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The Effel Tower and Paris was the theme for the New Year’s Eve Party at the Florissant Civic Center

Florissant Seniors Party at Noon to Ring in the New Year

                        Story and photos by Nichole Butler

    Top hats, feathered tiaras, white lights, a glittering disco ball, and a Parisian park complete with the Eiffel Tower transformed the gymnasium at the James J. Eagan Center into a “New Year’s Eve in Paris” for this year’s annual Florissant Senior New Year’s Eve Party.

Every December 31st, Florissant senior citizen residents kick off the New Year at noon instead of midnight. The event starts at 10 a.m., with the countdown at noon, and ends with lunch served at 1 p.m.

“We’ve been doing this [Florissant Senior New Year’s Eve Party] for probably twenty years,” said Peggy Hogan, who has been a lead volunteer for the event for the past six years.

The event is hosted by the Florissant Senior Office and made possible with the 17-member volunteer Senior Commission as well as city employees and Florissant businesses.

“We have a sell out crowd in there,” said Hogan, referring to the 350 seniors who purchased tickets to this year’s New Year’s Eve resident-only party.

This year, guests danced to music played by the Michael Lacey Band and dined on food catered by Tornatore’s Catering. Several won attendance prizes. The first prize 32” flat screen television went to Janice Harrison. Second prize microwave oven went to Dorothy Brinker. Third prize toaster oven went to Jean Mack. Fourth prize 19” flat screen television went to Margie Recker. Many other prizes, from restaurant gift cards to watches to candles, were also awarded.

Florissant resident Carolyn Wiegand has attended the event for the past three years. “It’s a wonderful service. Florissant is so good to its senior citizens,” Wiegand said.

Couple dancing at the stroke of Noon Dec. 31

Wiegand has been a resident of Florissant for three years and has attended several of the events held and hosted by the Florissant Senior Office.

For information on future activities and event held throughout the year or information on next year’s Senior New Year’s Eve party, contact the Florissant Senior Office at 314-839-7604.

Line dancing is always popular at the New Year’s Eve Dance