Here's a review of all the Everyday Heroes honored on Eyewitness News in 2007, by order of appearance. Each award recipient was nominated by Channel 3 viewers and received a $250 gift certificate from Pilgrim Furniture.

Kathy Molner	Principal of Assumption School in Ansonia was the first "Everyday Hero." A graduate of the school herself, Kathy was presented with two education awards: The Distinguished Principal Award for the Archdiocese of Hartford and the Dr. Robert J. Kealey Distinguished Principal Award from the National Catholic Education Association.
Sandy Centorino	After watching her friend go through chemotherapy and lose her hair, Sandy Centorino came up with the idea of the CureChief, a fleece bandana to cover the heads of cancer patients. Since her story aired on Eyewitness News, another 20,000 CureChiefs have been created, bringing the cumulative total to 100,000. The CureChief Volunteer Center is moving to a bigger office space, to which they invite all of Channel 3's viewers to visit. They have also received help from former UConn baseketball star Rebecca Lobo, and her mother, Ruth Ann, who have recorded a public service announcement to promote the Piece of Hope charm that was created to offer encouragement and support to those stricken with cancer, and it is being sold as a fundraiser.
Lorwayne Larabee	Lorwayne continues to do her volunteer work at Foodshare, a charity that provides food to the hungry in our area. People who call often recognize her as being the "hero" featured on Eyewitness News.
Kurt and Brent Satherlie	Kurt and his son Brent were selected because of the cleanup efforts they make in their hometown of Burlington, picking up garbage when they take walks or runs. Since thier story aired on Eyewitness News, Kurt says people have come up to him to thank him for what he does, and many have said they now bring bags on their walks as well.
Scott McEver	Scott was featured as an "Everyday Hero" because of the multiple volunteer trips he made to the area hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Eyewitness News has not been able to reach him for an update.
Brianna Alessio	This young lady from Colchester is very courageously dealing with life as a person with alopecia, a disease which results in a loss of hair. Since Eyewitness News spoke with her in February, she has moved up to the middle school as a sixth grader. Her mom tells Eyewitness News that Brianna is also wearing her wig more often, which was given to her by "Locks of Love." She continues to spread the word about the condition, making a presentation before the town's Board of Education. She hopes to connect with other kids in the eastern part of the state who have alopecia. If you're a child or the parent of a child with alopecia who wants to connect with Brianna, click here to send an e-mail to Eyewitness News.
Nancy Parker & Quilts of Honor	Nancy was honored as an "Everyday Hero" for putting together quilts for injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. At the time of our story, her group -- Quilts of Valor -- produced more than 7,800 quilts. That number has since grown to more than 13,000. nancy says she received an amazing response from Channel 3 viewers who donated hundreds of yards of fabric to her efforts, and she also got some volunteers to help create the quilts. Nancy is now working on signature quilts, in which people write messages to the injured on quilt blocks. She recently stopped by the Channel 3 studios, where many members of the news team signed quilt squares, including Scot Haney, Al Terzi, Denise D'Ascenzo, Dennis House, Bruce DePrest, Dan Kain, Joe Zone, Susan Raff and Len Besthoff. Nancy plans to make sure that a quilt bearing those names goes to an injured military person from Connecticut. You can contact Nancy via e-mail: quiltblockcreations@yahoo.com.
Ben Goldman	Ben was featured for his bravery fighting brain cancer. Ben, who is now 11, is a great singer and has created a CD of which the proceeds go to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. He recently performed at Scot Haney's "Joy for the Kids" Holiday Show, where he told audience that his brain tumor is inoperable and has not gone away, but doctors tell him it's not growing.
John Casey	John has made it his mission to get the names of World War II veterans into the database at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. By going through records at local Town Halls, he has assembled the paperwork necessary to make that happen. Since his story aired on Eyewitness News, he has been contacted by many people looking for help getting the names of their loved ones into that registry. He continues to go to Town Halls in Southeastern Connecticut, getting more names of veterans to go into the database.
Louise Neistat	The dance teacher from New London is still giving those lessons -- at the young age of 88. She performed her fundraising show at the Garde Theater in June. The date for next year's show has been set for Saturday, June 21 to benefit the Breast Cancer Survivors Fund at Backus Hospital in Norwich.
Fay and John Vondeck's CuzWeCare	The married couple was nominated for creating the CuzWeCare charity, which provides goods including a special pillow for people to use while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Eyewitness News has not been able to reach them for an update.
BonnieJeanne Gorden's Tara Farm Rescue	Bonnie was honored for her work at Tara Farm Rescue. She takes in sick animals at the Coventry farm and eventually hopes to find them homes. She tells Eyewitness News there is a desperate need for help doing farm work, including getting water for the animals, cleaning manure and brushing the animals. She is also looking for someone to volunteer to do grant writing. Since her story aired on Eyewitness News, she has taken in more animals, including two horses that she placed in homes years ago.
Rochelle Ripley's Hawkwing	December was extremely busy for Rochelle Ripley, the founder of Hawkwing. The charity helps Native Americans living in the poorest place in the entire United States: The Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Along with a team of seven others, Ripley returned from a trip to the area to delivering holiday gifts to 3,000 children. Included in the group was a local teacher from Bolton who set up a pen-pal program with students on the reservation. The children in Bolton will soon be learning the Native American language through this new partnership. After seeing the story on Eyewitness News, a group of dental hygiene students from the University of New Haven decided to go to the reservation to provide dental services. Another team of dental hygiene students from Tunxis Community College will also be going to the area. Eyewitness News has also learned that the Westminster Prep School in Simsbury will offer two high school scholarships to two students from the reservation starting in the 2008-09 school year. If those students can maintain good grades, the Davis Foundation has pledged to give them full four-year scholarships to college. Hawkwing is currently planning to build a convalescent home on the reservation.
The Family of Justin Wisniewski	Justin Wisniewski was a firefighter trainee who died in an accident during a training exercise in 2005. His family donated his organs, including his heart and corneas, which helped extend and improve the lives of many others who were suffering with life-altering medical problems.
Suzanne Strecker, Linda, Leslie	Suzanne Strecker is a grandmother who selflessly helps take care of her grandchildren. She has a daughter, Linda, who is blind, ill and in need of a kidney and pancreas transplant. Suzanne's grandson has cerebral palsy and needs a bit of extra care that is difficult for his mom to provide with her medical issues. When Eyewitness News aired Suzanne's story in early May, Linda was awaiting a pancreas and kidney transplant. Just after Christmas, Suzanne’s husband told Eyewitness News that they are still waiting for the transplant to occur. Linda has been first on the list for a pancreas since September. The pancreas must come from a non-living donor. Linda’s sister Leslie will be donating her kidney.
Cristina Carabetta	Cristina is a Meriden teenager who helped alert her family to a fire that eventually completely destroyed their home just a week before Christmas in 2006. Cristina and her mom have been featured on cable access shows talking about fire safety and hope to continue speaking out about fire safety in the future. Cristina's mom tells Eyewitness news that their new house, which is being built on the site of their original home, is not quite ready. They hope to move in before winter is over.
Bryan Nurnberger	Bryan was honored for establishing the "Simply Smiles," a charity based in Naugatuck that has established an orphanage in Mexico called Casa Hogar. Since Eyewitness news first aired his story, Bryan says his he and his team have returned to Mexico three or four times to build homes for people who live in the local dumps. So far, they have built six new homes at a cost of $2,500 each and they plan to build more. The group is also funding scholarship for three of the children who lived in the orphanages, two of whom will attend to local colleges in Mexico, and a third will come to Connecticut for schooling.
Sherri Hopkins and Lisa Herchenroether	These two women were honored for their efforts in getting automatic external defibrillators into all the schools in Naugatuck. Lisa, a student, had a heart attack at a young age. As of June, one school had AED's. As of mid-December, six schools received the devices, and six more are needed. Sherri and Lisa are now calling themselves the "Naugatuck Heart Safe Organization," which is a subsidiary of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association.
Horace LeClair	Horace was honored for volunteering with the local volunteer fire department in Plainfield for more than 63 years. Eyewitness News recently spoke with Mr. LeClair and he is doing just fine.
June VanFlatern	June, a school bus driver in Brooklyn, was honored for her 30 years of shuttling children back and forth to school, a career that she has held for so long that she now drives the children of students she drove in the 1970s. Eyewitness News spoke with June at the end of the 2006-07 school year. According to her husband, she's back for the 2007-08 school year and doing just great.
Jacob Komar	This 15-year-old is a genius with computers who is simultaneously attending high school as a senior and the University of Hartford as a junior. Eyewitness News honored him for founding the Computers for Communities charity, the goal of which is to get refurbished computers to people who can't afford to buy them on their own. He's also trying to get people in other parts of the country to start groups like his to get computers to needy families in their areas. Eyewitness News spoke with Jacob's mom in mid-December, who said Jacob recently had a bit of a health crisis: His lung collapsed. She said Jacob has since returned home to recover, and he is doing well and taking it easy. Jacob continues to refurbish and distribute computers to needy students in the Hartford area. He's also working with Hartford teenagers, teaching them IT skills during an afterschool computer program at the University of Hartford. He has helped establish computer labs at the senior centers and libraries in Burlington and Harwinton, with the help of a fellow high school student named Ethan Duffy. In December, he shipped 50 computers to an orphanage/home for abused children in the Czech Republic.
Miriam Stannard Epstein's Books To Dreams	Miriam started the "Books to Dreams charity to provide new or very gently used books to impoverished children. Her group gives away an estimated 3,000 books each month. After Eyewitness News aired her stories, Miriam received hundreds of new books, hundreds of reading buddies and many offers of help in making pillow pals. Children from the Timothy Edwards School in South Windsor made 74 pillow pals for the organization as part of a community service project. In November, Books to Dreams was honored for its contribution to literacy by The Greater Hartford Literacy Council, ConnectiKids and Trinity College. During the holidays, Miriam's organization distributed hundreds of Christmas books to 11 area homeless shelters, five soup kitchens and other organizations that service families in need. The group now needs books, and lots of them, especially baby board books.
Nick Brouillard and Lucas Cyr	In many ways, Nick and Lucas are a lot alike. They're friends who live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school and both have medical conditions that make their lives more difficult. Nick has brittle bone disease along with hypermobility and fibromyalgia. Lucas had leukemia and bone marrow failure. Nick was honored as a hero for helping to raise money to get the two of them laptops so they could stay in touch while Lucas was hospitalized. Shortly after their story aired on Eyewitness News, Lucas underwent a bone marrow transplant in Boston. He was expected to be there for up to six months, but actually was able to return home more quickly. He continues treatments that have caused him to lose a significant amount of weight, and the side effects of his medication have resulted in some changes in his appearance that have made him a bit self-conscious. He's not able to have visitors because his immune system is compromised. Despite that, Lucas' mom said he's doing OK, and has been outside to enjoy the snow. The family just got a puppy, which is keeping Lucas entertained. Lucas has not been up to talking to his friends, despite his desire to be out there playing with them. Nick's mom said he is doing well, and his fundraising expertise recently extended to raising money for his church. He collected $175 in pennies for a church charity. He also sent out thank you notes to the people who helped raise the money for the computers. In all, $3,600 was raised, and the families tell Eyewitness News they are thankful for the generosity of those who made the donations in the cup at the Occum Package Store and for the donations that were sent in from Channel 3 viewers. You can send notes of encouragement to Lucas via e-mail at cyrtori@yahoo.com.
Carrie Haggart	Carried received the "Everyday Hero" honors for her 24/7 work with disabled animals. She opened the Out to Pasture farm that serves as a permanent hospice for sick, injured and abused animals. Since her story aired on Eyewitness News, Carrie says there was a great response from Channel 3 viewers, many of whom made generous donations to help keep the farm going.It costs about $7,000 a month to maintain the farm. Many of the animals need special foods and most need medications. Carrie also tells Eyewitness News that there was an overwhelming number of people who hoped she could take in their sick animals. She ended up taking on an additional eight or nine animals after the story aired, and she is currently caring for 90 animals. She continues to look for sponsors for the animals.
Michelle Avery	Michelle is a social worker in Middletown who was honored for saving some of her clients from a fire that burned in their group home. Since her story aired on Eyewitness News, she has moved on to a new job working as a sexual assault crisis counselor in the Middletown area. She helps with the state Sexual Assault Hotline, which is a 24-hour free and confidential hot line for those across Connecticut who have been sexually assaulted. The number is 888-999-5545. Spanish speakers can call 888-568-8332.
Judy and Rob Campbell	Judy and Rob were honored by Eyewitness News for fostering Labrador Retrievers/Labrador Retriever Mixes. They have fostered close to 50 dogs so far and placed their last one with a "forever family" in October. They plan to take on more foster animals in the new year. As for the American Lab Rescue Organization, they have helped find homes for over 500 dogs in 2007.
Lucille Gear's Blankets	Lucille was honored for her energetic efforts in helping out people in nursing homes. At 92, she spends much of her time creating lap blankets and crocheting animals and doll clothes to be used in fundraisers at the Lyme Senior Center. When Eyewitness News spoke with Lucille in mid-December, she was crocheting doll clothes for next year’s Christmas Fair. She told Eyewitness News that she used the gift certificate she from Pilgrim Furniture associsated with the Everyday Heroes segment to buy a barstool she uses at her kitchen counter when she's cutting the fabric for the lap blankets.
Bernadette Kazibwe	Bernadette was honored for her work in opening a hospital in Uganda. She told her friends that one day she would build a hospital in the town where she was born and she made that dream come true. She and her group will be having a fundraiser on May 10, 2008, for the hospital that will feature an African dance and dinner event. You can e-mail Berna at mamberna@comcast.net or call her at 860-639-4213 for more information. The Web site for the Clare Nsenga Foundation is clarenseng.org.
Harold Wolliston	Harold garnered the attention of Eyewitness News because of the work he does for the Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He has been matched with a young man, Isaiah, for about three years. Since their story aired on Eyewitness News, Harold says that two young men came to him after seeing the story and said that they were interested in become mentors. They are currently in the process of being matched with "littles." Harold also tells Eyewitness News that he and Isaiah recently went to the Bushnell Theater to see some Christmas caroling and were guests at a University of Connecticut women’s basketball game. The Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters will be holding a "Bowl for Kids' Sake." The event takes place over two weekends. On March 29, the event will take place at Colony Lanes in Wallingford, Willi Bowl in North Windham, and Spare Time Lanes in Bristol. The event wraps up on April 5 at the AMF Silver Lanes in East Hartford.
Diane Ciano	Diane was honored for creating a horse patrol within Connecticut's state parks and forests. Diane is a member of the Connecticut Horse Council. Since her story aired on Eyewitness News, Diane has continued her patrol of the trails.
Harry Arnini	Harry is an incredible 85-year-old who has been dealt challenges in his life, including contracting polio, which he has handled with class. The retired art teacher was honored as an "Everyday Hero" in September, a week after completing his fifth "Swim for Life" in Provincetown, Mass., swimming 1.4 miles in choppy water. Since his story aired on Eyewitness News, Harry was honored by the Connecticut State Senate for the years he volunteered at the State Capitol, and he was contacted by a fellow polio survivor who saw Harry's story on Channel 3. Harry last spoke with Eyewitness News from his hospital bed just before Christmas while awaiting heart valve replacement surgery on Dec. 26. Our thoughts are with you, Harry!!
Sister Helen Dowd	Sister Helen started the Intensive Education Academy, a school for special needs children, 35 years ago. When Eyewitness News first aired Sister Helen's story, she spoke about an upcoming fundraiser. The event, emceed by Channel 3's Scot Haney and WDRC's Brad Davis, was a hit and raised tens of thousands of dollars for the private school in West Hartford. The school also received a number of calls from parents interested in learning more about the educational possibilities for their special needs children.
Norman Hanenbaum	Norman became an "Everyday Hero" after Eyewitness News heard about the wonderful work he does coordinating and leading The Alleluia Players, a band consisting of a group of handicapped individuals that was formed in the 1980s. Since his story aired on Eyewitness News, Norman celebrated his 80th birthday with a surprise party hosted by his friends at the Aqua Turf. Fellow teachers and students joined friends and family members to help Norman mark the occasion. Some of those who attended gave him restaurant gift cards to use when the band is on the road (McDonald's is a favorite). As for the band, it continues to perform around the state, and their next performance is set for Valentine's Day at the St. Francis School in Naugatuck.
Iris Ruiz	Iris was featured as an "Everyday Hero" for all the good work she does as the assistant director of Interval House, a battered women’s shelter based in Hartford. She gives up endless hours of her free time to help the women in need. Since her story aired on Eyewitness News, there has been an increase in calls to their hot line from women in crisis who did not realize that local hotlines existed. The folks at Interval House also say they received a number of donations from Channel 3 viewers, and were contacted by people interested in volunteering. Interval House will be holding a major fundraiser on April 26 called "Fire and Ice," where top chefs will create their interpretations of great Asian dishes. For more information, call 860-246-9149, ext. 338. Interval House Hot Line Numbers: Hartford area: 860-527-0550 Simsbury area: 860-658-7227 Manchester area: 860-645-4033 Toll-free hot line: 888-774-2900
Caroline Johnson	Caroline is a beautiful young lady who was honored for thinking of her friend, Claire, a fellow student at Kent Center School who has Rett Syndrome. Caroline created a device called the "Keep Her Cozy" that she presented at the school’s Invention Convention. The Keep Her Cozy was desiged to keep Claire's arms contained inside her wheelchair. Teachers and other students thought it was wonderful that Caroline made something to help a fellow student. Several Channel 3 viewers sent touching letters to the school for the girls. Caroline’s mom tells Eyewitness News that her daughter has another inventive idea for Claire. The next statewide Invention Convention will be held Saturday, May 3, at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
Drs. Mary and Edward Pergiovanni	The Pergiovannis are dentists practicing in Rocky Hill who were featured the day before they left for Honduras on a medical/dental mission for impoverished citizens. It's an annual trip the wife and husband team make, along with a number of other folks from Connecticut. Since their story aired on Eyewitness News, the couple finished their one-week mission. According to the Pergiovannis' Web site, the couple saw more than 2,600 people with issues ranging from seriously infected leg wounds to gynecological problems to scabies and lice.
Phil and Kathy Drouin	Kathy and Phil were honored for the work they do in refurbishing laptop computers that are used by military personnel wounded in in Iraq, Afghanistan, other areas around the world, and at military hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Their charity, Laptops for the Wounded. After their story aired on Eyewitness News, they received more than $1,000 in donations from Channel 3's generous viewers. Kathy’s company, Open Solutions, hosted a craft fair and raised another $700. Viewers also sent three brand-new laptops and a number of used laptops that met the minimum requirements to be refurbished. (The computer must be a minimum of 750 megahertz). The group were contacted by Channel 3 viewer Tom Leab, who has lended his computer expertise to help rebuild donated computers. Phil tells Eyewitness News that Tom has already rebuilt two computers and is working on five more.
Bob and Sue Crawford	After beginning their family with three biological children, the Crawfords decided they wanted to become foster parents. They have taken in dozens of children over the years, adopting five of them -- bringing the official family count to 10. Eyewitness News aired the Crawford family's story during National Adoption Awareness Month, alerting to the need of adoptions in the state. The state Department of Children and Families tells Eyewitness News that the department received more than 150 inquiries about adoption in November. That line remains open! Anyone interested in adopting a child can call 888-KID-HERO.
Lisa Mackstutis	Linda’s quick thinking saved the life of a Torrington girl and earned her recognition as an "Everyday Hero." Shannon Klonoski, a high school student with Down Syndrome, was choking on a piece of a hot dog when Linda noticed her struggling. She performed the Heimlich Maneuver and was able to dislodge the food.
Henry Raymond	Henry was recognized as an "Everyday Hero" for his volunteer work on behalf of military veterans in the Bristol area. He provides a military honor guard for any family requesting one for a deceased veteran who was honorably discharged. Henry has plans to make a trip to Kuwait in the new year.
Noel Shepard	Noel’s story appeared on Eyewitness News at the end of November. She was honored for the endless hours she spends collecting bread from local restaurants and stores and bringing it to area shelters. Due to health issues, Noel is going to have to stop making her deliveries for several weeks starting the first week of February 2008. If you are interested in covering that time period for Noel, contact Eyewitness News via e-mail by clicking here.
B.J. Crown	: B.J. is a long-time volunteer for the Charter Oak Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has been working at the scenes of many of the country's worst catastrophes, including the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Kevin Zak and Bob Schmidt	Kevin and Bob were honored at the beginning of December for their work cleaning up a stretch of the Naugatuck River on the Waterbury-Naugatuck line. When Eyewitness News visited the scene, the report showed Channel 3 viewers at one area that was still full of trash. Kevin tells Eyewitness News that the cleanup has started there already and that area is expected to be the site of a sanctioned canoe and kayak race in the spring.
Gary Gagne	Gary received "Everyday Hero" honors for bringing together the old and the young by enlisting his sixth grade religious education students to participate in Karaoke performances for residents of Eastern Connecticut nursing homes. The group, called "Spittin' Image," finished its 21-stop tour on Dec. 23. Gary tells Eyewitness News the report brought upon a reunion or sorts as several members of the group from past years contacted him to say hello.
Remi Borak	Remi was honored for her work in setting up the Will Santa Find Me Foundation. In the new year, she plans to dedicate some of her efforts on branching out her organization to help children who at one time were sold into sexual slavery. She dreams of opening a healing center in California to help these children. Her efforts in collecting, purchasing and distributing toys will continue next Christmas.