New Year’s is a big event in Haddonfield. Haddonfield hosts First Night every year with alcohol-free fun for all ages on New Year’s Eve. Events for First Night 2014 included live bands, children’s entertainment, fireworks and a DJ Ray Midnight Dance Party.
With all of the New Year excitement last week, residents of Haddonfield were reflecting on the past year as well as looking forward to the New Year to come.
Elizabeth Dugan was happy to share that she got engaged in 2014. On the last day of November, her then-boyfriend got down on one knee in front Haddy the Hadrosaurus in town, with all of the Christmas lights from the holiday lighting up the moment.
“I’m looking forward to the wedding in 2015,” Dugan said with a smile.
For Erin Howard, her favorite moment from 2014 was moving to New Jersey. From Massachusetts, Howard moved to the Garden State because her boyfriend as well as some really good friends live in the area.
“That was really exciting,” Howard said.
She doesn’t have a New Year’s resolution; however, she does hope she gets to travel to Europe in 2015.
“Hopefully, I might do it. Who knows?” Howard said.
Howard lived in Germany for a year and has travelled all over Europe. Her wish is to travel to Germany, Italy and England sometime during the year.
“Just to go back would be great,” Howard said.
An exciting event in 2014 for Kevin Leigh was graduating grad school with his master’s degree in fine art. Specifically focusing in drawing, Leigh ultimately would like to be a teacher.
“I guess that is probably my New Year’s resolution, too,” Leigh said.
In 2015, Leigh found out he is going to Maine, as part of a birthday present, his birthday being on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve. He said when he goes, he is looking forward to camping and checking out the local breweries.
For Mitch Gorshin, it was an exciting 2014 — a year when he opened his new business called Gorshin Trading Post & Supplies right here in Haddonfield.
“I’ve always wanted to open one up, ever since I was a kid, and this was the perfect town to do it in,” Gorshin said.
Opening on Sept. 4, Gorshin Training Post & Supplies has about 90 percent American products; many are local/tri-state products as well. Some products include foul weather gear, local foods and spices, bags and purses with lifetime warranty and steel-edge snow shovels.
“It’s a man-cave, meets a general store. It’s gear for your everyday life,” Gorshin said.
Although Gorshin also doesn’t have a New Year’s resolution, he does hope to “continue to be happy and enjoy working with my family, as it is a small family operation.”
Gorshin is looking forward to 2015 being a healthy and happy new year.
“It’s really that simple; it’s all about the simple stuff,” Gorshin said.
For Haddonfield, it looks like the New Year will hold a lot of excitement for citizens in their personal life as well as in town. Hopefully 2015 is a good year for all.
