Hamilton, Ohio – The Hamilton Fire Department signed off on the Fitton Center's ability to safely host its New Year’s Eve Special Event Dec. 31. The Fitton Center will continue its close consultation with the department going forward with all repairs to the fire suppression system.
A burst sprinkler pipe late Christmas Eve originally left the event in doubt.
“This is big for us, for our community,” said Ian McKenzie-Thurley, Fitton Center executive director. “We have been working hard since we got the alarm call late Saturday night to get the building secure, to make sure it was safe and to have things cleaned up.
“Our first priority – always - is the safety of everyone who sets foot in the Fitton Center. Whether that’s staff, guests, the artists who perform for our guests or the sponsors and partners who make the Fitton Center more than a building, but an experience. People need to know they are safe when they come to our place.
“Having the green light from HFD to go ahead with this party is important; it means the safety experts believe our efforts to get things back to normal have been on target and people should be comfortable coming out. And believe me, after this experience we will be more than ready to throw a party people will remember for a long time.”
Sponsored by 9258 Wealth Management, the all-inclusive New Year’s Eve Special event runs 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and features a three-course sit-down dinner from catering partner Two Women in a Kitchen, live music by the River City Band, hosted bar service with beer wine and seltzers, party favors, snacks, champagne toast to ring in the new year, breakfast served after midnight and more.
Tickets are available here or by calling 513-863-8873, ext. 110. While the Fitton Center is officially closed this week, staff will monitor the phone lines while cleaning up and preparing the rest of the facility for the event.
“Luckily the water damage was mostly limited to our entryway, dance studio and office space,” McKenzie-Thurley said. “We’ve been able to concentrate on preparing the Carruthers Signature Ballroom, Vista Room and our gallery spaces while Complete Restoration Services handles the cleanup.”
CRS owner/general manager William E. Wilson is a former chef and competitive pumpkin carver whose work has been seen locally at Operation Pumpkin in Hamilton and nationally on the Food Network’s Outrageous Pumpkins program.
Wilson’s experience made him an ideal partner for the cleanup operation.
“We are so appreciative to Will and his team,” McKenzie-Thurley said. “They are consummate professionals, fast and thorough But he also has the heart of an artist. He understands how important the arts are to a community. CRS is going above and beyond to make sure we can have this event as scheduled.
“Don’t call it a comeback. It’s a continuation and a validation of our commitment to our mission of building community excellence through the arts and culture. We hope people will come out and have a good time with us. We’re grateful for the opportunity to host this event and ring in 2023 in style.
“We were lucky nobody was here when the sprinkler pipes burst, that nobody was hurt. We are lucky everybody from our staff, to the Fire Department, to Will and his crew interrupted their holiday celebrations to make this happen. We can’t wait to see everyone Saturday night.”
The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.
Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture
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