Of course, my first message must be “Happy New Year.”  I do hope that 2011 will be a good one for each of you.

Certainly 2010 had its problems, especially disasters around the world, both natural and man-made; all the media have reviewed them, so I won’t.  But the year also brought its blessings — and the realization that, for the most part, our normal response to disaster is to offer help. I hope that most of your memories from 2010 are happy ones.

In Atlanta and Washington, we will be seeing many new political faces.  Here in Dawson County, even those being installed for new terms on the boards of commission and education are familiar faces, except for board of commissioners newcomer Jimmy Hamby, whom we congratulate as we send best wishes to them all. Thanks for your willingness to serve.

Best wishes and thanks also go to Mike Connor as he leaves the board of commissioners and to Philip Hester as Chestatee State Bank is taken over by another entity.

I remember so well when Hester came to our county to establish First Community Bank, because he didn’t stop with that innovation. He began to breathe new life into a small chamber of commerce organization as he brought together a group of leaders who were dubbed a “sales team” — selling the merits of Dawson County. I became their “reporter” and was delighted as there were more and more achievements to report.

He was also instrumental in helping a fledgling arts council become an important part of the community, with a permanent home. Thanks, Philip, for your many contributions over the years.

I believe congratulations are also in order for K.K. Turner as he purchases the Gold Creek facilities. Along with the homeowners there, many are hoping that he will be able to restore the golf course and clubhouse so that they may regain their former prominent place in our area.

Many of us may also be happy to settle back into a routine after weeks of holiday activities. Those returning to school and jobs may not be so elated, but for old retirees like me, a comfortable routine forms a structure. Hopefully, I will exercise regularly as well as attend scheduled meetings, and will do chores, which have been postponed as well as the ordinary ones that force themselves on one.

If you have made new resolutions, good luck in keeping them. As for me, those old ones are still good enough to continue working on.

And Tiny Tim’s Christmas wish is also good for this new decade: “May God bless us every one!”

Helen Taylor’s column appears periodically in the Dawson Community News.