The lights and garlands are stored away and New Year’s toasts have all been supped. The holiday glamour is fading but the community’s hopes for 2009 have done anything but evaporate. This week, community members ranging from county officials to shoppers at the Pony Village Mall were asked to describe their one wish for the new year. Here’s what they had to say:



“I’m torn between the national economy turning around and world peace. I really am. World peace and prosperity.”

— Jan Willis, North Bend city administrator



“I hope our new president’s changes are for the better, not worse. And I’d like to see our soldiers come home safe.”

— Claudia Craig, 68, Charleston



“I guess my wish for 2009 is that there be civility and caring in the world and that people don’t think as much about their own happiness as they do for the concerns of others.”

— Sen. Joanne Verger, D-Coos Bay



“It has to be good health for my husband. I’d like to celebrate New Year’s with him next year, 2010.”

— Rita Calandrino, 76, Bandon



“More funding for law enforcement. That my family is safe and happy.”

— R. Paul Frasier, Coos County district attorney



“My wish would be that people would set aside their differences to solve the problems that we have this coming year. Whether it’s the economy or whatever. We all need to work together and find the best solutions for these difficult complex issues.”

— Rep. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay



“My one wish would be to have a successful move to Portland, because I’m not a big city person.”

— Hailey Cabral, 21, Reedsport



“It is my hope that the work that we do at the city of Coos Bay will help to provide a better, more satisfying life for our entire community. My hope is that Coos Bay is a good place for everyone to live in.”

— Jeff McKeown, Coos Bay mayor



“I just hope the decisions we make in Salem are in the best interest of all Oregonians and not special interest groups.”

— Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach



“There’s a million things I would like to have ... but more than have the county timber payments renewed forever after, I would like to be able to do logging on our forestlands like we did in the old days.”

— Nikki Whitty, Coos County commissioner



“Good health for everyone.”

— Bob Main, Coos County commissioner



“My wish would be that we focus on the good work we do with our kids and that we learn to trust each other more. My wish is to do a better job of bringing us together on the same page.”

— Bob De La Vergne, Coos Bay School District superintendent



“More family wage jobs for Coos County residents. I would say that in the short time I’ve lived here it has quickly become obvious to me that a lot of problems in this community could be improved if more families were on a stronger economic footing.”

— Clark Walworth, editor/publisher of The World



“Just for things to get better — the economy, our world peace situation, make strides against terrorism and just world peace would probably be a biggie. Obviously the environment, take care of the world, the earth I mean. As a side note, I’d like 2009 to be a better fishing year.”

— Jim Pennel, 60, Florence



“I wish our economy would improve and get our boys back from over seas. I wish Coquille’s economy would improve and the G-P site would fill up.”

— Steve Britton, Coquille mayor



“That people understand the importance of God in their life.”

— Janet Gage, 63, Coos Bay



“That the economy picks up and that the school funding is even better than it has been.”

— BJ Hollensteiner, North Bend School District superintendent



“A couple of environmentally sound manufacturing businesses would come in ... then there would be a revitalization of other retail and our schools because young families would start moving here.”

— Timm Slater, executive director of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce



“Peace, happiness, prosperity and contentment.”

— Tamara Landrum, owner of Oregon Wine Cellars



“I think my wish would be that people would be happy with what they have instead of thinking that happiness is getting things they want.”

— Rick Wetherell, North Bend mayor



“I wish everyone peace, happiness and a chance to take a breath and relax from the stresses of the previous year and that we can come together as a community to support each other and prosper.”

— Jessica Sullivan, owner of the Bar Wench in North Bend



“I want Southwestern men’s basketball team to go to the playoffs.”

— Katherine Hoppe, director of promotions and conventions, Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor and Convention Bureau