![Hoping for a sweet new year A red M&M with 1,000 lights was lowered at midnight Monday, Jan. 1 in Hackettstown to celebrate the new year. The U.S. headquarters of Mars Wrigley, which makes M&Ms, is based in Hackettstown as well as in Newark. (Photos by Nancy Madacsi)](http://www.townshipjournal.com/binrepository/648x432/0c0/0d0/none/1198400/YDXQ/dsc0382-m-m-002_4-7220499_20240101143002.jpg)
A red M&M with 1,000 lights was lowered at midnight Monday, Jan. 1 in Hackettstown to celebrate the new year. The U.S. headquarters of Mars Wrigley, which makes M&Ms, is based in Hackettstown as well as in Newark. (Photos by Nancy Madacsi)
![Hoping for a sweet new year About 4,000 people gathered for a New Year’s Eve celebration in Hackettstown. This was the first drop of an M&M. An illuminated Peep is dropped in Bethlehem, Pa., where Peeps producer Just Born is based. And a Hershey Kiss replica is raised in Hershey, Pa.](http://www.townshipjournal.com/binrepository/670x432/0c0/0d0/none/1198400/PCWR/dsc0549-hack-23-6-002_4-7220501_20240101143002.jpg)
About 4,000 people gathered for a New Year’s Eve celebration in Hackettstown. This was the first drop of an M&M. An illuminated Peep is dropped in Bethlehem, Pa., where Peeps producer Just Born is based. And a Hershey Kiss replica is raised in Hershey, Pa.
![Hoping for a sweet new year The Centenary University Cyclone mascot dances with a child on New Year’s Eve.](http://www.townshipjournal.com/binrepository/287x432/0c0/0d0/none/1198400/URWN/dsc0519-cyclone-a-002_4-7220502_20240101143004.jpg)
The Centenary University Cyclone mascot dances with a child on New Year’s Eve.
![Hoping for a sweet new year Many Hackettstown businesses stayed open New Year’s Eve. There were giveaways of balloons, hats and noisemakers.](http://www.townshipjournal.com/binrepository/299x432/0c0/0d0/none/1198400/DBGG/dsc0491-23-4a-002_4-7220503_20240101143004.jpg)
Many Hackettstown businesses stayed open New Year’s Eve. There were giveaways of balloons, hats and noisemakers.
![Hoping for a sweet new year The Strand music shop put a piano out on the sidewalk for people to play.](http://www.townshipjournal.com/binrepository/552x432/0c0/0d0/none/1198400/RESF/dsc0435-hack-23-2a-002_4-7220504_20240101143005.jpg)
The Strand music shop put a piano out on the sidewalk for people to play.
![Hoping for a sweet new year An M&M mascot greets visitors.](http://www.townshipjournal.com/binrepository/288x432/0c0/0d0/none/1198400/PYWF/dsc0527-hacks-5-002_4-7220505_20240101143006.jpg)
An M&M mascot greets visitors.