Heavy Snow Hampers
New Year’s Eve Ritual
In Strafford
By John Freitag

Between 50-75 people turned up on the common in Strafford for the annual New Years Eve midnight run.

More than 30 runners who tore across the common through deep snow in hope of reaching the Town House door before the final bell rang 12 midnight.

It was tough going, despite the fact that Scott Knorlein’s two boys had spent the afternoon on their hands and knees, going back and forth to tamp down the snow on the common.

Adrian Lopez got the closest, making it half way up the hill.

Strafford constables Ed Eastman and Jude Bishop blocked the road in front of the Town House to provide extra light and safety for the runners. The festivities ended as the lighted ball came down the flagpole and people sang "Auld Lang Syne."

The origins of the run were revealed to your Strafford correspondent by event organizer Rafe Linehan. He said that he first got the idea from the movie "Chariots of Fire," in which there was a scene that included a running race to the sounds of a clock bell. He started the run about 1983 and it certainly has become a great Strafford tradition.