Congratulations to our fellow hometown heroes:
— Lt. Michael Beslow, a Blackhawk helicopter pilot who flew medical evacuation missions in Iraq.
— Joyce Bleser, the former United Way director who’s been active in Helping Hands, the Values Committee and Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook.
— Joe and Julie Burke, instructors at ATA Black Belt Academy, who emphasize integrity, self-control and perserverance.
— Sam Cipolla, a GBS graduate who’s been battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer with courage and optimism.
— Wendy Groesch Springman, a teacher and coach who, according to her students, always goes the extra mile.
— Sister Paulanne Held, who runs the OLPH Needy Family Fund.
— Tom Jacobs, the maintenance manager at Thomas Place and a volunteer football coach.
— Dave Jones, an award-winning Pleasant Ridge teacher, talent show director, fund raiser and master of the school’s Japanese garden.
— Teddie Kossof, owner of the eponymous beauty salon on Waukegan Road and a prolific fundraiser for Youth Services.
— Patty Marfise-Patt, president of the Westbrook/Glen Gove PTA, a den mother, Friends of Youth Services volunteer and much more.
— Norma Morrison, the first woman elected to Glenview’s village board, a founder of the group that helped preserve Wagner Farm, and a tireless participant in civic life.
— Todd Price, Wagner Farm’s director.
— Pam Rawa, a teacher who works with kids who have learning challenges.
— Sgt. John Rohrer, winner of a military commendation for service in Iraq.
— Dave Tosh, Springman’s athletic director and a long time Youth Baseball volunteer.
— Lori Lambert Tracz, a math teacher at Attea and tireless fundraiser for leukemia support groups.
— Sue and Brian Walsh, who have taken their medical and construction expertise to Haiti.
— Matt Whipple, a popular social studies teacher at GBS and organizer of Students Taking Action Now in Darfur (STAND).
— Jeff Wienski, the long-time manager of Wagner Farm.