City workers test lighted ball for Bicentennial Ball Drop

Westlake service garage employees John Biro, Bill Lazar and Dave Rencehausen ready the lighted ball for a test run of the city's bicentennial ball drop celebration in the city's service garage on Dec. 22.

In preparation for the Dec. 31 kickoff of Westlake's Bicenntennial year, workers at the city's service garage constructed a lighted ball to be used at the Crocker Park event. Over a two-week period, workers built the ball, comprised of over 1200 incandescent and LED lights, that will be the highlight of the Family Fun Evening.

On Dec. 22, a dry-run of the ball drop was conducted at the service garage to fine-tune the lighting sequence and time the rate of the drop.

The festivities, including face painting, noisemakers live music and entertainment, will start at 6:15 p.m., with the ball drop at 7:00 p.m., followed by a fireworks display. The event will be simulcast with Westlake's sister city, Tralee, Ireland, where it will be midnight. Dignitaries of Tralee will do the 30-second countdown to the ball's drop.

Read More on Westlake Bicentennial
Volume 2, Issue 25, Posted 11:02 AM, 12.23.2010