What's going to be the big local story of 2007? Well, the holidays are over and the restaurant has calmed down a bit. Aside from some fairly serious family stuff that will sadly interrupt the normal pace of things, I can actually get back to one of my favorite crafts - the 700 word op-ed piece. While I cannot promise to crank out a column a week, I expect that I will be submitting one or two a month throughout the year. (Unless a few decently paid free-lance gigs fall out the sky. However, I am not actively soliciting such business at the moment.)

What makes 2007 such a great year to be an opinion writer in North Adams is the fact that lots of long talked about projects and proposals are finally coming to fruition. The economic development of the area has begun to slip out of its slight malaise of the past few years. Add to that the fact that we now have a "homer" sitting near the guv specializing on such issues, I can only expect that the momentum will continue and likely accelerate.

And, of course we have the local politics. Nobody loves the nitty gritty of an election year more than me and with the special election fast approaching (re: departing "homer" above), it will almost certainly start with a bang.

So, since this is a blog with a surprisingly large number of regular readers, let me put it to some use:

In your opinions, what will be the big local stories and events of 2007?* Perhaps my first column will be on this very subject.

*No, I don't mean the crazy stuff like Pat Robertson predicting terrorist attacks and tsunamis.  ¶ 6:35 PM