I spent a few days in late December consulting with our region's leading psychics, for a glimpse into what lies in store for our town in 2009. As always, I spared no effort in securing the most diverse sources available. This year's talent bank includes an individual who uncannily reported the exact margin of Barack Obama's victory in the November election (granted, the prediction came three days after the election, but no one's perfect); a sports writer who staked his professional reputation on the prediction that 2008 would be Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's comeback ride to victory; and a well intended (although somewhat inebriated) street person brandishing a sign "The world will end in 2008." As we spoke, perhaps in his version of 'hope springs eternal," he crossed out "2008" and substituted "2009." My friends, if there is greater talent in the field of prognostication, I have yet to find it. What follows is their collective view on what the new year will hold. As always, in the (highly unlikely) event that any of these predictions actually come true, remember that you saw them here first. Should the reverse prove to be the case, however, please feel free to pin the blame on another writer, preferably at a different newspaper.

January
Kingston gains national prominence when President Barack Obama announces plans to visit on March 18, to personally tour the town that his Cabinet described as a "leading model of Democracy." The Town of Kingston hastily plans a "Barack Obama Day," selling T-Shirts, coins, dolls, and many other tasteless souvenirs. The Superintendent of Schools announces that schools will close in honor of the visit; Selectmen issue an executive order that Town Hall will be closed and all Town Workers will have the day off.

February
All appears to be on track for the proposed Presidential visit; Kingston continues to bask in the glow of positive media exposure. Then, almost without warning, events take a disturbing turn when a Globe Spotlight Team reporter's article foils a scheme by unnamed Kingston officials, who were plotting to charge out of town residents an admission fee to cross the borders and participate in the day's festivities. Called "a shameless effort to raise revenues for the town," the reporter likens the scandal to what happened in Illinois when that state's Governor was accused of trying to sell a Senate Seat. Not all media is critical of the scandal, however; Fox's Bill O'Reilly characterizes it as "capitalism at its finest."

March
Wishing to avoid any appearance of scandal in a new administration, the Obama administration cancels the Presidential visit. Students and town workers protest their loss of the day off. Town officials debate the merit of the "pay to cross the border" program and form a committee to see if the idea would work with lesser celebrities. In an ironic twist, beleaguered Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, who had been accused of trying to "sell" Barack Obama's Senate Seat, resigns his position and moves to Kingston, saying "that's my kind of town." He announces that he will be a candidate for a Selectman's seat in May. "And," he adds, "I'm not above spending a few bucks to make it happen, if you catch my drift."

April
General Motors unveils a proposal to construct an automobile manufacturing facility on the site of Kingston's Camp NeKon. Citing the availability of funds given "The Big Three" from the federal government, GM officials announce that their market research reveals Kingston to be an ideal, centrally-located choice for the facility that would manufacture 35,000 vehicles annually and employ more than 2000 people. The lure of new jobs in the area, coupled with promises of discounts on car purchases for all Kingston residents, is enough to secure favorable responses from both the Planning and Zoning Boards. A proposed bylaw is drafted that would rezone Camp Nekon from residential to commercial. As part of the proposal, GM promises to build a slip ramp from Route 3 to Camp Nekon so that it will be easily accessible from the highway, as opposed to the present (it is easily accessible from absolutely nowhere).

A special town meeting is scheduled for voters to consider the proposed bylaw and create a new zoning district in the community, to be known as "Industrial Automobile Construction of Vehicles Which Barely Get 20 Miles Per Gallon District." A date is set for a June Town Meeting.

The Kingston Annual Town Meeting approves a budget of $46 million, to cover unanticipated costs for snowfall removal from a long, long winter. Assessors project that an across-the-board property tax rate increase of 10% for homeowners is not out of the question.

May
The MBTA, in an attempt to become more environmentally friendly, introduces a "hybrid" commuter train that runs on hot air, potentially saving the Commonwealth hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs. The test run for the new vehicle is between Kingston and Boston. A sudden cold snap in the weather leaves hundreds of passengers stranded as the hybrid comes to a dead halt on the tracks.

June
Town Meeting voters overwhelmingly approve the zoning change for Camp Nekon, and it appears that Kingston will soon be home to an automobile manufacturing facility. However, plans are thwarted when Kingston Conservation officials claim to have discovered a red-bellied turtle on the premises, thereby threatening to halt the project under the "Endangered Species Act." Verbal jousting begins between Conservation officials and project proponents, with arguments ranging from the ridiculous to the even more ridiculous. "Turtles are only good for soup," says a GM official. "At least they don't break down every 500 miles," replies a Conservation commission official. The matter heads to Court.

July
The Superior Court rules that the Town Meeting Zoning Change is legal.

Groundbreaking for the GM plant is set to begin at Camp NeKon. Three days into the excavation, workers make a starting discovery. A fossil believed to be the remnants of a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur is found on the site and rushed to a laboratory for verification. The news attracts media from all over the world, including the Disney Channel and Wild Kingdom. Construction on the automobile plant is halted pending the results of the lab analysis.

August
Selectmen speak with GM officials to see if they would be willing to share their site with a Dinosaur Museum, which they would call "Jurassic Park East."  Town officials begin drafting an article for yet another zoning change, to be called the "Prehistoric Museum District."

September
The laboratory analyzing the fossil from the dinosaur confirms that it is a fraud: "a darned good imitation, but a fraud," says the laboratory director. Conservation officials deny having anything to do with placing the fraudulent fossil on the site. Construction of the automobile plant resumes. The fake fossil sells on e-Bay for $750.

October
The Red Sox win the World Series and their "Victory Tour" goes through Kingston. Apparently, higher-ups in Red Sox Nation were sympathetic to the town's plight when the Presidential visit was cancelled earlier in the year. Town officials decide against resurrecting their "pay at the border" proposal.

November
Gazillionaire Donald Trump's corporate jet unexpectedly runs out of fuel and is forced to make an emergency landing on Route 3 between Exits 10 and 9, on the southbound lane. Traffic is light during the mid-morning incident, and there are no mishaps. Town and law enforcement officials give The Donald a red carpet welcome. He is so impressed with Kingston that he writes a check for $100 million to the town to show his gratitude. In turn, residents are guaranteed several years of exemption from property taxes. A movement is organized to invite Donald to move to Kingston and run for Selectman. Newly elected Kingston Selectman Rod Blagojevich says, "He's our kind of guy."

December
The Kingston Luminaries celebration, normally regarded as one of the high points in community life, is marred as the result of a bizarre incident on the night of the event, December 21. One of the horse-pulled buggies is hijacked by three masked individuals, believed to be terrorists. The buggy is carrying three of the town's Selectmen and a half dozen residents.  Although the residents are released alongside the road in Duxbury and manage to find their way back to Kingston in just a few minutes, the selectmen remain among the missing for five tension-filled hours until it is revealed that the "terrorists" were in fact pledges from a Boston area college fraternity, ordered to undertake the stunt as part of their initiation. The selectmen are returned safely later that evening and decline to press charges, upon the condition that they are invited to the next fraternity party.

There you have it, folks. Hopefully at least one of the predictions will come true (the Red Sox winning the World Series). 

Happy New Year.