Who should be chosen as the 2012 News-Review People of the Year?
Every year at this time we use this space to ask Riverhead News-Review readers to nominate candidates for our People of the Year issue. In our first issue of 2013, we will name a civic leader, educator, businessperson, public servant and overall person of the year.
With their poignant nominations, our readers have always played perhaps the most important role in the selection process.
Last year, readers helped us select a wide array of worthy recipients, including River & Roots founders Laurie Nigro and Amy Davidson, for their efforts in getting a community garden built on town property while also beautifying Main Street; town highway superintendent George ‘Gio’ Woodson, for his leadership in keeping our roads safe during some extreme weather events; and visionary Dennis McDermott, for bringing some “hip” to the downtown dining scene with The Riverhead Project restaurant.
In the past, we’ve honored people from diverse fields and all walks of life. We want to hear about people like the teacher who went above and beyond to help you become a better student or the business owner who never stops giving back to the community.
The town is loaded with residents who work tirelessly to make our area a better place. We always have a growing list of people who are more than qualified to earn such an honor. That list can never be too long.
We realize there are a great many people doing big things in their community who don’t seek the spotlight. As a result, the work they do is hardly noticed. That’s who we’re talking about.
Do you know such a person? Let us know.
Nominations can be mailed to Times/Review Newspapers, P.O. Box 1500, Mattituck, NY 11952. Or you can e-mail the editor at [email protected]. Faxes are OK, too; our fax number is 631-298-3287. Or just give us a call at 631-298-3200 and ask for Michael White at extension 152.
Let us know why this person or group is deserving — and please be sure to give us your phone number so we can follow up. All correspondence will be kept confidential, so the people nominated don’t even have to know you are singling them out. Nominations should be submitted by Dec. 5.
We plan to announce our People of the Year in the Jan. 3, 2013, edition.
We’ll do our best to keep our awards hush-hush until the day the paper comes out. Become involved in the selection process. Practice your own random act of kindness by helping us showcase a deserving friend or neighbor.
Below is a list of recent past winners:
PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
• 2011 — Amy Davidson and Laurie Nigro
• 2010 — Linda Hobson
• 2009 — Chris Kempner
• 2008 — Riverhead Blue Waves
• 2007 — Maureen’s Haven
• 2006 — Sister Margaret Smyth
• 2005 — Alan Shields
• 2004 — Phil Cardinale
• 2003 — Vince Tria
• 2002 — Bryan Tressler
• 2001 — Annie Jackson
• 2000 — Judy Young
BUSINESS PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
• 2011 — Dennis McDermott, and Kayleigh and Tahir Baig
• 2010 — Dee Muma
• 2009 — J. Gordon Huszagh
• 2008 — Ray Pickersgill
• 2007 — Ray Maynard
• 2006 — Jack Van de Wetering
• 2005 — Jeff Hallock and Dr. Frank Arena
• 2004 — Massoud Family
• 2003 — Andrew Mitchell
• 2002 — Christine and Peter Loew, EastEnders Coffee House
• 2001 — Jan Burman
• 2000 — Fred Terry
CIVIC PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
• 2011 — Nancy Swett
• 2010 — Rich Podlas and Chuck Thomas
• 2009 — Tom Gahan
• 2008 — Keith Lewin
• 2007 — Open Arms and Bread & More Inn
• 2006 — Mike Brewer
• 2005 — Sid Bail
• 2004 — Kathy Berezny
• 2003 — Jill Lewis
• 2002 — Chrissy Prete
• 2001 — Joe and Gloria Ingegno
• 2000 — George Klopfer and Lt. Col. Anthony Cristiano
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
• 2011 — Jim Schaefer
• 2010 — Stacy Tuohy
• 2009 — Laura Grable
• 2008 — Vincent Nasta
• 2007 — Marion Dorman
• 2006 — Theresa Drozd
• 2005 — Frank Rotenberg
• 2004 — Kevin McAllister
• 2003 — Leif Shay
• 2002 — Bob Jester
• 2001 — Jean Lapinski
• 2000 — Pat Rose
PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR
• 2011 — George “Gio” Woodson
• 2010 — Robert Brown
• 2009 — Barbara Grattan
• 2008 — Liz Strokes
• 2007 — Michael Reichel
• 2006 — Gary Pendzick
• 2005 — The Riverhead Ambulance Corps
• 2004 — Richard Wines
• 2003 — Ken Testa
• 2002 — “KeySpan Coalition”
• 2001 — Ed Densieski
• 2000 — Judge Richard Ehlers
