Crowds gather in NYC’s Times Square to mark 2010
NEW YORK — Hundreds of thousands of revelers have gathered in chilly weather in New York City’s Times Square to usher in the new decade.
Organizers were preparing 3,000 pounds of confetti that will be scattered along with the New Year’s Eve crystal ball at midnight.
About 10,000 handwritten wishes have been mixed into the confetti. The messages include appeals for the safe return of troops fighting overseas, continued employment and a cure for diabetes.
Asked about the passing of a decade, 50-year-old reveler Gail Guay (gah-WAY’) of New Hampshire had this advice: “Don’t look back.”
The crowds brought out heightened security.
A day earlier, police evacuated several blocks around Times Square to investigate a van parked without license plates. Only clothing and clothes racks were found inside.
Related News
Bomb squad investigates van abandoned at NYC's Times Square as high-rises partially evacuateDecember 30th, 2009 Bomb squad investigates van left in Times SquareNEW YORK — A suspicious white van parked in the heart of Times Square with tinted windows, no license plates and a bogus law enforcement placard on the windshield prompted the NYPD to evacuate high-rises and send out bomb squads the day before New Year's Eve. The van was seen by patrol officers around 11 a.m.
NYPD: No bomb inside van abandoned in Times Square, evacuated high-rises allowed to re-enterDecember 30th, 2009 NYPD: No bomb inside van abandoned in Times SquareNEW YORK — A white van parked in the heart of Times Square with tinted windows, no license plates and a bogus law enforcement placard led the NYPD to briefly evacuate the tourist hot spot and send in a bomb squad on the day before New Year's Eve. No explosive devices were found inside the van Wednesday afternoon, and the area was reopened to traffic about two hours after the incident began.
NYC's New Year's Eve ball gets new crystal; triangles have Celtic knot patternDecember 27th, 2009 NYC's New Year's Eve ball gets new crystalNEW YORK — The New Year's Eve crystal ball that drops in Times Square will have a new kind of sparkle when it descends at the stroke of midnight Thursday, and revelers will be able to toast 2010 without popping a cork. Organizers of the celebration unveiled a new design Sunday for nearly 300 Waterford crystal triangles to be installed on the giant ball.
For Christians in Bethlehem and worldwide, holiday cheer vies with gloomDecember 24th, 2009 In Bethlehem, holiday cheer edges out gloomBETHLEHEM, West Bank — Thousands of pilgrims from around the world descended on the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Thursday, greeted by choruses, scout troops and rock bands for the most upbeat Christmas celebrations this Palestinian town has seen in years. But the Holy Land's top Roman Catholic clergyman reminded followers that peace remains elusive, while the threat of sectarian violence in the Islamic world and the lava spilling from a volcano in the Philippines clouded the celebrations for other Christian communities across the globe.
Kobe & Lakers have no rivalry with Cavs, but welcome Christmas meeting anywayDecember 24th, 2009 Kobe: 'Nothing there' for Cavs-Lakers rivalryLOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher scarcely remember how to celebrate Christmas without a high-profile game smack in the middle of their holiday season. That's life with the Los Angeles Lakers — and that goes for the Lakers' families, too.
