In the aftermath of the nation's most heartbreaking day and Cincinnati's most tumultuous year in decades, a new New Year's Eve “place to be” has emerged: home.

        Safe. Quiet. Family. For many, it's the only place tonight to properly reflect on 2001.

        Some Tristate residents will celebrate in public, of course, from restaurants and riverboats to concert halls and ski slopes.

WHERE TO GO

• World Peace Bell in Newport will ring in the new year, following an Interfaith Service for World Peace at the nearby Syndicate Ballroom, 18 East Fifth Street. Call (859) 655-9500.   • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's concert at Music Hall is titled “A French Affair to Remember,” followed by a ball featuring the Jerry Conrad Orchestra and dinner by Benson's Catering. Call 381-3300.   • Rozzi's fireworks will light the sky over Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind., with skiing until 3 a.m. At 11 p.m., the Ski Patrol and Ski School instructors will hold a torchlight parade. Call (812) 537-3754.   • Vanilla Ice will perform at Jillian's “Red White and Blue 2002” celebration. Call (859) 491-5388.   • A Christian celebration led by the World of Deliverance Ministries returns to the Cincinnati Convention Center. Call 589-3400.   • More ideas for celebrating the new year

        But an informal Enquirer survey on Sunday found that many residents said the year's events — primarily Sept. 11 and Cincinnati's violent spring and summer — make for a somber doorway to 2002.

        “September 11th was terrible and obviously affected a lot of people, but 2002 is a chance to start anew,” Josh Kellerman, 26, of Mason, said during an outing to Tri-County Mall. “A new beginning.”

        He's going to a friend's home for a small, low-key gathering, but wasn't surprised that many others are staying home.

        “I understand that a lot of people don't want to be in large crowds,” said Belvlyn Torain-Glover of Evendale. She'll stay home tonight, too, she said as she bounced on her knee her only granddaughter, Tori Boggs, born in June.

        “I'd tell her about 9-11 and the riots,” said Ms. Torain-Glover. “Of 2002, if she was old enough, I'd say if you haven't had an opportunity to assess your life, it's time. A new beginning.”

        For Lynne Gabbard, 49, of Cold Spring, New Year's Eve provides an opportunity for quality time with her 10 grandchildren. “Family night,” she said. “We'll probably play games, Pictionary, Outburst.”

        Friends Brandon Bellamy, 18, of Springfield Township, and Shane Santel, 15, of Colerain Township, said they plan to attend a friend's party because, for high school senior Brandon, life will be different next year.

        “We're going to hang out and enjoy it,” Brandon said, “but 9-11, it just puts a damper on the rest of the year.”

        It was a sentiment echoed from suburban mall to urban church.

        “So many things have happened, so many negative things,” the Rev. James Lomax said in the lobby of Nast-Trinity United Methodist Church in Over-the-Rhine. A pastor at Delaney Chapel in Georgetown, he'll spend tonight at a friend's Madisonville church “because it's a positive way to start the new year.”

New Year's Day closings
Update from Times Square

Year in Review: 9-11 eclipses everything else
Year in Cincinnati: Riots, trials, national scrutiny
Many ringing in new year at home
Already counting down to 2003
No end in sight for cold weather
Old case shows how smallpox can be fought
What makes smallpox such a serious threat
Police set to use new GPS devices
Weekend shootings leave 2 dead
Citizens do their part to close racial divide
Congrats
Good News: Firm helps group give its party
Local Digest
Vets share sky-high pride
You Asked For It
Halfway house criticized
Hospital allows patients to order own tests
Troops from Ft. Campbell to relieve Marines
Ky. budget woes throw state raises in question
Posters target evasive dads