Farmingdale and Patchogue cancel New Year’s Eve ball drop

Farmingdale and Patchogue cancel New Year’s Eve ball drop

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, file photo, Joey Flores, of California, uses his cellphone as confetti falls during a New Year's celebration in New York's Times Square. New York City’s counterterrorism czar expects Times Square to be “the safest place on the planet Earth” on New Year’s Eve. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

According to Newsday Farmingdale has canceled its planned New Year’s Eve ball drop event due to rising COVID concerns, the village mayor confirmed.

Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said in a statement Monday that the board of trustees called off the event that was expected to take place on the Village Green Dec. 31 out of an abundance of caution given the current spike in COVID-19 cases.

“The health and safety of the community are most important to the board,” he continued. “When situations permit, we look forward to continuing a robust program of community activities.” Farmingdale last held its village ball drop in 2019.

Patchogue officials say they will not hold their “Midnight on Main Street” celebration for the same reason.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)