As I sit here looking out the window watching it snow, I realize how close to the end of the year we are.

So I start to think about all the things that have happen here in our little village and beyond over the past year.

I think this past year has gone by so quickly, and I think the whole global warming thing is the reason for all the strange weather everyone has had this year. I think it is time we all wake up and realize how lucky we are and that we better start paying attention to all these signs of global warming before it is to late.

I think of all the folks who have lost loved ones this year and sympathy to them all. We have had a few friends pass this year also.

I think of all the soldiers that have given their lives to fight for our freedom and their loves left behind, and for the soldiers taken away from their families for such long periods of time. Being thankful to be able to live in a country where we have all the freedoms we do and at the same time feeling bad for those who don't. We surely are blessed.

I think of all the folks who have lost their homes due to the weather from those awful fires out west and the awful hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc. and realize how lucky and thankful I am for what I have.

Here In Fair Haven, we also have quite a bit of change this past year. The sewer project has moved along with the first phase about done. Main Street and some of the side streets have pipes and drains in and are about ready for hook up to the main sewage line.

The Route 104A road construction has been finished with a new road from one end of the village to the other end. And we have new curbing and sidewalks on both sides of the street from the west end to the state park entrance.

The street lights have been moved to accommodate the new road, and new sod and trees have been planted throughout the village.

Even though there was a lot of complaining during this long process, I am sure everyone would agree our little village looks really nice. Yet there still is a lot of mess due to the ongoing sewer project and will be for some time.

The Fourth of July celebration was a great success due to the hard work of many folks and the SOFA committee. They already have next year's celebration planning underway.

The Renaissance Festival also was a great success; they sure did have a lot of rainy weekends to deal with but they did it.

This year the festival had new owners, and they did a great job. They even had a Spooky Halloween program there for several weekends before Halloween.

It was nice seeing it utilized more, and I understand they have other plans for next year. Guess we will have to wait and see what they have got up their sleeves.

The new businesses in town seem to have fared well. Most have closed up for the winter months. However the grocery store and a few others are open all winter.

This year also found the state park closing up for the winter.

Usually you could rent one of the nine year-round cabins throughout the winter, but with the economy in such a state, things had to be cut.

If you are looking for something to do with the kids during Christmas break why not come to the Sterling Nature Center Dec. 27.

The center will hold a family-friendly event, “Winter Birds and Bird Feeders,” at 1 p.m. that day as a school break program.

Did you know that one of the most popular winter wildlife activities in the United States is watching and feeding birds at a feeding station?

This program will help attendees identify the birds at one's feeder and show ways to create simple feeders. Participants will create a peanut butter and seed feeder to take home. The program is free and open to the public.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nancy Webster lives and writes from the village of Fair Haven