The close of 2019 is almost here. Looking back at the year, here are some things we could not have predicted.
We were all surprised by the news that Alterra Mountain Company plans to purchase Sugarbush Resort shortly after the new year begins. We understand the reasoning of Sugarbush owner Win Smith and we’re optimistic about the change and the opportunities it presents for the resort and The Valley.
We did not predict – but should have – the success of two local and divergent efforts to combat invasive species. Both Warren and Waitsfield have concluded pilot programs to combat Japanese knotweed and the results are impressive and heartening. The short version is that it’s possible to manage this pervasive invasive.
We did not predict that Collaborative Brewing would begin production and distribution and also open a taproom between March and November. That’s a pretty impressive trajectory for the four Warren natives and business partners who pulled that off. Cheers!
We did get a couple of predictions right last year. We predicted that school district redesign would continue to be a major news story and we were right. We predicted that the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board would pursue a plan calling for the closure of a Valley elementary school and we were right. In November, the board voted to pursue a plan that closes Fayston Elementary School.
We predicted that an HUUSD bond vote to upgrade Harwood Union would go forward, but probably not at Town Meeting 2019. We were right. It may or may not come to voters at Town Meeting 2020. We predict it will be pushed off to the November general election. We predict continued uncertainty around the issue of one or two middle schools and how the issue of intradistrict choice should be managed.
Based on some great new businesses opening in The Valley this year, we predict a strong economic climate, and based on anecdotal reports we predict more young people who were raised here will return here.
And, finally, with 100 percent confidence, we predict that the Camp Meade Winter S’morestice Celebration will succeed in breaking the Guinness World Record of 267 pounds for the world’s largest s’more.
See you here next year to compare notes.
