2010 an edgy year

It’s been a year, 2010, when quite a bit of anger has bubbled just below or just above the surface of a myriad of discussions. In politics, the midterm elections brought out more than the usual anger both at steps taken and steps not taken by those holding power in Washington and in Hartford.

In the economy, while there have been some steps forward, there is still high unemployment and a high foreclosure rate, affecting too many of us in the worst way, creating an environment of friction and anxiety. Budget deficits at both the state and national levels are looming; Hartford’s January legislative session is going to be a tough one for all the elected state officials, who must try to find a way to cut spending and increase revenues without creating too much rancor.

 After three solid years of coping with the Great Recession and its repercussions, it seems that many Americans have been stretched just about to the breaking point. Will 2011 bring some much-needed relief and a shift from pessimism, through realism, perhaps even to optimism?

The transition will not be an easy one, but it should be noted that on a local level, the towns of the Northwest Corner have experienced some positive change in 2010, which will position them to deal better with the challenges presented in 2011 and beyond. Yankee ingenuity and self-determination are alive and well here.

In Salisbury, a new firehouse and a new Town Grove building at Lake Wononscopomuc were completed in 2010. The previous structures served many generations of town residents very well, and the new ones will serve many more generations for years to come. Entering into two large construction projects in the middle of a devastating recession took some real fortitude, even though the planning and fiscal preparation for the buildings had been happening for years. While the center of town has taken a blow with the closing of The White Hart Inn last month, it is to be hoped that new ownership will take over the inn soon and return it to its rightful place as a  destination for all in the community.

In Falls Village, the center of town has undergone a real resurgence, with P.D. Walsh’s and the Falls Village Inn opening in time for the holidays. With the unfortunate demise of The White Hart, the inn at Falls Village is a much-needed venue for those in the region looking for a country inn. Between the Falls Village Children’s Theater and Toymakers Café and the new establishments, the center of this tiny town has become a warm gathering place once again.

In Cornwall, the initiative of the town in making use of solar power has shown real, practical environmental commitment. Cornwallians are known for their ability to make good use of the local resources available to them, whether through farming the land or raising cattle, llamas, lambs or goats. The town’s good use of money from a federal grant to purchase 24 solar voltaic panels now attached to the Town Hall and Town Office building is one more way to prove themselves a model of green responsibility.

In Kent, one article in one magazine created regionwide interest in the town’s offerings when Yankee Magazine voted Kent the top destination for autumn leaf peeping and general touring. What a boon to those who work hard to keep Kent’s center vibrant, while maintaining the natural beauty that nature lovers seek. This has been good for Kent, but also for nearby towns in the region who were “discovered� by those visiting the area for the first time.

In Sharon, the town’s ambitious restoration of its roadways has been long-awaited and long-needed. But it took leadership and determination to finally make it happen, and it’s to the credit of the current town Board of Selectmen, especially First Selectman Bob Loucks, that they took the bull by the horns. Between having better infrastructure and the opening of the new market at the former Trotta’s space that had been languishing, Sharon is ready for its own (controlled, of course) boom.

North Canaan has taken some steps to prepare for a future of growth. The center of town has new, attractive lighting and the Depot has been active once again, with trains carrying touring passengers up to Great Barrington and back during the town’s successful Railroad Days celebration. The Stop & Shop plaza has stores in its newly remodeled spaces that attract shoppers from all over the region. With residential real estate among the most affordable in the area and large employers like BD and Bicron, North Canaan is positioned to be the Northwest Corner town with the youngest population, ready to welcome families to a town that is a great place to raise children.

There is reason to believe that the year to come will hold some renewed hope for the region’s general health and that some of the anger and frustration associated with coping with a shrinking and stagnant economy for the past few years will give way to a brighter, more optimistic, future.