SHAMOKIN - A combination of nice weather and good publicity is what made the latest Shamokin Coal Drop the largest Mayor George Rozinskie remembers over the past six years.
"We had the biggest crowd. At least 1,500 to 2,000 people," he said Sunday evening.
The annual New Year's Eve celebration, which was sponsored by Klacik and Associates, Shamokin, was the place to be Saturday night, when crowds surrounded the flag pole at Market and Independence streets, reaching as far back as the Fun Shop on Independence Street.
Rozinskie said the media coverage, including newspapers and television crews from other regions, gave the city's celebration some good buzz while the weather stayed away from cold temperatures and precipitation.
"Everyone was happy. They enjoyed it, they really did. They were dancing in the streets. Everything was wonderful," he said.
He talked to people from as far away as Pottsville and Allentown who came to enjoy the festivities.
"I love to do it for the community. People come from all over," he said.
A lump of coal
The piece of "coal" dropped at the stroke of midnight was actually a piece of decorated styrofoam, which is about four feet high and five feet wide. It's strung up at the top of a flag pole in the city each year and is dropped as the countdown to midnight begins.
Following the drop, Steve Funk set off fireworks, which lasted about 12 minutes this year.
Emily Armstrong, a Troy, N.Y., resident, was visiting friends and decided to come to the city for the drop.
"It was such a happening event. I didn't expect it," she said.
The mayor thanked the following people and organizations for making the Coal Drop successful: Klacik and Associates, Service Electric, Shamokin Street Department, Shamokin Police Department, Independence Fire Company, Shamokin service technician Larry Strausser, Steve Funk Fireworks, Denny Moore (who donated the trailer), Power House DJ systems, Rent-a-Center and all others involved.