New Year's celebrations continue despite lack of cash

Corporate cutbacks mean a struggle this New Year's.
The Mahoning Valley's New Year's Eve celebrations are soldiering on this year despite financial difficulties.
In Warren, Opening Night has suffered from cutbacks by corporate sponsors. The event is billed as Ohio's longest-running nonalcoholic New Year's Eve celebration of the arts.
The annual tradition was put in jeopardy when the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County, which puts on the event, ran out of money in June. That forced Bobbie Brown, the council's director, to take an unscheduled two-week vacation. Several fund-raisers plus an $8,000 contribution from the city helped the council continue.
Organizers approached individuals to replace dwindling corporate sponsorships for Opening Night this year, Brown said.
A local newspaper also pulled its support. The paper printed the program and advertised the event in the past, Brown said. A local graphic design firm and several local printers stepped in and helped, she said.
Nonetheless, nearly 100 performances are scheduled from 5 p.m. until midnight. Shows will be in 11 public buildings, all within four blocks of Courthouse Square.
The 15-year-old event culminates with a ball drop from the Bank One building on Courthouse Square at midnight. Fireworks over the square follow. About 5,000 people typically buy admission buttons.
Youngstown
In Youngstown, corporate donations continue to be slow. That means a 20- to 30-percent budget cut, said Gemma Sole, president of First Night Youngstown 2003.
The city will provide in-kind services, but not the $15,000 in cash offered the previous two years. Another main sponsor cut its $15,000 contribution in half.
Still, community support is there, she said. Calls from volunteers are on the rise, she said. Several thousand people are expected to attend at least some of the events between 5 p.m. and midnight.
Popular attractions, such as horse-drawn carriage rides and a battle of the bands, will remain.
Meanwhile, new events include a nondenominational service, a wood carver, the Youngstown Symphony Chorus, karaoke and the Edsels. The Youngstown doo-wop group is famous for its 1960s hit "Rama Lama Ding Dong."
Youngstown is stressing diversity, Sole said, including African, Irish and Hispanic performers.
"We're really trying to incorporate the types of ethnic enrichment we have," she said.
A ball drop from Home Savings Bank and fireworks from downtown's west end cap the night.
Canfield
Organizers of First Night Canfield 2003 were forced to find new funding sources after companies reduced donations.
"We're just working harder to find somebody to replace that money," said Richard Bowden, the executive director of First Night Canfield. "So far, we're going to be OK."
Bowden expects between 2,500 to 3,000 people from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. at several locations. The event will feature many new acts, he said, including The Great Pretenders, billed as "Northeast Ohio's oldies supergroup." They play from 8:30 to 11 p.m. in the Canfield High School Auditorium.