Welcome, 2012! Farewell, 2011! What a year it’s been: floods, knotweed, late blight, lost crops, road work, road work, road work – oh and “expect delays.” What follows are our New Year’s resolutions and predictions for the coming year.
Resolution: After Irene thoroughly trashed our roads from north to south and east to west, we resolve to never, ever, complain about the road guys or groan when we see those orange STOP AHEAD signs. To go from no roads to one-lane raggedy dirt roads to two-lane dirt roads and finally two-lane paved roads (albeit lumpy in spots) was epic.
Prediction: When VTrans completes its repaving of Vermont Route 100 from Waitsfield to Warren next summer, local drivers and cyclists will swoon as they cruise around in a state of profound bliss.
Resolution: Irene wasn’t the only impediment to our travel this year. There were epic rains in the spring that wreaked havoc on town roads and undid some of the water project work that had been done. We resolve not to complain about water project road delays as the project grinds towards completion next spring/summer.
Prediction: Construction will end, but there will be more legal wrangling over some as-of-yet undiscovered aspect of the Waitsfield water project.
Resolution: How we feed ourselves is important as is how we use the land. We resolve to grow more food at home and support local farmers and others who keep our land open and productive.
Prediction: Local is the new organic. Watch for amazing success from the newly minted and opened Mad River Food Hub. Knowing your farmer is as important as knowing your doctor or dentist. We’re lucky to have people who want to grow food for us.
Prediction: Sugarbush announced plans last week for its next phase of development at Lincoln Peak including residential units as well as improved pedestrian linkages between Sugarbush Village and the Lincoln Peak base area. Expect a lot of discussion about what pedestrian linkage means and expect a lot of discussion about that decrepit access road that leads up to the Sugarbush Village parking area.
Resolution: Ski more.
Prediction: Lots of snow this winter.
Happy New Year!
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