Year in Review: 10 People Who Made a Difference in 2011

A community is only as good as the people who live there and Massapequa has some of the best.

At Patch, we've been been fortunate enough to profile and report on some of the some of the the area's most influential and giving people.

Here's a list of them in no specific order. Take our poll and tell us who you feel mattered in 2011.

Deborah Nocerino: Deborah made history on 2011 when she became the first female fire captain in the 77-year history of the . The daughter of a fire commissioner, Nocerino was inspired to join the Fire Department after 9/11.

Paul DeGiovanni: Just getting a group of 9 and 10 year-olds to work together for a few minutes can be a daunting task. As manager of the Massapequa Coast Little League, DeGiovanni got his team of 9-10 year olds all the way to the nation's Mid-Atlantic Championship. They defeated Berlin, Md. by a dominating 22-0 score before losing to Waterford, Conn. in the Eastern Regional final.

Jamie Bogenshutz: The director of the has made a difference to kids and families who need any type of help in the area. From helping people with family relationships, to offering drug and alcohol counseling, YES has lent a hand to the community for more than 30 years.

Tommy Smith, Danny Cain and Frank Haskell: This is a joint entry for the men behind the proposed Massapequa 9/11 memorial to be called the Towers of Freedom Military monument. Smith is a retired NYPD officer, Haskell a retired firefighter and Cain, a Navy veteran have come up with concept that will honor all affected by the Sept. 11 attacks. Through sheer determination they have been able to find a site in .

Alexa Savino: The 2011 Valedictorian at has accomplished a lot in a short time. In addition to a 4.987 weighted grade point average on a 4.75 scale, she's been an an assistant teacher at the Massapequa's summer program and was a member of Massapequa's Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. She's also a violinist, poet and takes part in equestrian competitions.

Peter Anglim: As Chief of the all-volunteer Anglim leads a group dedicated to keeping area residents safe 24 hours a day. From tricky fires in frozen conditions to putting out small trash fires, they're always there for us.

Janice Talento: The co-founder of Drug Free Long island, also known as Drug Free Massapequa, has made her organization a major force in a short amount of time.  DFLI's meetings educate residents about the dangers of drug use and recovering addicts who often speak at the meetings bring home the point in dramatic fashion.

Carol Ann Habeeb-Kiel: Having another winning season and winning another county championship might be enough to get the Massapequa Girls Volleyball coach on this list. But she's also the driving force behind the school's annual Dig Pink breast cancer fundraiser.