Today is the first day of a brand new year, and with it, a new beginning.

Yes, it’s that time.

We can officially close the book on 2010, a year that gave us a few candidates who were very upset with the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections office; some silly, downright “crazy” stuff from those wacky School Board members; and a Kissimmee councilman tossed out of his chair by the governor for allegedly waving a handgun at his wife.

But we digress. Could have happened anywhere. Right?

Of course it could have. And practically every other city across the nation today is looking back at the previous 365 days and their own little foibles and wondering why?  Why? But many are just looking back at last night and wondering why? Why? Why did I have those last three glasses of champagne? Possibly because of the previous 364 days.

Fortunately, they have the magic pills of aspirin or other assorted pain relievers to make their heads stop throbbing. Too bad those little magic pills don’t work nearly as well on other things. Like last year.

Last year was another in a long line of headache-laden years, with high unemployment rates, downsizing and personal money woes.

It, again, was extremely bleak.

But we, if nothing else, have discovered through these years that we are a community of believers in the positive — that anything we set our minds to, we can accomplish; that our goals can be realized through perseverance, patience and faith; and that nothing can break us. We have a lot of pride in what we do, we believe in “the system,” and we stand firm, always knowing that some how, some way, things are going to work out just fine.

Today, on Day 1 of 2011 — or 1-1-11 — we extend our hopes and sincere best wishes for the future to everyone in Osceola County. We hope the businesses within our community — both large and small — can shrug off the troubled times and surge ahead with a strong desire for growth.

And we trust those who have been at odds in the past will drop any and all bitterness and shake hands to work for the betterment of the community.

This can truly be the year that Osceola County shines. Yes, it’s that time.