Welcome 2020

There were no hot drinks and baked goods served inside a tent this year or any surprise visit by the "Headless Horseman."

But nevertheless, a light rain Tuesday evening had ended and another huge crowd gathered on Railroad Avenue.

They arrived shortly before midnight for the fourth annual drop of the New Year’s Eve Apple “ball,” in a Macintosh apple shape, lit from within and wrapped in bands of light.

The crown jewel of the evening, the Warwick Apple, was created by John Redman, who owns the custom event-solution firm, Union Square Group, in Pine Island.

Three years ago during Warwick’s first ever-New Year’s Eve community celebration, Mayor Michael Newhard had suggested that Apple Eve become an annual event.

“I think we created an event to come together as a community,” he said at that time. “That's what Warwick's all about.”

Although there was heavy rain last year, New Year’s Eve was also an opportunity to not only ring in the New Year but to also celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department

And this year the event would not only usher in a new year, 2020, but also a new decade. The celebration began at 11:30 p.m.

That was later than previous years but many of those in the crowd, who joined Sesquicentennial Events Coordinator Mary Collura in the countdown as members of the Warwick Fire Department dropped the Warwick Apple, had simply waited at home or celebrated at local bars and restaurants.

- Roger Gavan

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PICS: 4 photos and captions uploaded to MyCapture.

1. This year the event would not only usher in a new year, 2020, but also a new decade.

2. Members of the Warwick Fire Department raise the Warwick Apple.

3. Mission accomplished.

4. Many of those in the crowd joined Sesquicentennial Events Coordinator Mary Collura in the countdown as members of the Warwick Fire Department dropped the Warwick Apple.