By Scott Zoback

• BOLD PREDICTIONS: It's a long-standing tradition at Worcester Magazine that a politician or pundit give their best guess for what 2008 will bring. But this year, it seemed everyone wanted to weigh in. Here is a cross-section of Worcester, offering their best (and more often, worst) guesses for what will happen in 2008.

• RICK RUSHTON, CITY COUNCILOR: Konnie [Lukes] and I will officiate over the recount for the Best of Worcester Award for the Best Spelunking Spot. Martin Scorsese abruptly scuttles Shutter Island because of his intense desire to make Worcester a movie site. Instead, he decides to do "Happy Days." Scorsese announces that Paul Clancy will play Mr. Cunningham. Konnie will be Mrs. C., Joff Smith will play Chachi, and Dianne Williamson is Joanie. And, of course, Mike Germain plays Ralph-Malph. Steve Abraham is The Fonz and Kate Toomey is Pinky. Tim Murray plays Richie Cunningham. And I'm going to play the long-lost brother, Chuck. Scorsese is being advised by Phil Palmieri.

• MICHAEL O'BRIEN, CITY MANAGER: More hard work, tough decisions, and positive progress citywide.

• ANDREA AJEMIAN, AA FILMS: I predict that in 2008 someone will back out of Preservation Worcester's Dancing with the City 2, and City Councilor Rick Rushton will step in as a replacement and win it all. I predict that Diane Williamson's radio show on WCRN 830 AM will revolutionize conservative AM radio (or at least give a much-needed new opinion to the airwaves) and be a huge local hit. I predict that some forward-thinking Worcester companies will sponsor "Worcester Love," and the Internet show will generate a huge online "cool" vibe for Worcester, similar to Seattle or Austin. I predict that someone opens the best coffee shop Worcester has ever seen located in the Canal District, which will be open late-night, have comfy couches, feature live music, and be called "Turtle Boy." (Hint, hint to all entrepreneurs: I will make the turtle candies shaped like Turtle Boy to sell with coffee.) And finally, I predict that Worcester moves away from it's commonly called nickname "Wormtown," and finally embraces the Snoop Dog-inspired "Wutizzle."

• JORDAN LEVY, "THE JORDAN LEVY SHOW": Worcester is going to be swallowed up into a big hole and there will be a shiny light [shining] forever and ever. The perpetual light. And there will be a little sign above it: "We're working on it!"

• JOHN LaHAIR, DCU CENTER: During the first quarter of 2008 readers of this column can expect to see a storybook romance unfold beginning Jan. 24 as Disney on Ice's Cinderella finally finds her one true love with Prince Charming, causing city officials to close Downtown Worcester to hold a parade in their honor that rivals anything the building has ever seen. While in Worcester for their performance during "Dancing With The Stars" on Feb. 4, Marie Osmond and Wayne Newton will find themselves at odds over which restaurant on Shrewsbury Street to have dinner at after the show and opt instead to stay in the city until they've tried each one, forcing the venue to add an additional 29 shows. In a controversial call by game referees, the Harlem Globetrotters will be declared winners after double-overtime against the Washington Generals on Feb. 24 — keeping their record of 26 wins at the facility intact. After seeing the debut of the winning Worcester Sharks St. Patrick's Day Design-A-Jersey event during the March 16 game against the Hartford Wolf Pack, legendary designer Calvin Klein is inspired and introduces a full-line of Shark-themed designs in his spring fashion line. A final prediction: In 2008 fans should continue to expect the unexpected at Worcester's premier entertainment venue.

• BRENDAN MELICAN, RADIOBALL.NET: The former Galleria/Common Outlets/CitySquare demolition will finally get under way. But only when a giant radioactive monster meanders into the city. And although Worcester didn't make Gov. Deval Patrick's short list of casino sites, things will change once investors realize our continuing proliferation of outdoor LED signage makes Worcester 10% more Vegas than Fremont Street. Expect to see Bocado selling 10-cent buffet-style jumbo shrimp by June.

• PAUL COLLYER, B.A. EVENTS: In 2008 The city of Worcester will still be boasting that it has 4.5 more people than Providence.

• OURS, SERIOUSLY: We did the fun stuff last week. Here's what we think will happen, for real and honest in 2008: Anna Maria will move downtown, potentially to CitySquare. Another major tenant will be announced for CitySquare, the movie theater will move in, and the mall will come down. No more progress will happen on the project beyond that for the year. One prominent downtown business will close. There will be at least one major accident that renders Washington Square undrivable at rush-hour. Worcester will get two more commuter trains (round-trip) daily and while the negotiations with CSX for rail control will come to a public head, the rails will remain in the company's hands, with little substantial change until 2009 at the earliest. A charter review movement will start, and there will again be whispers of a strong-mayor effort. Two of the current state Representatives from Central Massachusetts will no longer have their jobs after the November elections, by choice — theirs or the voters. We won't say which two. And finally, everyone in town will continue complaining that everything is terrible, and it's everyone else's fault. o