Well, what do you know, it’s 2012. Who saw that coming? To celebrate, let’s look back at a small selection of 2011’s more notable local and state happenings. And by “more notable” I mean “the stuff I care about” because I’m the one writing this.

What I Will Not Be Missing:
Hastings Way Road Construction

Although it really wasn’t that long of a timeframe, it feels like the construction on Hastings Way lasted roughly 11 years. For those who lived near the recently repaved corridor, the summer was marked by the constant rerouting of traffic. I swear the usability of some intersections changed daily, based largely on where the construction workers happened to park their tractor for lunch. Now while some people possess a magic power called “basic sense of direction,” I can usually only successfully drive somewhere if  I’ve already been there 20-30 times. So I was happy when things got finished in fall. However, to be honest, I don’t see much different from before. One exception: the wonky intersection at Brackett and Hastings induces slightly less panic that I’m turning into oncoming traffic while trying to get behind Mega Foods.

What I Will Be Missing:
The Wisconsin Arts Board

Amongst 2011’s many controversial state budget cuts was funding for the Wisconsin Arts Board. Over two-thirds of the board’s budget was removed, and it was demoted from a self-contained “agency” to a “program” placed within the Department of Tourism. This move makes Wisconsin one of the nation’s poorest financial supporters of the arts, eliminating numerous grants and programs designed to foster wholly Wisconsin art. To me, the biggest slap in the face was associating the arts with tourism. Yes, the arts can do wonders for tourism, and that’s where much of its measurable economic impact comes from, but this should be seen as more of a fantastic byproduct than the core mission. What about Wisconsin artists – the ones who live and work here?

What Sorely Disappointed Me:
ENGAGE Charter School

There was a lot of excitement in the early weeks of January 2011 that Eau Claire might be experimenting with an arts- and project-based school – the ENGAGE Public Creative Arts & Culture Charter School. But by the end of the month, the Eau Claire Area School District Board had unanimously voted down the proposal. They generally supported the idea, but cited bad timing and lack of funds. Last we heard, the school’s supporters were still pursuing the concept, possibly in a nearby district. Besides providing what looked to be a fantastic opportunity for local kids, the school could have been another magnet to attract creatives to the area.

What Made Me Completely Numb:
Any Shred of Bon Iver News

It’s been a while since a piece of crazy Bon Iver-related news has truly caused me to pause and wonder at how far the band has come. The band, which thankfully still calls this place home, is just at that level, and even December’s four Grammy nominations didn’t cause my jaw open, let alone drop. At this point, I’ve stopped marveling at the super-mega-success of a guy I used to see perform at the Stones Throw, giving cringe-worthy shout-outs to his high school football teammates. As I wrote last month – let’s take the “local boy done good” angle off the table. Have you actually listened to Bon Iver? The idea of such non-traditional music achieving so much critical acclaim on national charts is simply remarkable. No matter where the guy’s from.

What I’m Still Mad About:
Brewery-Killing State Legislation

Last summer, we first heard the news about state legislation (which has since passed) designed to help MillerCoors compete against the Anheuser-Busch company, making it more costly and difficult for the mega beer conglomerate to distribute beer within Wisconsin, protecting the many jobs provided by Miller’s Sconnie-based breweries. But in the process, it destroyed the basic business model used by most of  the small-time craft brewers, prohibited them from distributing their own beer. With craft beer exploding on the national level, proving to have sizable economic impact in both small business-based jobs and tourism dollars, it’s downright embarrassing that a state like Wisconsin would hobble our own microbrew industry, not to mention our identity. Thankfully, efforts are underway to amend the legislation.

What I Wish I’d Done Differently:
Dined Finely

Last year saw a slew of restaurant closings, including some of the area’s long-established fine dining spots, most of which I had never set foot in. Now, my fine dining fund is not particularly huge, as my family spends most of its “fun money” on Joss Whedon-related television on DVD. But perhaps my wife and I could have scratched together enough monies to support one of the area’s more ambitious eateries. And perhaps we will in 2012.

Looking back over all this, I guess my 2011 memories are fairly negative. But I don’t feel negative. I feel optimistic for a year filled with positive growth and what I hope to be a record number of chocolate donuts.