Holiday Heroes

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.