Lincoln Park City Councilman Chris Dardzinski (left) with 2018 Miss “Mini” Penny Drop Princess Emily Clark, 8, of Lincoln Park at the 8 p.m. Dec. 31 Family Penny Drop New Year’s Eve.
Emily Clark (left), 8, of Lincoln Park, Miss “Mini” Penny Drop Princess for 2018 and her mother Mistina Clark.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspaper
LINCOLN PARK – Despite the cold, Lincoln Park celebrated the New Year with a family-friendly 8 p.m. Lincoln Penny Drop and a midnight Lincoln Penny Drop, with its newly crowned Penny Princesses presiding.
Emily Clark, 9, is the new Miss “Mini” Penny Drop Princess, a title open to girls age 12 and younger. Jane Rocheleau Hagan is the new Miss Penny Drop Princess, a title open to women age 16 and up.
The third annual event was held this year at the Ikaros Hall, 1677 Fort St.
Emily is a third-grader at Keppen Elementary. She likes singing and playing the piano, which her mother, Mistina Clark, a music teacher, encourages.
Jane Rocheleau Hagan, 2018 Penny Drop Princess.
Emily’s favorite city events include Lincoln Park Days, where she enjoyed riding the roller coaster this year, and watching the city’s annual Memorial Day parade.
“The thing I like about it is they throw candy,” she said with a smile.
This year, as the Miss “Mini” Penny Drop Princess, she will ride in the parade with event organizer and founder, City Councilman Chris Dardzinski.
Emily said she was excited to be princess and was looking forward to riding in the parade. She was excited and relieved to learn that her title would be verified by local media.
“I have some people in my class – they are usually mean to me – they never believe me,” she said.
(Sue Suchyta can be contacted at [email protected].)