• A look at the year ahead
Although the Tri-City Senior Center looks to be over and done with, at least for the foreseeable future, and attempts at regionalizing fire protection bit the dust in 2008, cooperation between neighboring cities seems to be a theme for 2009.

• New Year's resolutions of a different kind
This past year has been a mixed bag of change -- good news and bad news. We endured a tumultuous political season that ended with the hope that a change in leadership at the top might lead to a resolution of the Iraq War and economic stability. We saw major banks and auto makers go through trying fiscal times and then had hopes that a multibillion-dollar bailout would rescue them and thousands of jobs.

• A time for reflection
The period from Thanksgiving (and some would say this begins even sooner) to the end of the year is a whirlwind. We are caught up in an overindulgence in food, gift-buying, visiting and spending money. Maybe it's time to remember the reason for the season.

• The message of Christmas should be lived every day
'Twas the very day of Christmas and all through Olmsted,

• Every problem is a local problem
Journalism teachers often tell budding reporters, "Every story is a local story." No matter if an event happens in Iraq or on the space station, the impact is always felt at home.

• Another kind of gift is needed
With the holidays, we expect to experience a hectic pace of gift-buying, visiting, a variety of parties and dinners, maybe some time off from work and school. There are holiday cards to mail or e-mail. Long-lost relatives to contact. School Christmas concerts to attend.