The Board of Education president, Burlington Township Foundation gaming treasurer and more share their New Year’s resolutions.
The New Year is a time to start fresh, enjoy a clean slate, and — for some — make a resolution. While many resolve to eat healthier or go to bed earlier, some Burlington Township residents and employees had unique resolutions.
Police Chief Bruce Painter says he often has trouble sticking to his resolutions, but he’s making one this year to try to spend more time at home and to be a better husband to his wife and a better father to his children.
“That’s one of the weaknesses of this job,” Painter said. “I could be a little bit more patient at home and have the same approach that I have to family life that I do at work.”
Painter, who was born and raised in Burlington Township, has been with the department since 1995 and has been promoted three times.
Burlington Township School District Board of Education President Sherry Knight, who is also a principal in Burlington City, is resolving to focus on her job and give back to the community in addition to working on her health.
Knight will be leaving the Board of Education in 2017 after almost eight years of service. She was a teacher in Burlington Township for seven years, and both of her daughters are Burlington Township High School graduates.
The Board of Education will be saying both goodbyes and hellos in 2017. In the 2016 election, Susan Eichmann and Donna Custard and newcomer Jack H. Newman were elected to the board’s three open seats over challenger Lisa Bungarden.
Burlington Township Foundation Gaming Treasurer Greg Komiskey has the same idea as Knight, saying his resolutions are always easy to make but tough to keep.
“I’ve been keeping up with an exercise program but really need to step it up, so I resolve to put more focus on that,” Komiskey said. “I also resolve to work on getting better organized. With a full-time job, part-time job and volunteer work, it can get hectic at times and easy to lose track of things.”
The foundation is in charge of many of the events Burlington Township students know and love, such as Project Graduation and Falcon’s Operation Backpack.
“[My resolution is] to continue to serve the Burlington Masonic Lodge and my brethren in any way I am needed, and to build on the success the lodge has had in raising money to help the veteran community,” Robert Shulman said.
Shulman is fairly new to the Burlington Masonic Lodge and was responsible for organizing the Take a Veteran to Lunch Day at the lodge in November. Attendance to the event increased by more than 50 percent this year with Shulman in charge.
Burlington Township Middle School student Emily Orlowski’s New Year’s resolution is to wake up earlier so she’s not always rushing to make it to the school bus on time. Orlowski had the honor of singing at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2016.
Township Administrator Walter J. Corter wants to appreciate each new day and enjoy what life has to offer.
