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Year in Review: Your 2012 People of the Year

The people you the readers recognized for making Brookfield a better place to live in 2012.

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
BuckWheat May 23, 2013 at 08:47 am
Its important the people learn how to treat our flag, many of our veterans have made the ultimateRead More sacrifice for our country and flag. Don't leave it out all night long, don't drag it on the ground while putting it up etc.
Olga Konyukhova May 20, 2013 at 01:03 pm
Thank you, I will! We all miss him and hope he'll find his way home.
Jaimie Cura (Editor) May 20, 2013 at 11:28 am
Sending all the best vibes your way. I shared your post on Facebook and Twitter. Keep us posted,Read More Olga!
BuckWheat May 19, 2013 at 04:28 pm
Oh dont you worry, were gonna vote, but not going to vote to increase taxes thats for sure. Do withRead More what you have.
Steven DeVaux May 19, 2013 at 08:16 am
I would recommend supporting an increase similar to Ridgefield's which was under 2% (1.97%). If aRead More community like Ridgefield can perform at high levels with an increase under 2%, the Board of Education, in asking for almost twice that is openly admitting that they have installed inefficient management in school administration. Further, the sewer system on the referendum will require municipal funding since it is backed by the full faith and credit of the town of Brookfield and reduces the town's borrowing ability - the advertisement for which indicated it would not impact municipal funding.
Steven DeVaux May 19, 2013 at 06:52 am
So Mandarin Chinese won't be a requirement? Perhaps Manchurin Chinese? Cantonese Chinese? MongolianRead More Chinese? Which Chinese are the British speaking these days? Their empire stretched in the Hindu speaking parts of Asia but they aren't teaching Hindu. A quandry indeed.