Kiwanis New Year's celebration canceled

Carson City's Kiwanis Club has canceled their New Year's Eve Bash at the Carson City Senior Center, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday.

President Ray Fredericks offered his apologies, saying the Kiwanis were both disappointed and embarrassed by this turn of events, but too few tickets have been sold and it isn't cost effective to go ahead.

"The community is not in a party mood right now and unfortunately we just didn't have the numbers," he said. "We feel a lot of people are mourning the Sept. 11 tragedy and don't feel like celebrating and I don't blame them. The economic downturn hasn't helped, either."

The function was to be a fund-raiser for the Senior Center, the money raised to go to their 'Meals on Wheels' program and building funds.

The center is slated for a complete renovation including a new second story and expanded dining and kitchen facility, the construction is to begin this spring.

Refunds can be obtained by calling either Jim Hamtak at 775-883-3113 or Ray Fredericks at 775-841-7163. Those who purchased their tickets at the senior center can contact their finance office at 775-883-0703.

This would have been the third year for the New Year's Celebration which started with a bang at the Ormsby House.

Millennium revelers received a thrill when the power went out at midnight among worries about year 2000 computer problems.

However, the outage turned out to be caused by celebrants releasing mylar balloons, which drifted into power lines.

There were nearly 300 people attending the party, which raised money for several of the Kiwanis charities.

Last year's party had to be moved to the senior center when the Ormsby House closed.