heaps of family fun

By MICHELLE WILSON

Published Oct. 21, 1999

This year has gone by so fast for me and maybe for you, too.

I find that to be the case more often as I get older. But the holiday season will be here before we know it.

Besides all the traditional family gatherings, there will be two special events in the city of Troy this year.

A committee of Troy citizens is planning a year-end of which everyone can be proud. There will also be a citywide Thanksgiving service in November. I can’t wait

Like a lot of people in Troy associated with Troy State University, I moved here from out of town and don’t have family nearby. My husband Jay and I have adopted friends in the area as our family. So at a time of year when many people are with family and when we might not be able to leave town to see our family, it is especially nice to know that there will be organized events here.

Plans are underway for Troy’s Year 2000 Celebration, which is expected to top all the events in the city’s history.

The affair will include several events over the last quarter of this year centered around a New Year’s celebration.

The celebration is being spear-headed by the city’s Year 2000 Celebration Steering Committee, made up of hard-working citizens.

Troy’s Celebration 2000 Steering Committee named "Celebrate the Century, Celebrate the Community" as the theme for its turn-of-the-millenium events. The theme song for Celebration 2000 is "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.

The Homecoming Parade this Saturday is one of the events.

Then there will be a Community Thanksgiving Service planned for Nov 21. This is the committee’s November celebration. It will be at 6 p.m. that night at Trojan Arena on the Troy State University campus.

Rev. Johnny Mathison of Frasier United Methodist Church in Montgomery will deliver the message, and musical entertainment will be provided by a community choir and TSU student musicians.

There will also be an art exhibit in the arena lobby.

I encourage all community members, regardless of religious affiliation, to join together in the community Thanksgiving service. It should be an uplifting event.

A year’s worth of work will culminate in the New Year’s Eve Celebration Dec. 31.

Great American Video Dance Party, an entertainment system, and Reactor, a thrill ride, will headline the celebration.

The video dance party consists of two 336 square foot image projection screens, a sound system and laser light show, he said. It shows real music videos and live video cameras allow dancers to take part in the action.The system also includes a mirror ball, special effects, fog and bubble machines.

The Reactor is a motion simulation thrill ride which allows participants to "ride through the movies," according to its owner Kramer International Entertainment.

Both activities will operate non-stop for six hours. This should be tremendous fun for the whole family.

So you can see why I look forward to the coming months. There will be plenty to do for locals and visiting families from out-of-town.

Michelle J. Wilson is a staff writer for The Messenger.