Most people experience regional planning only after decisions have already been made. When a new development breaks ground, a transit project is announced, or new housing pops up in our neighborhood.

We’re doing our unofficial year-in-review. Not the “best of” list, not the most important stories necessarily, just the ones people clicked on, shared, complained about, and wouldn’t stop talking about. We cover everything from parking issues and office buildings converted into apartments to restaurant closings, reopenings, arts leadership changes, and why some headlines travel much farther than others.

When most people think about banking, they picture massive institutions, rigid rules, and transactions that feel anything but personal. But for Jenny Saunders, President of FC Bank, banking is only effective when it’s rooted in relationships; when institutions are visible, accountable, and deeply invested in the communities they serve.