The summer season is winding down. Kids and families and, yes, our public officials have had their vacations and play time. Now it’s time to get back to the business of running the city. Or attempting to, at any rate.

And there is much to be done. A lot of hot button, high priority issues were left on the table when the sunscreen got packed into the luggage. Now it all awaits the scrutiny and care of both the public and the administrators of civic policy.

The long awaited zoning overhaul, the right of first refusal issue, the seemingly ill-fated real estate transfer fee, bridge closures and traffic nightmares, over-development and under-development, and what the heck is happening to all our trees?

All this along with the mundane, every day business of making the city run smoothly and on all cylinders.

It must take the intestinal fortitude of a grizzly bear to step up and face the challenges that confront the various leaders of our fair city. I don’t envy them.

Let’s all pull together in our hearts and wish them – and ourselves – the best in the months to come. There are many tough issues to engage with over the course of the near future. We sincerely wish all of us the best.