The New Year came early at Elgin’s Gail Borden Public Library, where babies, toddlers and young children gathered Saturday with parents and grandparents to celebrate 2018 with a party complete with dancing, party horns and a balloon drop.
“10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Happy New Year,” the crowd shouted as the clock struck noon.
Seven-month-old Ezekiel Oquendo is celebrating his first New Year’s Eve. He clasped a party horn with gold trim at the “Noon Year” party and curiously watched all the activity around him. His brother, Cristiano, 2, and mom and dad, Denise and Abraham, danced and counted down during the early New Year’s celebration.
Nearby, Ryder Thrasher boogied down to a pop song with his grandmother, Betsey. “They have such wonderful programs here,” she said of the event. Ryder’s energetic dancing lasted one song after which he announced, “I’m done.”
This year was a happy one for the 4-year-old. “My baby brother is here,” Ryder said. His brother, Vance, was born Thursday, Betsey Thrasher said.
J.D. Sell, 9, had a good time dancing just before the countdown. He didn’t have a New Year’s resolution because he didn’t know what it meant. He was at a loss at what he would like to do in 2018, but his mom, Kim, had a few.
“Lose weight,” she said. “I think it’s everyone’s New Year’s resolution. And be more organized, have less clutter.” Kim Sell’s goal for her children in 2018: “For them to be more independent,” she said.
Luis and Adriana Andrade just moved to South Elgin six months ago and are celebrating their first new year in the area. Catalina brings their daughters, Brielle, 18 months, and Catalina, 4, to the library three times a week and has enjoyed all the programming it offers.
The couple hopes 2018 is filled with more learning experiences for their daughters and opportunities to be kind to others, Adriana Andrade said. “We are working on helping other people,” she said, adding the family donated items during Christmas to needy families.
“Noon Year” included crafts in which children made countdown clocks and a New Year’s wishing wand and decorated cookies. Dante DiBenedetto, 5, got busy making a clock with his dad, Tony, watching and lending a hand.
Tony has a few wishes for his son in 2018. “To enjoy life and be happy,” the South Elgin dad said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.