On Dec. 15 Miller Place-Rocky Point Patch launched a search for our People of the Year. The following are those chosen by our readers:
Anna Spallina (Nominated by Donna Collier) - The Rocky Point Varsity Cheerleading coach took her team to the UCA National Competition in Orlando, Florida and brought them home National Champions, the first time ever on Long Island. Her and her team recently won regionals for the eighth straight year and will be heading to Nationals in February to defend their title.
Brian Burke (Nominated by reader DMMP) - A longtime volunteer with the Rocky Point CYO, Burke's hard work and dedication to the youth athletic organization should not go unrecognized.
Marie Giannino-Stewart (Nominated by Nick Calace) - Giannino-Stewart grew up in Sound Beach, graduated from Rocky Point High School and now has two children who now also attend Rocky Point Schools. She has been the co-owner of in Rocky Point for ten years, through which she hosts two very popular community activities every year: the and annual safe Halloween Costume Party. In addition to these yearly events, she also held a fundraiser last year to help a Rocky Point family whose mother was diagnosed with brain cancer. She is also very active with the Rocky Point Parent-Teacher Association and took the initiative to set up an online group page associated with Facebook for small business owners in the community to network with one another.
Fred Drewes (Nominated by reader Kathy Rousseau) - A volunteer with the Mt. Sinai Heritage Trust, he developed the Heritage Park's Avenue of the Americas. In her nomination, Rousseau said, "There are many others who contribute significant time, heart and soul to this effort, however I have to single Fred out as the spark plug that inspires volunteers to makes things happen. He's truly one of a kind."
