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Resolutions In Hand, Residents Ready To Tackle 2007
By Jo Ann La Russo
As the clock struck midnight on December 31, a New Year arrived. For those who are ready to take on something new in their life, this is a great time. For those who seek out a lifestyle change or challenge, it's a fresh slate.
Lois and Bill Vobornik, of Whiting, will welcome a New Year addition to their family with the birth of a new grandson in Knoxville, Tennessee.
"The baby is expected at the beginning of February," she said. "We have to be there in time."
The Vobornik's also have two granddaughters and another grandson.
Lifestyle changes for the new year should all be as successful as Pat Karnatski's. The Seaside Park resident retired from her job at St. Vincent's Hospital in Staten Island where she worked for 38 years, and has been Director of Ambulatory Care for the past 12 years.
She may be semi-retired, but her time is filled by doing something that she loves. Teaching.
As an adjunct professor at Ocean County College, Karnatski devotes about 14 hours a week to teaching a nursing course, and this lively lady said that she only insists on one thing from her students: That they feel the same way about the nursing profession that she does.
Passionate.
"I want the students to be as passionate about nursing as I am," said Karnatski, whose husband, John, also teaches a Spanish course at the college.
"I started out as a nurse and worked in various departments in the hospital over the years, including maternity," Karnatski said. "But, I love teaching and I am happy to focus just on nursing," she said. Her plan for the New Year is "to help other people become wonderful nurses."
Denise Dowe, of Toms River, said her New Year gift will arrive in two weeks when her 25- year-old son, Michael, will come home for a
two-week leave from the Army Reserves.
"He's in Mosul, Iraq right now," said Dowe, "and he will be going back. We can't wait to have
him home for a special New Year celebration."
Holiday good times made business brisk, said a worker at a Rite Aid pharmacy, where remedies for everything from a toothache to a stomach ache sold out fast.
Robert of Normandy Beach, and girlfriend, Nicole, both customers at the store, admitted that they did have too much of a good time on New Year's Eve.
"We went out for dinner and drinks and probably did eat too much. But it was New Year's Eve," the couple said at the drugstore counter.
In local shopping areas this week, traffic congestion was just as bad as pre-holiday.
"They are returning everything," said a sales clerk at Wal-Mart on Route 37, where all holiday merchandise was advertised at 75 percent off regular price.
At Kohl's Store in Toms River, lines for returns wound around the aisles, said Carlo and Nancy of Holiday City South.
The couple was checking out the holiday snow globes that were selling at half price in K-Mart, Toms River. "What are my plans for the new year?" asked Carlo. "Let me ask my wife."
Paulette G. of Seaside Park's plan for the New Year is simple, she said. "I want to top my sales quota and make a lot of money. I want to be rich this year," joked Paulette with a smile.
Ana, a Lakewood mom, said that she takes a more realistic approach. Planning is not her thing, she said. No pledges or promises to be broken, stated the mother of teens Luis and Ashley.
"I don't make any plans," said Ana. "I just go ahead, do my best and hope for the best."
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