Watch a Beaver Fall From The Sky, and other strange New Year's Eve drops
by Tricia Pursell
Out with the old, in with the new. The countdown to the new year has traditionally been symbolized by the Times Square ball drop in New York City. And most of us watch it year after year, either on TV or in person. Ready to dodge the typical this year and experience something a little different? Turn off the television and stay in the commonwealth, where we have plenty of things more interesting than a crystal ball dropping out of the sky on New Year's Eve. For instance, how about watching a strawberry drop down through the year's last minute (Harrisburg), or a pretzel (Cleona), a pickle (Dillsburg, how clever) or even a beaver (Beavertown, of course)? It was just last year that Beavertown, in Snyder County, celebrated the first drop of its 6-foot-tall, stuffed beaver.
"It was a tremendous success," said Mayor Cloyd Wagner. "Hundreds showed up." After some live music and refreshments in the fire hall, the beaver, stuffed with shredded paper, was hoisted 75 feet into the air, and then the countdown began. Once it reached the ground, a light displaying "2009" lit up, and the crowd cheered and enjoyed a show of fireworks as they stood outside in the wintry cold. In Lewistown, Mifflin County, you can watch the chips fall - potato chips, that is.
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