The year 2012 was a pretty good one for most Hills residents.

Although it was a tough haul with no steam train for a second year and highway developments that presented a threat to the source of the popular Wakefield Spring, a lot of good bubbled up from the year past.

The biggest piece of good news was the abandonment of the planned septic treatment facility that was slated to dump treated effluent into the Gatineau River. The people won that one on their own.

Wakefield also got what some consider good news with the announcement of a brand new, state-of-the-art school to be built on Sully Road. The project did prompt an angry backlash from some parents, but the project is going ahead.

And who can forget the Strain winning Live 88.5’s Big Money Shot. The Wakefield indie band took the top spot in the battle of the bands competition and the $25,000 that came with it. The Strain is heading out its first tour this winter.

If 2012 is any indication of good things to come, then 2013 should be an even greater year for all of us in the Hills. And these are the types of headlines I would love to be able to write in forthcoming editions of the Low Down:

“Restaurants reporting profit for month of November”

“Steam train here to stay, tracks now ‘indestructible’ ”

“PPU passes, Wakefield buys boardwalk”

“New Wakefield school opens, parents happy”

“Mayor Bussiere jumps off bridge, takes first dip in Gatineau”

“St. Mike’s saved!” (subhead: “School gets $5 million for upgrades”)

“Chelsea fixes ravine, gets new train station”

“Village skate park opens on time, under budget”

“Restaurants open Mondays!”

“Motorists ‘figuring out’ traffic circle”

“Gas flowing again at Ryan’s Garage”

“Price of firewood drops, wood guys honest”

“Harvest Festival returns with even bigger gathering”

“Gatineau Park protected!” (subhead: “Park given ‘national’ status”)

“Hwy 5 work finishes, Wakefield Spring tests clean”

“QUAIL House gets cash, opens second home”

“Drunk drivers down, cops report no incidents”

“Canada Day raft floats into village, returns to Alcove”

“Keanu Reeves to speak at WIFF”

“Gatineau Park streaker caught!”

“Styro Rail hires 80 locals, starts recycling”

“Swimming hole saved” (subhead: “La Peche turns rock into ‘locals only’ beach”)

“La Peche to build swimming pool, bowling alley”

“Hills gets 30 new doctors, twice as many nurses”

“The Strain winter tour leads to major record deal”

“Low arena scores team of new, young volunteers”

“Jeux du Quebec heading to the Outaouais”

“100-Mile Farm to host electronic music-fest”

“Nick Petersen gets NHL call-up, scores game-winner”

“Louis Rompre gets back on boat, throws huge river party”

“Settlers of Catan tournament announced”

“Chelsea gets ‘AAA’ soccer team”

“Wakefield hospital wins award for top care”

“Wakefield beautified, tourists return”

“Cafe Molo reopens, stays open”

“Wakefield bars combine on ‘village pass’ for New Year’s eve”

“Low Down wins ‘Best Overall Newspaper’ at QCNA Awards gala”

If events turn out, and the Low Down is able to run even some of these headlines in 2013, it will turn out to be a pretty damned good year.