Ten days ago, we wrote: "By the time you read this (on Dec. 19), the town of Middlefield will most likely hold the actual deed to Powder Ridge."

We explained why we used the weasel words "most likely" because "trying to write on Wednesday what might or might not happen with Powder Ridge is like trying to wrap your hands around a wisp of smoke."

That sentiment proved exactly accurate as it took until today, Dec. 30, for the quit claim deed to actually be filed in the town offices of Middlefield.

The closing itself took place yesterday, but the paperwork was not completed until this morning. The deed itself was signed on Dec. 24, 2008.

The property is described as 239.6 +/- acres in parcel A plus parcel B as described in the land records of the town of Middlefield. The quit claim deed describes the price as $1 but the town will actually pay $2.55 million as described in the sale documents drawn up earlier in December.

According to First Selectman Jon Brayshaw, "This is another step towards the finish line, but it is not the finish line."

The town's plan is to sell the ski area itself, or about 130 acres, to a ski operator while retaining the development rights for the town.

Chief negotiator, Selectman Dave Lowry, seconded the "step towards the finish line" analogy used by Brayshaw.

"Now, however," Lowry added, "we can finally focus on the finish line, and I expect that there will be more than one interested buyer for the ski area now that the town owns the property."

According to Lowry, the town does not now and never did want to own and run a ski area. "We want someone else to assume those costs and risks and become a taxpayer while running a viable business in town," he concluded.

Meanwhile, the town, Lowry, and former Board of Finance chairman Paul Pizzo, who helped negotiate the various deals that have come and gone regarding the Powder Ridge property, have been served papers by former Powder Ridge owner Ken Leavitt, claiming his civil rights were violated during the lengthy bankruptcy and sale process. His attempt to derail the closing with the suit was thrown out of court on Dec. 15, 2008 by Judge Stefan R. Underhill of the U.S. District Court in New Haven, but the suit itself continues.