First Night Salem to feature family events

By D.a. Wilkinson

Participants buy a $10 badge that admits them to all the activities.

SALEM — First Night Salem on Thursday fired up its Web site in preparation for the New Year’s Eve event.

David Schwartz, one of the event’s coordinators, said it’s the sixth year for the event. First Night is an international organization that promotes the arts.

The other coordinator is Mike Grimstad, who could not be reached.

People buy a $10 badge that gets them into all First Night events.

As in recent years, events will be centered around the Kent City Centre.

“We have new things to change the program a bit,” Schwartz said.

Stark Memorial has been the site for magic programs. This year, it will feature Tapestries of Ohio, which will put on its 14th annual program based on medieval celebrations.

Schwartz said three people from Salem are involved in that group.

In a different creative direction at the same site, First Night will present “Natural Bridges,” a Cleveland-based puppet show,

“They are very funny,” Schwartz said.

“Natural Bridges” will focus on the show’s “animals” trying to take over a television station.

Schwartz said it’s family- friendly,” and any shocking language is in the “gosh” range.

Ultimately, their show is “what friendship is all about,” Schwartz said.

Musician and webmaster Bill Schilling said Greenford Christian Church has taken over the children’s activities. He’ll be performing at the center with his partner, Linda Sigismond.

A new program will also feature local attorney Fred Naragon, who will open the back entrance of his office, which leads to Sugar Tree Alley. Naragon will have a huge display of five gauges of railroads. Naragon will also be playing with the Sugar Tree Alley Steel Drum Band.

There also will be a spiritual part of the evening. The long-closed St. John’s Evangelist Romanian Orthodox Church, 261 S. Lundy Ave., is coming back to life as a youth center called The R.O.C. of Salem, which stands for Representatives of Christ.

There will be a benefit dinner for that project at the First United Methodist Church from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

From 7 to 10:30 p.m., there will be an open house at the former church for its first evening of operation. An official open house will take place early next year.

wilkinson@vindy.com