Gouverneur Rec Center helps local youths ring in the new year

by Rachel Hunter

The Gouverneur Recreation Center held a Winter Recess Pajama Party and New Year’s Celebration for local youth on Dec. 30-31.

Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for millennia. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve) and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays. Many Americans on New Year’s Eve watch the ball drop on Dec. 31 in New York City. The 2025 New Year’s Eve Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 crystal triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 4 3/4 inches to 5 3/4 inches per side. For Times Square 2025, all 2,688 crystal triangles that adorn the Ball are manufactured by Gillinder Glass, a New York-based manufacturer, and replaced for this New Year’s Eve celebration. For adults, there were New Year’s parties all over the North Country… but events for children were limited.

The Gouverneur Recreation Center, located on Trinity Ave., Gouverneur, was once again the place for area children to be in the days leading up to the holiday. Crafts, coloring, and more fun were the order of the day. Children donned pajamas and enjoyed the festivities. Much gratitude is extended to all those who made the School Winter Recess Pajama Party (Dec. 30) and New Year’s Bash (Dec. 31) events a success.

The Gouverneur Recreation Center will continue its programming for local youth and senior citizens in 2025.

The Gouverneur Recreation Center’s After-School Program (STEAM Studio) focuses on enhancing youths learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Students in Grades UPK to Grade 1 enjoy sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students in Grades 2-4 enjoy sessions on Monday and Wednesday. Bus transportation is provided by the Gouverneur Central School District. The program features interactive social play, recreational opportunities exploring the STEAM field, theme days, and guests with fine arts appreciation.

The Before-School Morning Program continues to meet weekdays at the Gouverneur Elementary School. In partnership with the Gouverneur CSD, the enrichment program features early morning wake-up activities, interactive social play, arts and crafts, and breakfast.

Toddler Town meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Gouverneur Recreation Center. The recreational pre-school playgroup program features: interactive socialization and active play, music and art, story and snack.

The Gouverneur Recreation Center’s Senior Citizen Program continues weekly on Friday mornings for a bingo and coffee social. The event features food bingo games with socialization.

For more information about the Gouverneur Recreation Center, call 315-287-0524.