Mary-Jane McGowan, 7, sports a new year hat and glasses before joining her brother, Andrew, 6, not pictured, to release the balloons for the Niantic Children's Museum's annual Countdown to Noon early new year celebration Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in East Lyme. This is the second year, due to COVID precautions, that the museum has held the traditional Countdown to Noon balloon drop virtually. The McGowans won the museum's raffle to get a two-hour exclusive visit to the museum and release the balloons at noon. In addition to the proceeds from the raffle, sponsors Chelsea Groton Bank, Dominion Energy, Boats Inc., and Hamilton Point Investments, had their names on the balloons. Due to technical issues the Facebook live broadcast of the balloon drop was recorded and shared later. Museum Executive Director Holly Cheeseman introduced the McGowans and thanks the museum's supporters before the drop. Prior to the drop Andrew and Mary-Jane met several of the museum's animals, a bearded dragon, leopard gecko and a Russian tortoise. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Mary-Jane, 7, and Andrew, 6, McGowan, of East Lyme, play in the falling balloons at noon to celebrate the New Year early Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at the Niantic Children's Museum. This is the second year, due to COVID precautions, that the museum has held the traditional Countdown to Noon balloon drop virtually. The McGowans won the museum's raffle to get a two-hour exclusive visit to the museum and release the balloons at noon. In addition to the proceeds from the raffle, sponsors Chelsea Groton Bank, Dominion Energy, Boats Inc., and Hamilton Point Investments, had their names on the balloons. Due to technical issues the Facebook live broadcast of the balloon drop was recorded and shared later. Museum Executive Director Holly Cheeseman introduced the McGowans and thanks the museum's supporters before the drop. Prior to the drop Andrew and Mary-Jane met several of the museum's animals, a bearded dragon, leopard gecko and a Russian tortoise. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Mary-Jane, 7, and Andrew, 6, McGowan, of East Lyme, play in the kaleidescope before releasing the balloons for the Niantic Children's Museum's annual Countdown to Noon early new year celebration Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in East Lyme. This is the second year, due to COVID precautions, that the museum has held the traditional Countdown to Noon balloon drop virtually. The McGowans won the museum's raffle to get a two-hour exclusive visit to the museum and release the balloons at noon. In addition to the proceeds from the raffle, sponsors Chelsea Groton Bank, Dominion Energy, Boats Inc., and Hamilton Point Investments, had their names on the balloons. Due to technical issues the Facebook live broadcast of the balloon drop was recorded and shared later. Museum Executive Director Holly Cheeseman introduced the McGowans and thanks the museum's supporters before the drop. Prior to the drop Andrew and Mary-Jane met several of the museum's animals, a bearded dragon, leopard gecko and a Russian tortoise. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Niantic Children's Museum education coordinator Donna Dione introduces Mary-Jane, 7, and Andrew, 6, McGowan, of East Lyme, to the museum's Russian tortoise Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. The McGowan siblings, accompanied by their mother, Brandi, and grandparents Mike and Deb McGowan, had a two-hour exclusive visit to the museum and release of the balloons at noon. This is the second year, due to COVID precautions, that the museum has held the traditional Countdown to Noon balloon drop virtually. In addition to the proceeds from the raffle, sponsors Chelsea Groton Bank, Dominion Energy, Boats Inc., and Hamilton Point Investments, had their names on the balloons. Due to technical issues the Facebook live broadcast of the balloon drop was recorded and shared later. Museum Executive Director Holly Cheeseman introduced the McGowans and thanks the museum's supporters before the drop. Prior to the drop Andrew and Mary-Jane met several of the museum's animals, a bearded dragon, leopard gecko and a Russian tortoise. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Brandi McGowan, right, hands her children Mary-Jane, 7, and Andrew, 6, new year hats and glasses before they release the balloons for the Niantic Children's Museum's annual Countdown to Noon early new year celebration Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in East Lyme. This is the second year, due to COVID precautions, that the museum has held the traditional Countdown to Noon balloon drop virtually. The McGowans won the museum's raffle to get a two-hour exclusive visit to the museum and release the balloons at noon. In addition to the proceeds from the raffle, sponsors Chelsea Groton Bank, Dominion Energy, Boats Inc., and Hamilton Point Investments, had their names on the balloons. Due to technical issues the Facebook live broadcast of the balloon drop was recorded and shared later. Museum Executive Director Holly Cheeseman introduced the McGowans and thanks the museum's supporters before the drop. Prior to the drop Andrew and Mary-Jane met several of the museum's animals, a bearded dragon, leopard gecko and a Russian tortoise. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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