Editorial: We could learn a thing or two from these People of the Year

They’ve brought strangers together for common causes and given of themselves for the good of others. In some cases, they have put the North Fork on the map for the rest of New York State.

They are The Suffolk Times’ People of the Year. They represent the best and brightest the North Fork has to offer, and we hope they serve as role models to our readers as much as they do to us.

Finding people to honor each year is never a problem for our staff; the challenge is narrowing down the list and picking a single winner in each category.

There’s the homegrown businessperson who suddenly found herself owning a deli — and, over the decades, has turned her clientele into extended family. There’s the teacher who launched an audio/video program that’s the envy of the North Fork, and another teacher who also serves his community as a coach, deputy mayor and National Guardsman.

The list goes on.

There’s the baseball team that brought home its school’s first state championship and the man who transformed the nonprofit Railroad Museum of Long Island into the Little Engine That Could.

Last but not least, there’s another nonprofit that turned a tragic incident into something that has had a positive impact on people across the North Fork.

What all these honorees have in common is that they have all dedicated their time, money and effort to causes far bigger than themselves. They deserve our congratulations and respect, and we look forward to honoring them at an award ceremony later this winter.

You can read their stories in this week’s paper. Stay tuned for videos telling their stories as well.