NEW YEAR: We were sorry to hear First Night 2017 was canceled due to a lack of funding.

Perhaps this is a good year to acquaint yourself with the neighbors and plan an indoor evening of fun. Might we suggest extending an invitation to the residents next door to play games and indulge in leftover holiday treats?

For years when we were growing up we welcomed in the new year with neighbors who had children the same age as us.

The evening always included Trivial Pursuit, homemade spinach dip and leftover Christmas cookies. Euchre and Rummy were other games that always seemed to make its way to neighborhood and family gatherings. As children, we’d fold hats out of construction paper, maybe tape a leftover Christmas ribbon to the top, and you were dressed to celebrate.

First Night Bradford does give families a chance to go out for a family-friendly day of live entertainment, as well as a chance to see entertainers and interact in the community.

But there’s something to be said for not being out in the cold — or out on the roads when you know New Year’s Eve is known for alcohol consumption.

If you’re itching to take your family out on the town this New Year’s Eve, we hear the Open Arms Community Church local missions team has decided to pull together a family-friendly event to fill the gap left by the canceled First Night.The Era will share more once plans are in place.

In case readers missed the article in Saturday’s paper, the First Night committee isn’t giving up on the event for good. Funding wasn’t available to offer the plethora of entertainment the event is known for, so they decided to take a break this year in the hope that more financial support will be found in the next 12 months.