The new year is picking up speed. My mistaken use of “2008” has slowed, and my

The new year is picking up speed. My mistaken use of “2008” has slowed, and my references to “last year” truly mean 2008 and not 2007.

Though the new year offers a chance to do things anew, I’m eager to say that some parts of 2008 are worth repeating in 2009.

Specifically, there are the actions of some people I wouldn’t mind seeing again.

It’s people, after all, who bring out the best in life.

Sure, the year was scarred by Marc Dann and Michael Davis and other miscreants. But 2008 also introduced us to some laudable folks.

I could stand to see the Liberty Township trustees govern more of the Valley, if such a role were possible.

In 2008, amid a fiasco in their police department, the trustees rose to the challenge and showed true leadership.

Mary Rush, 87, died on her front porch after cutting herself on her home windows. Officials suspect she locked herself out and was trying to enter through a window. Police were called, and officers drove by the home twice but never got out of their car; Mary died of hypothermia.

The officers came under fire. And when Police Chief Tony Slifka came to their defense, he didn’t exactly win any charm and persuasion prizes with the community or the trustees.

Within a month, he was out.

The trustees’ swift and decisive ouster was stunning — at least by Valley standards.

I’d like to see more folks step up the way Buzz Pishkur did in 2008.

Pishkur was comfortably cruising in his CEO gig with Aqua Ohio. At 56, and with three decades in the industry, there was no reason to, uh, cloud the water of his crystal career.

But he’s a sports guy, and you can’t take the fight out of a sports guy. And he’s a community guy, and a hospital is as good a community resource as any to assist.

And that’s what Buzz did. He left the familiar world of water, and dived into deep end of the unfamiliar world of health care, becoming CEO of the beleaguered Forum Health.

“I firmly believe that Forum Health, and the choices in health care and the jobs it brings to our community, are very important. I think it’s appropriate that a local person use his skills to try and assure Forum’s long-term existence,” said Pishkur at the time of his start last fall.

I hope more people become as invested in needy endeavors as Pete Gabriel is with Boardman Optimist Club and Julie Costas is with Angels for Easter Seals.

Pete is the heart behind the annual chili event the group puts on in October. This past fall was year No. 2 of the event (by the way, the Vindy is a two-time media winner). Pete has a big personality and bigger heart to make even a newbie like me feel like one of the gang.

He was a bit slowed this year and traveled in a scooter. But he made sure to get around to all the tables regardless, as well as present the plaques and prizes to all participants.

Julie has no less of a big heart and personality in her role with the Angels of Easter Seals. I met her last spring at the group’s fashion show. She seems to be at a lot of community events — and she’s always working in one way or another.

The Valley rule must be: If you’re to have a charity event, count on Julie to work.

I got more.

I just don’t have enough space. Go to my blog at vindy.com for a few more feats of ’08 I’d like to see repeated in ’09.

And on vindy.com, if you have a few of your own to add, do so there.