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2009 at a Glance

We know the prediction thing is not unique, and we accept the fact that we’re not particularly good at it (although we’re claiming a 70 percent success rate on our 2008 predictions). But we have fun!

Peace and Prosperity No, unfortunately that’s not a prediction we can make this year. Nations are fighting in many corners of the world, and people are suffering. Would that such problems were in our power to solve. We do predict that the new administration in Washington will stir things up, and that it’ll be, by this time next year, for the better.

Lady Dragons Okay, so last year’s pick wasn’t that difficult, with the likes of Sarah Semenero leading the way, but we gladly pick this year’s girls’ basketball team, under Sil Coccia’s skilled coaching, to repeat as Sonoma County League champions. With generous sponsor support, SVTV Comcast 27 will bring the team’s home league games right into Sonoma’s living rooms, so we can all watch, and root.

49ers Speaking of rooting, at least the 49ers had the good sense to bring in a new coach who acts tough as well as looks it. We’re sorry Mike Singletary released offensive coordinator Mike Martz, whose inventive play-calling had delivered some exciting games, but we’ll gladly predict a winning season in 2009 for the “old home team.”

NASCAR at Infineon Even for those who don’t follow the sport closely, this is a great spectacle – the big Sprint Cup cars on the twisty up-and-down at Infineon. Once again, we pick our long-time favorite Jeff Gordon to take the checkered flag here in June and, not content merely with that, we predict that he’ll win his “drive for five” in 2009 and become the only five-time champion of motor racing’s greatest series.

Human Nature We predict, as we do every year, that despite our best efforts we will once again succumb to the seven deadlies: pride, envy, anger, greed, sloth, gluttony and lust. Today is only January 2, so we’ve still got a few to go.

Hospital Emergency We were wrong in our prediction last year that the voters would approve “by the barest of margins” construction of a new hospital building on the Carinalli site. Fortunately, we voters did approve a ballot measure in the fall that will rebuild in place much of the hospital’s existing infrastructure and keep the Emergency Room up and running. Its presence is vitally important to us in Sonoma Valley, and we predict that it will prove to be literally so to someone in the coming year.

Local Elections We predicted a new face on each of the major local agencies, admittedly an easy prediction. Gary De Smet replaced Sandra Lowe on the school board, Laurie Gallian came in for Stanley Cohen on the city council, and Peter Hohorst and Madolyn Agrimonti replaced Mike Nugent and Mike Smith on the hospital board. No incumbents were defeated, and only the latter position was even contested, with four candidates for three seats. We predict that in 2009 “The Springs” again will be unable to elect its own mayor.

Valley Teens We predict the re-opened Valley of the Moon Teen Center will successfully develop new members for its board of directors and will grow over the coming year in its service to local teens. We also think this will be another great year for the Mentoring Alliance, which has matched over 400 local youth with caring adults for building one-on-one, supportive relationships; we predict a hundred new community-minded mentors will come forward in 2009, more than half the number that’s needed for the 140 youngsters still wanting to matched.

Finally, we predict that our home, Sonoma Valley, will be beautiful and bountiful again for another year. In our view, that’s the safest prediction of all. Happy New Year!