First Night of Maplewood and South Orange will not take place in 2012. The Board of Directors of First Night notified the town administrators that the group, "finds that it does not have sufficient volunteer resources to enable it to produce a full scale event for December 31, 2012."

However, the current Board is available to help new volunteers take up the cause, organizing a family-friendly New Year's Eve event for South Orange and Maplewood. "We urge any individuals or organizations in Maplewood and/or South Orange to consider taking over this project that has provided our communities with twenty years of New Year’s Eve fun. The retiring board of directors will be available to offer their advice and experience to anyone interested in assuming the leadership for the event," said the group in a statement.

New Year’s Eve 2011 marked the twentieth anniversary of First Night® Maplewood/ South Orange, featuring legendary folk singer Livingston Taylor and a circus.

The First Night Board of Directors adds:

If the Boards of Trustees and/or organizations or individuals in our communities want to see New Year’s Eve events continue, we ask that you log onto our website, www.firstnightmwso.org, and/or contact us immediately. You may also email Sandra Dick with any inquiry at: Dicksan@verizon.net.