New York artist Pat Oleszko, left, helped Osmar Ramos-Caballero of Holyoke with his costume of a BP employee being eaten by a shark as the "Global Warning! Writhin' See/Change" group prepared to march in the procession on First Night in Boston.

Boston's Family Fireworks Celebration lit the sky over the Boston Common on Dec. 31.

An ice sculpture of cold hands in Copley Square was appropriate to the temperature on First Night.

Marcella Bourasa, 2, of Milford experienced her full snowfall on Dec. 31, while her mother, Laura Bourassa, 28, admonished her not to eat the snow. "It's good!" protested Marcella.

Brave celebrants took the frigid plunge at the Curley Community Center in South Boston on New Years Day for the Annual L Street Brownies Polar Bear Swim.

Linda Connors of South Boston bundled up to walk her two Yorkshire terriers, Mimi and Missy, along Day Boulevard.

Paul Dooley, sergeant-at-arms of the Massachusetts Senate, escorted members into the chamber, where Senate President Therese Murray led them in the swearing-in ceremony.

Representative Ted Speliotis from Danvers held his granddaughter, Kayla Freeley, 15 months, in the aisle of the House chamber of the State House after members of the 188th General Court were sworn in.

Lieutenant Dennis Russo of the Revere Fire Department took to a ladder as firefighters from surrounding towns responded to a multiple-alarm fire in Swampscott.

Graham and Ian McKay dismantled the damaged beachside deck on their family home on Plum Island as high tides continued to erode the beach.

Jeannine Cook was treated for flu-like symptoms at Brigham and Women's Urgent Care Center in Foxborough.

The Patriots' Wes Welker dove for a first down but came up short as the Dolphins' Reshad Jones pushed him out of bounds.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen had a hug for his former coach, Doc Rivers, as the final seconds ticked off the clock in a victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.