HIT: To the possible improvements to Market Street Park. The park could become more accessible with new pavement and better parking.

Most importantly, the views of the Owasco River would be better. Natural resources are so valuable, it would be great to have one of Auburn's fixed up.

MISS: To the passing of Jack Nolan, owner of Nolan's Shoe Store. Jack and his family, including twin brother Bob, operated the downtown Auburn business for almost 70 years.

If you were fortunate enough to grow up in Auburn, you can fondly recall going to Nolan's to get new school shoes or a pair of dress shoes for Easter. The store, with its mini merry-go-round and friendly staff, was a symbol of what downtown Auburn used to be.

Back then, a person could shop at many stores, Kalet's, Seal's, The Big Store, Fanny Farmer, Marshall's and so many others, a time when downtown was the retail hub of the city.

HIT: To the start of Major League Baseball's spring training. While the first week has been dominated by Alex Rodriguez and steroids, baseball fans have to be thrilled by the first true sign that winter is almost over.

Yankees and Mets fans have hopes their teams will win the World Series in new ballparks and minor league fans will be able to see the Syracuse Chiefs under new parent club, the Washington Nationals.

Opening Day at Falcon Park is only four months away too. One can almost smell the grass and the hot dogs.

MISS: To the rise in foreclosures in Cayuga County last year. For the first 11 months of 2008, there were 98 foreclosures in the county, a huge jump from the 58 reported in all of 2007.

Sadly, Cayuga County is not isolated from the economic reality that has affected this nation. We all hope that in 2009, there will be fewer foreclosures.