With a freshly minted new year barely under way, a lot of people have probably already broken — perhaps even forgotten — resolutions made Dec. 31.

But for local community leaders — including politicians and educators, business owners and public advocates — there are goals to be set down, worked toward and met by the close of the new calendar year.

In political circles, for instance, local leaders have predictable — if laudable — goals for their constituents.

"In 2013," says Scott Martin, chairman of the Lancaster County Commissioners, "I want to continue to make county government as efficient and effective as it can be and continue to push for critical local government reforms in Harrisburg, namely collective bargaining, prevailing wage, pension and property tax reform."

Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray hopes city government "can continue to strive for excellence in the way we serve the public. In so doing, we can inspire a positive energy, a sense of community, and a feeling of pride among the people who live here."

Gray says that's "an ongoing work in progress that never ends."

Elizabethtown Mayor Chuck Mummert says 2012 was busy, and he expects 2013 to be the same.

A downtown walking trail and overflow parking for the train station are among the projects in progress, Mummert says.

"We are also looking to have more retailers take advantage of the foot traffic in Elizabethtown," he says.

Mount Joy Mayor Mary Ginder says her goals include a YMCA within the borough's urban growth area, completion of the train station and rebuilding the playground park that was destroyed last year by arson.

On a broader playing field, state and national officials see 2013 as a key year for political advances.

U.S. Rep. Joseph Pitts cites "notable bipartisan successes" last year on the Health Subcommittee, which he chairs.

"I'd like to build on this success and find areas of common ground on strengthening and saving Medicare," he says.

State Sen. Michael W. Brubaker, who represents the 36th District and chairs the Senate Finance Committee, wants to examine thoroughly the governor's proposal to privatize management of the state lottery and discuss reforms of the public pension system.

He hopes to reduce "unproductive government regulatory compliances," as well as improve the state's jobs climate, draft a "comprehensive statewide transportation plan to address our growing infrastructure needs" and ensure accurate budget forecasting.

State Sen. Lloyd Smucker, representing the 13th District, plans to "support efforts to improve education quality, access and funding" and "provide additional tools to help cities and municipalities expand their tax bases through development, renewal and job creation."

Smucker also wants to find "acceptable ways of paying (for) badly needed transportation improvements in the area."

State Rep. Mike Sturla, from the 96th District, says he wants this year to "work to reverse some of the damage" wrought by the governor's policies over the past two years.

That includes "the billion-dollar-a-year cuts to basic education," Sturla says, as well as a comprehensive transportation policy and "the lack of a reasonable tax on Marcellus shale gas, which resulted in the need to offer tax incentives to foreign corporations to keep the gas in Pennsylvania."

In the 43rd District, state Rep. Ryan Aument says it's his goal "to advance sound public policy that ensures greater economic and social mobility for all Pennsylvanians through private sector economic growth and education."

Aument says he also would like to "ensure all Pennsylvania students have access to an exceptional and globally competitive education by advocating for high standards, accountability, educator effectiveness, and choice and competition."

--> President Judge Joseph C. Madenspacher says he has "two significant professional goals" for the year: implementation of the court's new Prison Population Reduction Initiative and the Continuous Court Individualized Calendar system in July.

Elsewhere in law enforcement, Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman lists several goals for the year.

Among them, Stedman says, he would like to "advocate for increased efficiency and sensible reform in the criminal court system" and "be as proactive as possible with community outreach aimed at prevention and education."

Lancaster Bureau of Police Chief Keith Sadler, meanwhile, wants to "empower the residents of the city" to help the police reduce and prevent crime.

"The optimism that resonates from many of our citizens outweighs the malevolence of the criminal element that attempts to corrupt the quality of life in our city," Sadler says. "Most importantly, our bureau will be tenacious in our pursuit of criminals that have committed these horrific acts."

--> Local educators seek the means to improve and streamline schools while dealing with funding woes.

Lancaster school superintendent Pedro Rivera resolves to "investigate, pilot and implement ways to infuse more technology into our schools and classrooms."

He promises to "remain focused on protecting the arts, culture and humanities in our district."

Hempfield superintendent Brenda Becker wants "to continue moving the organization as a team to increase student performance and organizational efficiency and meet fiscal and other challenges as proactively as possible."

Manheim Township superintendent Gene Freeman plans to "maintain the growth of academic programs, while looking for ways to enhance the curriculum" and "continue to provide a safe learning environment, working collaboratively with our students, staff, parents and our community."

At Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, executive director Cynthia Burkhart is "most interested in working collaboratively with school leaders to assist them in the most difficult fiscal times facing public education.

She urges pension and charter school reform, as well as an increase in funding for education.

"Never before has the need to reinvent our systems been stronger," Burkhart says.

On the collegiate level, Franklin & Marshall College President Daniel Porterfield says 2013 "will be a year for celebrating citizenship and community as F&M strengthens our service to Lancaster."

That includes a new program, F&M Works in Lancaster, through which students hold paid internships to work in local nonprofit organizations.

"As we continue the celebration of F&M's 225th anniversary, we will continue to reinforce the importance of service to the community as a core value and commitment of the college," Porterfield says.

Carl Strikwerda, president of Elizabethtown College, will teach a course on "Peace and War in a Global Age," which he says will "give me an opportunity to expand online resources and hands-on projects, to explore ways for students to learn more effectively."

He also wants to encourage the college's inter-faith initiative and bolster offerings in international studies.

--> The local business community has big plans for the year.

"Broadly speaking," says Tom Baldrige, president of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, "the Chamber has three areas of focus for the year: enhance access to and experience of the Lancaster Chamber to the business community; continually demonstrate value and ensure relevant content in all programs and services; and provide positive community impact for business growth and quality of life."

More specific goals, he adds, are to optimize technology, enhance the Think Local campaign, build the Young Professionals Network and "advance an aggressive legislative agenda" to promote a positive business climate.

Thomas E. Beeman, president and CEO of Lancaster General Health, says it's his intention "to do all that I can to help our community become and stay healthy.

"Despite all of the uncertainty of the Affordable Care Act and America's economy, there is one thing that is certain: There is nothing we cannot do if we do it together with mutual respect, good will and love," Beeman says. "There is a tremendous opportunity to craft a new community vision for a healthier community in this new era."

Curtis Myers, president and chief operating officer of Fulton Bank, says he plans to focus this year on "establishing and growing strong and positive relationships."

"While we need to embrace innovative technology, harness new trends and keep step with new ways of thinking ... the quality of our interactions with others will always be the primary driver of personal and business success."

Mike Julian, president of the Lancaster County Association of Realtors, wants to initiate "new and innovative regional programs to keep pace with the new realities of the marketplace."

More people are looking to live in southcentral Pennsylvania, he says. "We believe that regional services can be both more cost effective for the members, and 'seamless' for the consumer."

--> Sam Bressi, president and CEO of Lancaster County Community Foundation, hopes the organization can build on the momentum of 2012's Extraordinary Give event with a similar program in 2013.

"We plan to continue and expand our Ah-Ha Project, which encourages our community benefit sector to think about new and creative solutions to our community challenges and fresh strategies to leverage community opportunities," Bressi adds.

Lancaster Farmland Trust director Karen Martynick says the question is easy to answer.

"Lancaster County is poised to become the first county in the nation to preserve 100,000 acres of farmland," she says.

"Working with our partner, the Lancaster County Agriculture Preservation Board, Lancaster Farmland Trust will be focused on making sure that milestone is reached in 2013 — the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Trust."

For Carlos Graupera, CEO of the Spanish American Civic Association, the linchpin of 2013 is the opening of Tec Centro, a bilingual technical center that will "focus on the workforce development needs of the growing Latino community in Lancaster ... by year's end."

Graupera anticipates completion of the Conestoga River Plaza project in the South Duke Street Corridor, which will provide home-ownership opportunities for moderate-income families, plus commercial space.

Kirk Reider, associate executive director of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at Lancaster Catholic Charities, wants to "find opportunities to join together the care of mind and body through bringing behavioral health care into primary care clinics ... (which) can eliminate barriers of time, cost and stigma."

The Rev. Lou Butcher, at Bright Side Baptist Church, says his focus this year centers on outreach and discipleship.

"We hope to be much more aggressive in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the generations of our community," he says. "We will also strive for personal spiritual growth through an expanded discipleship program which challenges believers to become transparent and accountable."

Joan Brown, president of the Humane League of Lancaster County, is struggling with a decision late last year to refocus operations.

Accordingly, Brown says, her goals include "renewed strength, prosperity and purpose for the Humane League ... as a no-kill shelter."

Lancaster Barnstormers president Lisa Riggs hopes to "build even more local excitement" about both the team and Clipper Magazine Stadium as "major community assets."

That includes special activities during home games as well as events to bring people to the stadium when the Stormers are on the road.

Marc Robin, artistic director of the Fulton Theatre, hopes to "engage and build a larger audience for the arts by providing exciting and entertaining productions."