MONTE VISTA— New Year’s resolutions are just about as old as the world’s earliest calendars. According to History.com, the ancient Babylonians some 4,000 years ago were among the first civilizations to make New Year’s resolutions, which were largely promises to their pagan gods to pay back debts and return borrowed objects.
These days, people make personal declarations focusing on things like self-improvement— losing weight, spending more time with family and quitting smoking. Others, such as this anonymous resolution found on the Internet, are funny and a bit more altruistic: “I will conserve water this year. I will do less laundry and use deodorant more.” Taylor Swift recently posed a resolution with a hopeful and philosophical ring: “This is a new year. A beginning and things will change.”  
Here are some thoughts from a few of Monte Vista business owners and leaders about 2018— and the year ahead. Additional interesting New Year’s resolutions from Monte Vistans will be published in next week’s issue.
Police Chief John Rosecrans and his wife Nikki have plans to hop back on the workout wagon. What that means specifically is three-days-a-week workouts and starting the Keto Diet, which is basically a low-carbohydrate diet. “We fell off the workout wagon in 2018 and just want to get back to where we were,” said Rosecrans. “There’s always room for improvement. With two young girls we need all the edge we can get.”
As far as Monte Vista’s law enforcement efforts, there seems to be a general feeling of improvement when it comes to safety and crime reduction, Rosecrans said. “This is what we set out to do, reduce crime and the fear of crime.” Personally, Rosecrans said he is most proud to have a solid crew of officers who are gelling and working well together. “Complaints are down and general satisfaction seems to be up inside and outside of the police department.”
In the upcoming year, Rosecrans said he and his officers will be targeting homes that are public-safety nuisances. “These will include dealing drugs, growing drugs, harboring criminal and crime issues,” he said. “The other major focus is project 365 to increase Neighborhood Watch effectiveness.” Part of that effort is encouraging community members to do their part. “We will continue to encourage everyone to be a part of a movement that takes a stand and pushes out unwanted issues and behavior… Be a good witness and stand together, because if we choose not to stand for something, we will fall for anything.”
Longtime Monte Vista resident Colette Skeff works on community improvement from a different angle. She is always participating in community projects in her spare time, whether its handing out candy canes with her Kiwanis colleagues to elderly folks in senior care centers or providing dictionaries to third graders. It was Skeff who helped organize the purchase of the five military flagpoles and flags in the Faith Hinkley Veterans Memorial Park and plan the live benefit concert in November.  
Community work has long been a part of Skeff’s life. “I have always been involved in some type of organization since my early years belonging to Bluebirds, Campfire Girls and 4-H,” she said. “My dad always encouraged me, and each one taught me the important values of life, to be dependable and responsible.  It also taught me how to develop friendships and sense of community.”
Skeff’s New Year’s resolutions include continued fundraising to complete the Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park and volunteering for any and all projects where needed to help the community grow. One of those projects will be creating another book to report the history of the Monte Vista United Methodist Church, which celebrates its 135th anniversary in 2019.
“I like to stay positive and for me staying active in the community is a part of my purpose in life,” Skeff said. “It’s too easy to become involved, and when I see negativity, I always ask, ‘What are you doing for your community?’”
City manager Forrest Neuerburg said the past year has brought challenges as well as great joy in seeing city employees keeping the faith and working hard for the community even when faced by people who seem unappreciative. He hopes 2019 brings a more positive outlook from Monte Vista residents. “I am hoping the community can resolve to have faith and embrace our opportunity to grow and become more prosperous,” he said. “For myself, I have resolved to find additional ways I can help the council and community thrive.”
One of those ways is to disseminate more information to Monte Vista citizens about how to get involved. “Every day is an opportunity,” Neureburg said. “This Valley is a beautiful place and sometimes just remembering that and thinking about the opportunity that could be here is enough to make me look forward to the next day, just to see how much better it will be.”

For Chamber of Commerce Manager Jerry Apker, the push has been to grow the list of chamber members, strengthen chamber events and add new events to the docket— such as the Taste of the San Luis Valley and Mountainfilm on Tour, coming for the first time to Monte Vista on Jan. 24, 2019. His resolutions for the chamber include 50 new chamber members in 2019 and helping with the renovation plans for the Ski Hi Events Building. “I’m going to beat feet on the pavement and drop in on businesses this year,” Apker said. “I hope they will see that the chamber is working to support a good business environment in Monte Vista and that we are doing good by helping to keep our regular events (Ag Conference, Crane Fest, Home & Garden Expo) and in hosting or co-hosting new events (Taste of SLV and Mountainfilm on Tour).”
Apker’s vision for Monte Vista is inspiring. “Monte Vista’s best days are ahead of us,” he said. “ I’m no Pollyanna and folks that know my history would tell you that a hard case like me talking so positive is downright head spinning!  But I see a complete transformation and revival of Monte Vista ahead.  Hard working, visionary businesses, exceptional products, outstanding service, and a friendly, giving community will be the hallmarks of Monte Vista.  We are halfway there already!”
Apker’s personal resolutions are much simpler. “I want to understand and follow God to be a better Christian,” he said, “and finish painting my house.” 
Local artist Susan McCullough is riding that wave of positivity. She recently opened up a gallery in downtown Monte Vista to exhibit and sell her oil paintings. “I was really up in the air on whether I should start this gallery and whether it would survive in a small-town environment,” she said. “I’m happy that I have and am looking forward to the New Year.”
McCullough is well respected in her field. In 2018, she participated as an instructor for the Plein Air Artists convention in Santa Fe, New Mexico and was accepted to the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, which is a prestigious artist organization.
Her New Year’s resolutions are to become more involved within the community through the gallery and art classes that she holds every Tuesday evening at Dos Rios restaurant. She also wants to expand the gallery’s jewelry selection and host art exhibits throughout the year. One of her favorite inspirational quotes is by the famous painter Pablo Picasso: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” She believes art elevates and lifts the spirit [like] few other things can. “The act of creating feeds the soul,” she said.