LEWISTON — It’s time to say goodbye to 2016, the year of celebrity deaths, political drama, and protests. When you ask people what they thought of the last 364 days, the response is often overwhelmingly negative. But it wasn’t all bad. Really. 

The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years, “Stranger Things” debuted on Netflix, and Hamilton the Broadway musical took the world by storm. 

“We had a really good year, healthwise and financially; 2016 was really good for us,” said Jenny Morin, who was attending the New Year’s L/A Bash with her friends at The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center on Saturday night. “And my New Year’s resolution is to reconnect with more people, old friends who I don’t see as often.”

Executive Director Mitch Thomas was excited about the second annual New Year’s event.

“It’s family-friendly,” he said. “We’ve got guests in their 20s and some pushing 80. We have about 120 guests this year.”

He said one of the draws is a raffle prize worth $1,000, which includes wine, gift cards for local eateries and, in Franco Center style, a crepe pan.

“It’s a fun night out and a fundraiser for the Franco Center,” Thomas said.

They also brought back “Every Other Sunday,” a local nine-piece dance band led by Mike French.

The party included a surf-and-turf buffet, live music and a bar. The food and desserts were all made in-house.

The waitstaff said the most popular drinks Saturday night were wine and Prosecco.

Charlene LeClair and her husband were excited to be back at the New Year’s Bash.

“We won the grand prize at the last party, so that’s how we started off the year,” she said. 

As far as her New Year’s resolutions, she said she wants to get healthier and be a better person all around.

Louise, who was sitting at the same table, said her favorite part of 2016 was when her granddaughter was born.

“That changed our lives,” she said.

Her resolutions: learn to take better care of herself and share that knowledge with others. 

Joshua Waits said his best part of 2016 was getting divorced. His friends, Mr. and Mrs. Katsiks, said the best part for them was getting married. 

Tatiana Johnson, who lives in Lewiston, said her favorite part of 2016 was the birth of her son.

“He was born in June,” Johnson said. “My resolution is to be healthy — for him.”

The guests ate and drank and danced their way into the New Year, when a giant balloon dropped at midnight, welcoming the new year. 

Hello 2017!