When the ball drops in Times Square and the humans are all out celebrating, your pets are at home reflecting on the previous year and making their own New Year’s resolutions. Here are their top 10 submissions from past years. They are relying on you to help them achieve their goals!

1. I need a checkup! Please remember to schedule yearly health exams with my favorite veterinarian. Both dogs and cats will benefit from a good physical, wellness screening, vaccines and preventative medicine. Many diseases can go undetected, and we want to be sure that I am healthy inside and out. I know that in this economy vet visits can be expensive, but skipping them is usually more costly. Now may be a good time to investigate pet insurance.
2. My breath stinks! If you want my kisses to be enjoyable, learn how to brush my teeth.
3. My human and I are both out of shape! While I love lying next to you watching Family Guy, we need to start exercising. For dogs, this means getting outside and walking. This way I get to expend some energy, socialize with my neighbors and maybe meet that special someone (humans are “mate magnets”). For cats, playing fetch with a catnip toy or feather pole can burn some calories and get that heart pumping.
4. I could improve my manners. Find a dog trainer and teach me some obedience, so I can behave better at the dog park.
5. Lifetime security wanted. What happens to me when you can no longer care for me? Make provisions for my care in your will or establish a Pet Trust. I don’t want to end up in a shelter because you weren’t thinking ahead.
6. When was the last time you gave me a bath? ’Nuff said.
7. Watch my weight. Check nutrition and calorie content in my food and make sure you are feeding me appropriately. Pet obesity has reached an all-time high. I don’t want to be a statistic.
8. Volunteer. Maybe we would make a good pet-therapy team? If not, you should go out and volunteer at a shelter. I am willing to share a little bit of the love you give me with a homeless pet.
9. Donate. I really don’t need another squeaky toy or a sweater. Please donate it to a shelter.
10. Adopt. There are thousands of homeless animals in New York. If we can’t expand our family, maybe we can help get the word out.

Dr. Robin Brennen is chief of veterinary services and program operations at Bideawee.

Ed Koch, Former mayor

• 2010 will be a good year for the stock market and those investing.
• It will be the year of marches in the streets of major cities demanding the troops be brought home.
• The Palestinian Authority will decide that it cannot defeat Israel militarily, nor injure it at the United Nations and get its way. They will decide to try negotiations with the Bibi Netanyahu government.
• President Obama, seeking to keep Jewish support in the next congressional election, will reach out to the Jewish community by demonstrating greater support for the State of Israel.
• President Obama, recognizing how angry the American public is that so few people who engaged in criminality to enrich themselves by bringing the American public to its knees financially, will tell Attorney General Eric Holder that his priority is to prosecute those criminals.

Jean Denoyer, Restaurateur (Orsay, Brasserie Ruhlmann, La Goulue):

• Meryl Streep will win an Oscar nomination for Julie & Julia.
• Pinot Noir will make a strong bid to surpass Merlot among red wines in America.
• France will win the soccer World Cup.
• New York’s job market will see significant growth in the second half.
• Simple, but healthy, food will dominate American plates.
• French President Nicolas Sarkozy will have a tough time executing plans for the most ambitious makeover of Paris in 150 years, which calls for expanding the City of Light to include the suburbs.

Joan Rivers, Comedienne, author, businesswoman, mom

• I think they’re going to definitely find Osama bin Laden at the January Bloomingdale’s white sale.
• Oscar wins: definitely Meryl Streep for Precious. Did you recognize her? I had no idea she played Precious. Even if you didn’t like her before, after seeing Precious you go, “She can do anything!”
• In January, Cher will meet and pursue another young man and, unfortunately, in August, I think she’ll realize it’s her son, Chaz. “Surprise! It’s me, mom.”
• Suri Cruise will find the identity of her real father.
• No matter how many people come out and say they slept with Tiger Woods, I predict he will never have sex with the women he works with, because female golfers only sleep with each other.
• The plane in the Hudson River: it will come out that the reason it didn’t sink was because it was floating on all the bodies they dump in the river.

Jonathan Miller, President and CEO of real estate appraisal and consulting firm Miller Samuel and co-founder of Miller Cicero, LLC, a commercial real estate advisory service

• Real estate will continue to try to find a bottom. Over the next year, we’re not anticipating unemployment to be resolved, we’re not anticipating the credit crunch as it relates to mortgage financing to be resolved, therefore we anticipate the housing market to move sideways—a modest erosion in price over the next year.
• The city has counted about 90 stalled projects in Manhattan and about 500 citywide—I anticipate that to rise in 2010. I see 2010 as a moving-sideways market, best case. I’m less bearish than I was six months ago, but I’m still bearish.
• I think that the Yankees, like the real estate market, it’s very possible that they’ll move sideways too, meaning a 28th World Series championship.

Beth Ostrosky Stern, Spokesperson for the Northshore Animal League America

• I predict (and hope!) that people will stop buying their pets from pet stores. This will finally end the puppy mill problem once and for all. Adopt a shelter pet today!
• I predict Howard Stern and his wife will adopt an adult cat from Northshore Animal League America in the new year.

Monica Blum, President of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District

• The business climate is going to improve. I think the restaurant climate will continue to be good. People are looking for value. Places that offer specials and solid food are going to be the places that do the best.

Alan Chartock, “Capitol Connection” columnist, president and CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio and an executive publisher at The Legislative Gazette

• If the inept Democratic leadership of the “gang of how many” in the State Senate continues on their foolish ways, they will lose the Senate and endanger their ability to redistrict Senate districts in New York.
• Hiram Montserrat will do it again.
• David Paterson’s numbers will rise.
• George Pataki will NOT run for statewide office. John Faso will. He will moderate his anti-abortion rhetoric.
• Andrew Cuomo will run for governor and win. He will consider appointing a tabloid newsman who has been singing his praises as his director of communications.
• Two State Senators will be indicted. Ditto four Assemblymen—two from Brooklyn and two from the Bronx.
• Saturday Night Live will be censured by a prestigious school of journalism for making fun of the blind.

Linda Rosenthal, Assembly Member

• New York’s vacancy decontrol laws will finally be repealed (via my bill and one in the State Senate by Andrea Stewart-Cousins) and tenants’ rights will be strengthened.
• The next winner of the Intel/Westinghouse Science Talent Search will be a student from the Upper West Side.
• New Yorkers will no longer rank last in the survey of American happiness after they angrily refuse to participate in the 2010 poll.
• Rudy Giuliani will rid Rio de Janeiro of all crime and the former mayor will play himself in City of God III.

Ralph Vacchiano, sports writer for the Daily News

• Jets fans will gather for one big group cry Feb. 7 when their former quarterback, Brett Favre, leads the Vikings into Super Bowl XLIV. But their misery will be short-lived. Favre will lose (then retire, only to unretire a few months later) and the Jets, behind Favre’s replacement Mark Sanchez, will go 12-4 in 2010 and emerge as the favorites for Super Bowl XLV.
• Realizing their struggling lineup hasn’t hit a homerun in months, the Mets will move CitiField’s fences in 15 feet. It works, as David Wright finally hits his second and third homers in late August. Of course, the move also destroys the Mets’ thin pitching staff and the team falls out of the playoff chase by the end of the month.
• When the NBA free agent signing period opens in July, Mike Bloomberg steps down as New York City mayor and officially declares LeBron James the King and Supreme Ruler of the City. James gives a heart warming acceptance speech before 5 million people in downtown Manhattan. He then re-signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Knicks fold.

Jennifer J. Raab, president of Hunter College

• Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will continue urging universities to improve the quality of their education departments (I am proud that he has singled out Hunter’s School of Education as a role model).
• Congress will explore new ideas for raising K-12 standards.
• President Obama will press his goal of doubling college enrollments. The quality of schools is the key to American competitiveness, so look for 2010 to be a landmark year.
• In a shock to the entertainment world, Susan Boyle will become a U.S. citizen and take top honors in American Idol.

Malachy McCourt, “Sez I to Myself” columnist and writer

• It will be a great year for Republicans because all that’s needed for the triumph of evil is for some decent people to compromise their principles and to dither on doing good. Democrats, please note.

Phyllis Newman, Actress and women’s activist

• My prediction is that the whole city will be a mall of plastic furniture next year, a lot of beach chairs and umbrellas. I bet everybody will be on those bicycle things because the cars won’t be able to go anyplace.
• It’s possible that they’re going to quickly pass a law allowing gambling to get the city out of its financial problems, and Tavern on the Green will be the first casino.
• The Yankees will all have new girlfriends.

Dan Garodnick, Council Member

• Tishman Speyer will default on its Stuyvesant Town investment.
• There will be a line at Shake Shack when it opens its East 86th Street location.
• The Yankees will return to the World Series.

Jacqueline Ludorf, Chair of Community Board 8

• The economy will continue to deteriorate in New York City.
• The mayor will continue to cut community board budgets.
• The Second Avenue subway will continue to cause a decline in the quality of life for all neighborhoods affected.
• The Yankees will not win World Series in 2010.
• Andrew Cuomo will become governor.
• Republicans will regain the State Senate by a margin of one or two.
• “Tea Party” candidates will replace some Democratic members of Congress.

Since 2000, social networking is our new way to reach out and communicate. Devices such as the iPhone have lightened our load by placing in the palm of our hands a phone, camera, computer and various applications, all at once. And we made history by electing the first black president.

Regardless of all these advancements, there are some tried and true basics that, by putting them into practice, might serve us better than making resolutions that we probably won’t keep. We can find them by simply looking back at some of the past year’s events:

1. A couple of months ago, who wouldn’t have wanted to be Tiger Woods? Young, handsome, successful—both professionally and personally, not to mention well regarded. Now, who would want to be Tiger Woods? Just maybe, comparing ourselves to others is a waste of time, and we should want what we already have.

2. Upon hearing how Tareq and Michaele Salahi got past the Secret Service to attend the White House state dinner, my first thought was, “Those two wouldn’t have gotten past my doorman.” To prove this theory, I spoke with one of my building’s sentinels, 32-year veteran Erasmo Acevedo.

LDM: What happens when people show up and ask to go upstairs?

EA: I call and tell the tenants they have guests. If they say OK, I let the people up.

LDM: What if the tenants say no or aren’t home, but the guests want to go up anyway?

EA: They can’t go up.

LDM: What if they are persistent and have a really good excuse and/or are really persuasive?

EA: They can’t go up.

LDM: But, what if…?

EA: They can’t go up.

(Note to Secret Service: this is how it’s done.)

If you are fortunate enough to have a job, especially in this economy, it’s worth doing well.

3. Some New York City denizens looked down their noses at the model/doorman marriage. New York State elected officials looked the other way when their constituents wanted same-sex marriage legalized. Millions across the country watched when Khloe Kardashian married L.A. Lakers player Lamar Odom in awe (at the E! spectacle) and horror (because the couple knew each other for only a month). According to divorcerate.com, “40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue.”

Perhaps this would not be the case if we stayed out of other people’s marriages and took care of our own.

4. Everyone snickered (some were even so bold as to LOL) when Susan Boyle took the stage of Britain’s Got Talent looking like Dan Aykroyd in drag as Julia Child. People stopped laughing when she opened her mouth to sing “I Dreamed a Dream,” which is now the name of her debut album that has sold over a million copies since Thanksgiving.

Clearly, simply looking at someone is not the way to decide who they are or of what they are capable.

5. And from my own personal bag of tricks: Last year at this time, I was at my friend Diane’s holiday party whining (haranguing, complaining—pick one) because I didn’t know how, or if, my novel would ever get published. Now it’s out.

Things can change in a New York minute. Keep believing.

Incorporating even one of these could help you move into 2010 with a new attitude, which could lead to new behavior, which might lead to who knows what? Happy New Year.

–
Lorraine Duffy Merkl’s debut novel, Fat Chick, by The Vineyard Press, is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Arguably one of the oldest continuously made alcoholic beverages, port is one of my faves for a number of reasons. Aside from being delicious, it is affordable. Because a bottle of port isn’t meant to be drunk in one sitting, even among a group of friends, it is a drink that lasts for a while. It stands to reason, then, that a $20 bottle of aged Tawny is well worth the cash, since it can be enjoyed for an extended period of time. Even a splurge like a bottle of 1978 vintage port (which was an amazing year) is a bargain at less than $300, compared to a good year of Bordeaux or a Burgundy, which can easily run into the thousands.

Another positive attribute is port’s durability. Port is fortified (thus making it a “fortified wine”) by adding brandy to grape juice that is only partially fermented. This does two things: it raises the alcohol content and stops the fermentation. Brandy is added until the alcohol content is higher than 17 percent. At this point, the yeast cells are unable to continue converting sugars into alcohol, and the sugar that remains is what gives port its trademark sweetness. Since sugar and alcohol are both natural preservatives, most ports are drinkable for a month or more after opening. Granted, everything has a shelf life, but with port you have much more leeway.

If you are new to drinking port, you might want to start with something on the younger end of the spectrum, like a ruby port. Taylor Fladgate Ruby Port ($11.99 @ PJ Wine, 4898 Broadway betw. 204th and 207th streets, 212-567-5500) is typical of this style, which is aged for only two or three years, and is the lightest of all red ports. There are flavors of currants and raisins, along with orange peel, ginger and allspice. This is a delicious way to end a meal by itself, or a great pairing with roast duck breast.

For something heavier and warmer, try an aged tawny port. The Fonseca 10 Year Old Tawny Port ($32.99 @ 67 Wines, 179 Columbus Ave. @ 68th Street, 212-724-6767) is a stellar example of this style. Tawny ports are left to age in oak casks for much longer, allowing the tannins to soften and the port to become mellower. The color lightens and the flavors are reminiscent of caramel, figs, brown sugar and molasses. This is an indulgent treat, perfect for pairing with a pungent hunk of Roquefort blue cheese.

Vintage port has a steep price tag, and when released it is not meant to be drunk right away. But if you want the indulgence of a vintage port, you’re still covered. Late bottled vintage port has been aged, bottled and is ready to open and enjoy immediately. It’s also quite a bit less expensive. The Quinta do Noval LBV 2003 ($18.39 @ Cabrini Wines, 831 W. 181st St. @ Cabrini Boulevard, 212-568-3226) fits the bill perfectly without breaking the bank. Darker, more tannic and muscular, this port will remind you of a cross between an aged tawny and a full-bodied Claret.

Take your pick. I’m sure you’ll find that there is something here to warm you on a cold winter night no matter what your taste in dessert wine dictates.

–
josh@pennilessepicure.com

EAST SIDE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, MICAH KELLNER

• Thanks to an infusion of federal aid, the MTA will finally begin testing Bus Rapid Transit technologies on the M15 bus routes on First and Second avenues.

• The New York State Legislature will pass Marriage Equality and Gov. Paterson will sign it into law.

• The Legislature will mandate that all New York City livery and yellow cabs must be disabled accessible. This will lead to a MTA pilot program where livery cars and yellow cabs can compete with Access-A-Ride, creating better transportation alternatives for New Yorkers with disabilities, while reducing costs for the MTA.

• Bill Thompson will be elected mayor.

• Carlos Beltran will hit a walk-off homerun in game seven of the World Series to give the New York Mets their third World Championship.

Caroline Kennedy, a would-be Senator. Photo By: Andrew Schwartz

• The York Grill will continue to have the best skirt steak in New York City.

JOAN RIVERS, ACTRESS AND COMEDIENNE
• Barack Obama is no longer called the “first black man to serve in the White House” after complaints from a 98-year-old butler working there since the ‘60s.

ALAN CHARTOCK, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WAMC/NORTHEAST PUBLIC RADIO, EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER AT THE LEGISLATIVE GAZETTE

• Three controversial state senators will be indicted for something.

• Caroline Kennedy will be named United States Senator by Gov. Paterson.

• Rudolph Giuliani will once again chicken out and declare that he will not be a candidate for United States Senate.

• Sarah Palin will be featured in a racy men’s magazine.

• Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will run for mayor.

• The Democrats will take control of the New York State Senate.

WEST SIDE COUNCIL MEMBER, GALE BREWER
• It will be another trying year for Met and Yankee fans.

• The Obama’s First Dog will be about the size of a breadbox.

• The new Riverside Park esplanade extension will be completed on time.

• Despite cutbacks, reading and math scores will continue to improve in West Side schools.

• Our next United States Senator will change their hair style less often than Hillary did.

ERNIE ANASTOS, FOX 5 NEWS ANCHOR
• Yankees franks will taste better than ever at the new stadium.

• Caroline Kennedy scores a big win for New York in the U.S. Senate.

• The Obamas set off a doggie frenzy with the selection of their new White House pooch.

• Pierce Brosnan makes a comeback as 007 singing a medley from Mama Mia.
• Still no cure for the common cold.

• A new generation is inspired by President Obama to serve America.

• Some schools begin a new trend: a four-day class week.

• Microsoft takes over Yahoo.

• Oil will drop to $20 a barrel, and the price of gas will remain high.

• The hot new color for 2009 will be yellow, and I’ll be wearing it!

SUSAN LERNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY GROUP COMMON CAUSE NEW YORK

• The State Senate will have a Democratic majority leader.

• There will be further changes in the State Senate with two to three special elections.

Pope Benedict XVI may face illness in 2009. Photo By: Andrew Schwartz

• This is the year when New York State hits a tipping point and passes real ethics reform.

EAST SIDE STATE SEN. LIZ KRUEGER
• A Democratic majority will be in control of the New York State Senate for the first time since 1964, through Republican retirements and special elections.

• Perennially failed Legislation such as Vacancy Decontrol, Rockefeller Drug Law Repeal and expanded access to health care will finally move through both houses of the Legislature and be signed by Gov. Paterson.

• President-elect Obama will help address New York State’s economic deficits through increased funding for health care, mass transit (MTA) and our infra-structure needs.

• A Community Board 8 meeting will actually end by 8:30…that is 8:30 a.m., the following morning.

• The Yankees will ask for more city and state subsidies, even though they have the highest payroll in baseball (or on the same day that they sign a player for $100 million).

JENNIFER RAAB, PRESIDENT OF HUNTER COLLEGE
• A Carolyn or a Caroline will be the next Senator from New York.

• In this dire economy, more students will realize that they can receive an outstanding education at a price they can still afford, and applications to Hunter College will soar.

• At least one Supreme Court justice will retire.

FRANK MCCOURT, AUTHOR
• When deciding what should be in his library, the former President George W. Bush will omit any mention of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

• Pope Benedict XVI will fall ill and linger and linger and linger, and the cardinals won’t know what the hell to do about it.

• Prince Harry of England will have a paternity suit on his hands with Amy Winehouse.

• Billy Graham will die.

• Cardinal Egan of New York will retire and be succeeded by a Hispanic bishop.

• This time next year Frank McCourt will be making more predictions.

FORMER MAYOR ED KOCH
• I foresee a turnabout in the economic situation of the United States in 2009. It will not take two years, but will take place in the middle of 2009.

Will Carlos Beltran hit a walk-off homerun?

• The car companies will be back asking for more handouts.

• We will start to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan at the end of the year.

• I believe Mayor Michael Bloomberg will have a huge win in November after suffering a run of attacks that are unfair.

JENNIFER JENNINGS AND AARON PALLAS, BLOGGERS AT EDUWONKETTE.COM
• New York City will be unable to sustain the 2008 gains on state tests, causing havoc for the A-F school grades.

• Shaken by these defeats, the Department of Education will mandate prenatal standardized testing for all NYC kids-in-the-making. Fisher-Price will be awarded a no-bid $80 million contract to conduct the periodic assessments.

• Traditional sources of private funds used to support district and school initiatives will dry up, placing even more pressure on slashed budgets.

• Chancellor Joel Klein will start an aggressive campaign to weed out ineffective novice teachers.

• The Department of Education’s press office will grow large enough to form a healthy intramural soccer league.

Predictions have been edited for style and clarity.

———

PREDICTIONS PAST

While looking forward to 2009, we also like to take a look back to see how some of last year’s soothsayers fared with their predictions.

In politics, East Side Council Member Jessica Lappin was right in predicting that the Democrats would take over the State Senate in 2008, though that prophecy was short-lived, as three rogue Democrats have refused to back State Sen. Malcolm Smith as majority leader.

West Side Council Member  Gale Brewer, Fox 5 news anchor Ernie Anastos and  Cristyne Nicholas, CEO of Nicholas and Lence Communications, foresaw President Hillary Clinton (or at least a New Yorker in the White House). After a contentious Democratic primary, Illinois Senator Barack Obama emerged the victor and trounced Republican John McCain.

New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro thought New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas could weather the bad season and bad press. But on April 18, after finishing the season 23-59, Thomas was fired.

Comptroller Bill Thompson was right on the mark when he said tourism will remain a bright spot in the city’s economy. Last week, it was reported that about 47 million people visited the Big Apple in 2008, surpassing last year’s record by about a million. —Dan Rivoli