On Tuesday morning at the first tick past midnight, a new year begins. Champagne corks will pop in households around the Island, and earlier on Monday Vineyarders will bid adieu to 2018. By tradition many consider this a time to take stock, to look back at the old and ahead to the new, making resolutions along the way.

Looking back, it was a year of protests, ferry cancelations, political debates, and hard news. But through the years Vineyard residents have conquered their problems more than once, and with hard work toward common goals it can be done again. And so, for the year ahead we offer an auspicious message of hope.

And we repeat those three familiar words that will ring around the Island and around the nation on Tuesday morning: Happy New Year.