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Top row left to right: Adam Osman, Sean Fitzpatrick, Bridget Sakousky, bottom row: Tanja Hollander, Axel Hollenbeck, Theresa Clark, John Noyes Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
LEWISTON — As Mainers get ready to ring in a new year next week, Sun Journal asked Lewiston residents how they felt about New Year’s Eve celebrations. Is it all hype, or the best party ever?
For Bridget Sakousky, the celebration is more about enjoying the company of her loved ones. “I think the parties are overhyped, sure, but it’s nice to hang out with people and socialize. I’m at the stage where I’m not wanting to go out, but hanging out with people at someone’s house, or my house, is nice and fun,” Sakousky said.
“Hanging out with people I care about, eating good food, and not having to drive afterwards” matter the most to Sakousky.
Axel Hollenbeck said parties can be too much sometimes. To Hollenbeck, New Year’s Eve is no exception. “All the parties I go to are really overstimulating in my opinion because there’ll be like 20 or more people,” Hollenbeck said.
Hollenbeck plans next-day sleepovers with friends to recover. “I might have a sleepover with my friend, just that I can calm down,” Hollenbeck said.
Hollenbeck said that some of the hype surrounding New Year’s Eve is justified because of all the party and holiday food. “Food is my favorite thing ever,” Hollenbeck added.
Sean Fitzpatrick likes to take it easy these days. “I have two small kids, a 9- and a 13-year-old, so we don’t really go out,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said he misses the anticipation of ringing in the new year with crowds and doing “the countdown thing,” sometimes, but he’d rather be home with family and in bed before midnight.
Does he miss the partying? “On the whole, not so much. I’m a little bit older, so I like to go to bed early, too,” Fitzpatrick said.
John Noyes said he believes that a new year always deserves a party. “I believe everybody should celebrate. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed,” Noyes said. “Every day, you should be grateful and look for changes for the better.”
For Tanja Hollander, reflection is a must as she wraps up another year. “I, in my old age, am happy to spend the night alone, reflecting, and getting an early start the next day,” Hollander said.
Theresa Clark said she is all for celebrations, especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve. “That’s where you get all the gifts and love and enjoy it with your family,” Clark said.
This will be Adam Osman’s first New Year’s celebration in Lewiston since his arrival from Chad. Osman said he prefers small parties with friends.
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