Year in Review: Your 2012 People of the Year

This year, we asked you the readers to nominate Brookfielders who have made a difference in the community in 2012. Below are five outstanding local people nominated by their neighbors, friends and family and the reasons they gave as to why those six people deserve to be recognized.

(The nominations are listed in the order they were received.)

Have a late submission — someone you think should be recognized? Tell us who and why in the comment section below.

Peter Brady

Organization: Handy Dandy Handyman Ministries; St. Joseph's Church

Reason for Nomination:

I don't think any one person has done more for the town of Brookfield or the surrounding area towns. He brings "loving thy neighbor" to a whole new level. He has rebuilt homes, filled oil tanks, given away cars, given food and clothing. Raised money for medical treatments. Just an awesome, humble guy.

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Peter started HDHM when he retired from Nestle Corp. as a small outreach to help the seniors clean up the fall leaves with the first Rake n Bake. This event has grown to 80+ homes and 1000+ volunteers.  His ministry has grown with outreach to area towns, most recently Newtown.  He started a fund in honor of the Sandy Hook victims.  He has helped many with home makeovers, from a single mom who lost her home in a fire to a wonderful gentleman who was in danger of losing his home.  Peter thinks about others before self and is always ready to lend a hand, run a fundraiser or provide a resource.  I can think of no one more deserving than Peter Brady and The Handy Dandy Handy Man organization.

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Continually helping people in need.

Stephen Harding, Sr.

Organization: Brookfield Baseball and Softball Association

Reason for Nomination:

Mr. Harding has run the Brookfield Baseball and Softball Association for almost two decades, completely volunteer, and has never received the appreciation he truly deserves. This organization provides a baseball and softball league in town for boys and girls of all skill levels.

Angela Haselwood

Organization: Brookfield High School

Reason for Nomination:

Angela is always the first to help people in need: the hurricane victims, Sandy Hook, etc. She goes above and beyond her job as a nurse, she organized the candlelight vigil at BHS, works with the peer counselors, and much more.

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Angela works tirelessly to improve our community and help others. In just the last few weeks Angela has mobilized the town and supported victims of Hurricane Sandy and the innocent victims in Newtown. Angela represents what is right in the world and is one of the best people that I know.

Colette Sturm

Organization: Brookfield Education Foundation, active in Brookfield PTO

Reason for Nomination:

Colette Sturm is the President of the Brookfield Education Foundation. She spends countless hours silently and tirelessly working to provide recourses for lifelong learning to Brookfield residents of all ages. Colette's work benefits the entire Brookfield community.

Kathie Schilling

Organization: Volunteer coordinator for Meals on Wheels and Library Volunteer

Reason for Nomination:

Kathie is one those selfless individuals that lends a helping hand for the greater good. The Brookfield community is so lucky to have Kathie as a resident. She quietly and efficiently accomplishes many good deeds without bringing attention to herself.