Dee Turcotte Caouette, front, exalted ruler of Elks Lodge 371 on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, rings in the new year with friends at the lodge Sunday night. Her goals for 2018 are “happiness and less stress.” She said she doesn’t like to make resolutions because she can never keep them. Nancy Preble, back, said she is looking forward to warmer weather. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

Claire Davis celebrates the end of 2017 Sunday night at the Elks Lodge on Lisbon Street in Lewiston with friends. She said her resolution is to “drink more wine so I can do something crafty with the corks.” She also wants to work on continued good health and well-being.  (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

Sam Anderson, center, lead guitarist of the band The Substitutes, celebrates New Year’s Eve at The Dolard & Priscilla Gendron Franco Center in Lewiston on Sunday night. Anderson said 2017 was “the best and worst times. What was good was very good, and what was bad was very bad.” Drummer Pete Webber said he’s hoping for fewer devices and more human connections in 2018. “That’s why we play rock ‘n’ roll music, because it brings people together,” he said. Keyboardist Mike Maurice said he is looking forward to going to Jamaica in February, while guitarist Howland Bickerstaff  is going to Antigua in November for a work anniversary and to visit friends. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

Mitch Thomas, executive director of The Dolard & Priscilla Gendron Franco Center in Lewiston, enjoys the New Year’s Eve party at the center Sunday night. “I hope the Franco Center continues to be a beacon for the arts and community events and family gatherings, even bigger and better than before,” he said. He said his resolution for 2018 is to pray more, something he’s gotten away from. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

Dolard and Priscilla Gendron, right, enjoy the New Year’s Eve party Sunday night at the Franco Center, which carries their names. Dolard said his resolution for 2018 is to be more patient, and his hope is to spend another year with wife. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

Carol Brown of Livermore Falls, center, her daughter Melissa Speich of Farmington and Speich’s cousin, “Sparky,” celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston on Sunday night. Brown said of 2018, “It’s gotta be better than last year.” Her hopes for the new year are that her family be healthy and happy. Speich said she’s looking forward to finishing her degree in certified behavioral analysis at the University of Maine at Farmington. Her resolution is to be more connected with family. Speich said her previous resolutions have been to lose weight. “It worked, I lost 100 pounds,” she said. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)