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Sotomayor will help usher out 2013 in NYC

New York City workers stored inflated balloons Sunday in preparation for the New Year’s Eve party in Times Square.Carlo Allegri/REUTERS

NEW YORK — The countdown to the new year in Times Square is getting some high-profile help: US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The organizers of the annual celebration announced Sunday that Sotomayor will lead the final 60-second countdown and push the ceremonial button to signal the descent of the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball.

Power generated from pedaling bicycles connected to batteries will illuminate the famous New Year’s Eve ball.Charles Sykes/Invision for Citi/Associated Press

Sotomayor was appointed to the court in 2009. She is a native of the Bronx.

The giant New Year’s Eve ball is covered with more than 2,600 crystal triangles and lit from within by more than 32,000 lights.

Times Square will host millions Tuesday night to count down the last few moments of 2013.

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Over the weekend, six Citibikes from the city’s bike-share program were installed in Times Square and connected to 12-volt deep cycle batteries. New Yorkers and tourists will generate power by pedaling. That will help illuminate the famed ball.

Each bike will generate an average of 75 watts an hour. It takes 50,000 watts to light up the ball’s LEDs.

Additionally, a giant paper shredder and a dumpster were installed in Times Square on Saturday to allow visitors to destroy bad memories of 2013. The annual event is dubbed ‘‘Good Riddance Day.’’

Associated Press