How did you say 2009? Two thousand and nine? Twenty-nine? Oh-nine? No matter what it was called, the decade came to a rousing end in Clayton when families gathered at the gym for the 7th annual Clayton Counts Down New Year’s Eve party.
“This is such a great event,” said Jeannette Cataldo, as she parceled out popcorn cups to her grandkids. “We’re the babysitters for New Year’s Eve and this gives the kids a way to celebrate.”
The free, no-alcohol, all-volunteer, all-donation financed event drew an estimated 700 to the Clayton Community Gym for a host of kid-friendly activities, which included a sock puppet contest, basketball, movies, games, musical chairs and limbo and hula hoop contests.
A bounce house and inflatable slide helped the little ones burn off their excess holiday energy.
The brainchild of Councilwoman Julie Pierce and former Councilman Gregg Manning, Clayton Counts Down began in 2003 and takes more than 30 volunteers to run.
Plans are already in the works for next year’s event. So, whether you say twenty-ten, two-thousand-ten or just plain ten, plan on spending the next New Year’s Eve at the gym. And if you can help, call the city at 673-7300.
