local resident Jean Hiss -- is roughly 10- by 15-feet, has lights arranged to look like feathers and is dropped from a towering fire truck ladder. And to liven up the celebration locals bring their own noisemakers: duck calls.

Tallapoosa, Ga.
Opossum
Tallapoosa was originally named Possum Snout after a Creek Indian Chief. When the region officially became a city in 1860 the name was changed to its current, more dignified moniker, an Indian word for "Golden River." But since you can't drop a Tallapoosa, the city chose to drop an opossum on New Year's Eve instead. No need to alert PETA - though once a living, breathing critter, the marsupial is no longer with us; he lives on thanks to local taxidermy and museum curator Bud Jones. In addition to the drop, expect live entertainment, food venders and fireworks, all followed by a "Possum Snout Breakfast," which I hope isn't what it sounds like.

Hershey, Pa.
Hershey Kiss
Hershey(Hershey : Courtesy Hershey New Year’s)
Hershey Pa. celebrates the New Year with a kiss.

It's only appropriate that the country's best known chocolate town drops an over-sized homage to cocoa on New Year's Eve. Specifically a seven-foot tall, Hershey's Kiss made out of aluminum.
The event was founded by Mike Pries, Chairman, Derry Township Board of Supervisors and takes place on the corner of Chocolate and Cocoa Avenues. Seriously. The event draws over 10,000 people every year and includes live bands, fireworks, dancing groups and most excitingly, the Hershey Kissmobile.

Does your town have a special Drop for the New Year? Click on the link for more cities!!!!!!"Ball drops" weren't always reserved for New Year's Eve. The idea of lowering a sphere to measure time was... more