Editorials

Editorial: Last chance to nominate our People of the Year

In August, we put out a call for People of the Year nominees. With just one month until our deadline for submissions, we’re once again asking for the community’s help in finding this year’s recipients.

As we explained previously, moving our submission deadline up to Wednesday, Nov. 9, enables us to better prepare for a ceremony that now includes video packages on each winner.

With an earlier deadline, our editorial team can begin gathering material for those videos much sooner.

[Video, photos: Riverhead News-Review fetes its 2015 People of the Year]

We will still name an educator, businessperson, community leader, public servant, sports and overall person of the year in the first issue of 2017. For the third year, our northforker of the year award will also honor someone working in the local food, wine, hospitality, entertainment or agricultural industries.

With their heartfelt nominations, our readers have always played perhaps the most important role in the selection process. Last year, they helped us choose a wide array of worthy recipients, including a high school wrestler who sacrificed his senior season to donate bone marrow to his sister, a teacher who made it possible for a boy to attend school for the first time and a group of firefighters who saved a man’s life.

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 executive editor Grant Parpan at P.O. Box 1500, Mattituck, NY 11952. Or you can email him at [email protected].

Tell us why the person or group you are nominating is deserving — and please be sure to give us your phone number so we can follow up.