Glastonbury’s Senior Center , always thinking ahead , avoided the snowstorm last week by celebrating New Year’s Eve 36 hours early .

The ‘ Countdown to Noon , ’ lunch was attended by more than 100 seniors who did brave gusty winds and bitter cold on Dec . 30 .

Senior Center Coordinator Maryleah Skoronski took the opportunity to thank her staff for the hard work they’ve done all year.

The festivities began with Smith Middle School student Ernie Andreoli , who played the Spanish-style guitar . For Andreoli , it was his first public performance outside of school .

Skoronski said she first learned of Andreoli when his mother approached her about two weeks prior , looking to book performances for her son .

“ I can always find room for someone to entertain us , ” Skoronski said , adding that Andreoli learned to play ‘ Auld Lang Syne , ’ just for the occasion .

“ It was cool , ” Andreoli said of his first one-man show .

After the official countdown to noon , accompanied by lunch , the crowd was entertained by vocal group More 4 Fun , who called themselves a ‘ very large quartet . ’ The group’s leader said that instead of associating the barbershop style of singing with quartets , people should think of four-part harmony .

“ Don’t cry over 2008 , because it’s over , ” Skoronski told the crowd . “ Smile because it happened . ”