This time next week Christmas will be over and we’ll be closing out an old year and ushering in a new one.

There’s no better time than now to go on record with a bunch of New Year’s wishes. Here goes with my top 10:

• New businesses to fill market gaps and breathe life back into the empty storefronts in Hartselle’s central business district

• A breakthrough in the development of the Morgan Center Business Park at Thompson Road and I-65, with the location of at least one tenant

• The elimination of left turn signals on the four traffic lights downtown. What a relief it would be to be able to get through the central business district without having to stop for a red light or left turn signal.

• A change of attitude on the part of the city’s residents who buy elsewhere without giving a thought to the benefits of spending their money at home

• Open up the city’s ball fields to travel team tournaments during off-seasons as a means of generating additional revenue for local merchants and the city’s general fund.

• Develop a plan to accentuate the Bethel Road curb appear of the New Hartselle High School.

• Enhance and promote the city’s community identity by improving the eye-appeal of its gateways and corridors, upgrading way-finding signage and stronger enforcement of zoning and landscape ordinances

• Strengthen workforce training programs through vocational and technical training opportunities and career counseling in city schools.

• A mild winter, an early spring and a long summer and fall

• Last but not least, good health, happiness and prosperity for everyone.

Clif Knight is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.