Who should be chosen as 2012 Suffolk Times People of the Year?

Every year at this time we use this space to ask Suffolk Times 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 Paul and Barbara Stoutenburgh for their lifetime commitment to nature and the North Fork environment; the leader of the North Fork NJROTC, which every year is among the best in the region; and town highway workers who in early 2011 dealt with an unusual amount of snow, making our roads safe.

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 email 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 Tim Kelly at extension 238.

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 — Paul and Barbara Stoutenburgh

• 2010 — Scott Russell

• 2009 — Ryan Creighton

• 2008 — North Fork NJROTC

• 2007 — Maureen’s Haven

• 2006 — Southold Town Animal Shelter

• 2005 — Ronnie Wacker

• 2004 — Josh Horton

• 2003 — Regina Maris crew

• 2002 — Colin Van Tuyl

• 2001 — Frank LePre

• 2000 — Ellie Hall

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

• 2011 — Major William Grigonis

• 2010 — Jean Dempsey

• 2009 — Robert Feger

• 2008 — Charles Kozora

• 2007 — Kathy Williams

• 2006 — Dr. Stuart Rachlin

• 2005 — Mattituck Fund for Students

• 2004 — Ron McEvoy

• 2003 — Chris Gallagher

• 2002 — Brigitte Gibbons

• 2001 — Barbara Ackermann

• 2000 — Ruth Yoskovich

BUSINESS PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

• 2011 — Shelley Scoggin

• 2010 — Peconic Landing

• 2009 — Rocky DiVello

• 2008 — John Romanelli

• 2007 — North Fork Press/Academy Printing

• 2006 — Soundview Restaurant and Inn

• 2005 — Joe Frohnhoefer

• 2004 — Dan Damianos

• 2003 — The Arcade

• 2002 — Kate McDowell

• 2001 — Mattituck Chamber of Commerce

• 2000 — The Harbes Family

CIVIC PEOPLE OF THE YEAR

• 2011 — American Legion post restoration volunteers

• 2010 — Peggy Murphy

• 2009 — N.F. Community Theatre

• 2008 — Lori Luscher

• 2007 — Committee for Phil McKnight

• 2006 — Relay for Life organizers

• 2005 — Merle Levine

• 2004 — Christine Roache

• 2003 — Barbara Taylor

• 2002 — Kim Tetrault

• 2001 — Elinor May

• 2000 — Mark Miller

PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR

• 2011 — Southold, Greenport highway crews

• 2010 — Leslie Weisman

• 2009 — Betty Neville

• 2008 — Thomas Crowley

• 2007 — Phillip Beltz

• 2006 — Jesse Wilson

• 2005 — Martin Flatley

• 2004 — Mattituck-Cutchogue School Board

• 2003 — Ben Orlowski Jr.

• 2002 — Jack Sherwood

• 2001 — Dave Abatelli

• 2000 — Melissa Spiro