In just a few short hours 2010 will be but a memory, a year in time marked in scrapbooks and photo albums.

But as the year draws to a close, we find ourselves both nostalgic in looking back at the year just lived and optimistic about the year ahead.

Our community has certainly had its share of bad news this year, much of it preventable.

Far too many young people in our area found themselves injured — or dead — as a result of negligence and poor judgment.

From the shootings which have claimed lives for literally no good reason to the horrible New Year’s vehicle crash that paralyzed two area youth earlier this year, so much harm occurs when bad judgments compound.

Fate can only be tempted so far and fate usually wins.

Underage drinking, failure to wear seat belts, careless firearms handling or dealing in drugs — all of these are behaviors that start with one, simple bad decision. That decision often leads to another, and then another, until finally it all comes crashing down.

We encourage everyone to celebrate the birth of the New Year, but please, please, please do so safely. Our community has seen enough tragedies in 2010. Let’s try playing it safe — and smart — a little more in 2011.