“Roosevelt Rumble, director of Partnership with YouthWith God’s blessings, says Roosevelt Rumble, he can continue making a difference with the youth of the community. His New Year’s resolutions are in keeping with that line of thinking. In order, he says he resolves to continue to grow spiritually; to continue to build my family; and to continue to strive and support the youth of the community. My drive is for the kids here. There’s a strong need for youth activities, for a solid program. But as far as waiting for New Year’s day, Rumble is not a patient man. I try to strive to be a better person each and every day.Rica Sobreo and Jackie Short, both of Oak Harbor, have New Year’s resolutions of their own. To stop procrastinating, said Sobreo. She laughed when asked if that would start tomorrow. Short had just purchased a Starbuck’s drink while making the resolution to hold onto money.Jim Phay at the Coupeville Post Office said his would be to get in better shape. How to do that? Get on the bicycle as soon as possible. Though, he admits, that may not be till next spring. David Svien, manager at Videoville in Coupeville wants to break his record for the most movies watched in one year. At one time a few years back I had too much time on my hands and I figured out how many movies I had watched that year. Every year since he has catalogued them. Counting only new viewings, not movies he has seen before, Svien tallies an average of 600 to 650 movies a year.Jean Sauls, Executive Director of United Way of Island County, is resolving to better communicate to the community what miracles we can work if we can all work together and what role United Way can have to be a part of that. Sauls said she believes United Way is in a position to see the many different pieces of the community puzzle and how they can fit together to help families. When you take all of the pieces together, that’s a powerful hand up, she said. Start the New Year by resolving to make it even better.Nancy Conard, Mayor of the Town of Coupeville, has an unusual personal New Year’s resolution. I want to learn to use public transit. She’s taken the step of tracking down transit schedules on and off the island, and learning about train schedules from Mount Vernon to Seattle. I have several ideas of trips I am going to take so I can get it down. It’s a do-able resolution, too, she said. So it’s the kind I like. As Coupeville’s mayor, she is resolving to continue working with the business community to foster a strong economic environment. Based on statewide tax initiatives, it is clear, she said, that people don’t want to pay for services with their property taxes. Building a stronger economy will help bring in revenue for the community.Mike Hawley, Island County Sheriff, said he’s a goal oriented person. So he makes monthly resolutions, not just New Year’s resolutions. Still, a new one does begin in January. His 18-year-old son is joining the Marines, and the two are getting in shape for it together, resolving to run five miles every morning at 6 o’clock for the first 90 days of 2001. Professionally, the new year presents the challenge of maintaining the quality and level of services in a climate of uncertain funding and revenue, he said. I am trying to maintain the optimism and energy that we have going right now. And, yes, he’ll be publishing another novel in the coming year.Scott Rhine, Whidbey General Hospital’s chief administratorPut first things first and do it right is Rhine’s goal. I think there’s so much pressure on our time no matter what job or responsibilities you have, and I think it’s important to remember what’s most important and as you realize what’s most important to take care of those things and not put them off. As it relates to the hospital, it involves working with federal and state legislatures to provide financial resources. Secondly, planning for the hospital’s patient services expansion. Thirdly, continuing to put patients first and the quality of health care uppermost in our minds.And last, though not least, keeping his family among those first things. A well rounded person, not a person that is focused just on work, is much more pleasant to be around, he said with a smile.Patty Cohen, Mayor of Oak Harbor, has several New Year’s resolutions, personal and professional. Most have to do with making more time. As she wraps up her first year as mayor, she admits her husband lost this year. He’s been very, very patient, though, she said. She’d like to set more time aside for him, as well as for herself and her labrador dog, both of whom, she said, are showing the result of not enough exercise. As Mayor, she is focused on hiring a city administrator for 2001, perhaps allowing her more time to visit with the community members and individuals throughout the city’s various departments.I want to find the time to be able to walk downtown and uptown and across town and just spend more time musing with the people, ‘kicking the tires and slamming the doors’ and trying to find out, by talking to people, how well the things we are doing here are working for the people outside.Like other governmental agencies, Oak Harbor is dealing with the budget cuts brought on by statewide initiatives cutting taxes. So her number one resolution, she said, is to put the city’s financial shortcomings behind us. It is not something we will be able to do in a year’s time, but that’s certainly the big one I want to jump on. She said she is also continuing her focus on economic development. “