It happens every year — countless New Year’s resolutions are made and people pledge to make one change in their lives. Whether you keep those resolutions has yet to be determined. As New Year’s Eve approaches — bad track record or not — get set to make another resolution (even if it’s to never make resolutions). Some islanders are already thinking ahead.

Starlette Casey, ASB advisor at Oak Harbor High School, has a resolution this year that’s centered around her job.

“I would like to see Oak Harbor High School become a place with unending spirit and heart. My goal as ASB advisor and leadership teacher is to work with students to make that happen,” she said. “As a second resolution, I intend to continue being a fabulous mom.”

Typically one of the leading changes Americans promise to make is to get physically fit in the New Year.

Sherrylyn Filoteo, an employee at North End Fitness Center, said she believes New Year’s resolutions could be the draw for people taking advantage of the no enrollment fee special that North End Fitness held during December.

“We’ve had quite a few people come in and many more people asking for gift certificates for family to start around January 1,” Filoteo said.

Paul Reardon, 12-year owner of Excaliber Gym on Midway Boulevard, said he believes he’s seen a good number of people come in over the years with a resolution to get fit.

“It’s true every year that we have people make a resolution to get fit and some manage to keep their promise,” Reardon said. “If you’re set on making it happen fitness has to become part of your lifestyle. You have to be consistent.”

So if fitness is your resolution you better keep the motivation going, find a workout partner, or better yet, join a class.

“If people haven’t exercised in a while I always recommend they join a class because exercising together always helps motivate people and the certified teacher can give them the support they need,” Filoteo said. “Personal trainers are also great. They can help individuals figure out their specific fitness routine that will fit them best.”

If getting a handle on your finances is your resolution, financial planner Randy Wall has some suggestions.

Wall is owner of Penn Cove Financial and has been a personal finance instructor for four years at the Skagit Valley College Whidbey Campus.

“It seems simplistic, but spend less than you make,” Wall said. “People have a difficult time with that.”

His second resolution suggestion is to get rid of credit card debt.

“This one is very situational based but you really have to weigh the individual’s needs and desires,” he said.

Wall recently ran across a Nov. 17 Money magazine article stating that 37 percent of Americans are planning to make a financial change as their New Year’s resolution for 2007. According to the article’s survey, the top financial resolutions were planning to save more and paying down debt.

No matter what your resolution, be specific and set yourself a goal.

“You need goals — to buy a house by a specific date, save a certain amount of money or even set your retirement date,” he said.

In the same respect, however, Wall said people should be reasonable with those goals.

“Don’t be overly ambitious,” he said. “If you haven’t saved money in the past don’t say that you’re going to save a lot. It’s easier to give up.”

Setting financial goals around the new year is understandable, Wall said.

“I always set mine in preparation for taxes,” he said.

Earlier this year, Washington state resolved to make a change in the health of its public by imposing a ban on smoking in public places. This, no doubt, produced pressure for some smokers to quit, but for those still lingering around the ashtray, respiratory therapist Katherine Riddle wants to give you the motivation to quit.

“Smoking effects so many other aspects of your life — finances, health and even social status,” Riddle said.

Riddle facilitates smoking cessation classes at Whidbey General Hospital. She said the hospital scheduled its next run of classes to start Jan. 8, just in time for people resolving to quit smoking in the new year.

The classes are free and meet in the evenings for two weeks. If people attend all of the sessions they can receive a voucher for a free package of nicotine replacement patches.

“It’s a great time investment for your health,” Riddle said.

The smoking cessation classes are offered in January, March, May, August and October. To register for them call the hospital at 678-7656, Ext. 4005.

If classes don’t fit your schedule Riddle can arrange to talk to people over the phone and set up other assistance if needed. In addition to the cessation classes, the hospital has a visiting accupunturist that can work with patients to pin-point a way for them to stop smoking. If five minutes is all you have, Riddle wants to encourage people to contact Washington’s Tobacco Quitline at 1-877-270-7867 or www.quit

line.com.

“I like to impress upon people that they gain as much knowledge as possible,” she said. “Quitting smoking is one of the healthiest resolutions you could make and I hope everyone can be successful.”