Most Interesting People in 2010

So maybe they didn't make Barbara Walters' list this year, but Malverne-West Hempstead Patch finds these 11 local people quite interesting. Get to know the names of your neighbors who made headlines in 2010.

1. Rosalie Norton, president of the West Hempstead Community Support and Civic Association, spent 2010 working on several initiatives to enhance the neighborhood along with fellow volunteers. Among the biggest projects that Norton continues to push for is the, which has become a hot bed for crime in recent years. She may finally get her wish in 2011 as a potential developer is preparing to demolish the joint.
2. Malverne Superintendent  and the members of the Board of Education collectively earn a spot on this list for  through the district this year to make long overdue renovations to the schools. Even Board President Patrick Coonan admitted that he had his doubts that the bond would pass through considering previous attempts have failed in the past and these were proposed when the economy was not in the midst of a recession.
3. Life-long Malverne resident  shared her inspiring story of overcoming injuries to finish running her first full marathon this year. Not only did she conquer the 26.2 mile course - after badly hurting her hip around the halfway mark - but she also raised thousands of dollars to help find a cure for blood cancers.
4. He's still in high school, but , an Eagle Scout from West Hempstead, made a big splash in 2010. The 15-year-old launched a community project in collaboration with Operation Splash to stop pollution of Long Island waterways. He planted hundreds of medallions around the neighborhood reminding residents not to dump their trash in storm drains as they are a direct route to our natural bodies of water.
5. The  of  and  not only put their lives in danger to protect all of us, but they also continue to devote their time to serving others. Throughout the year they hold , food drives and even a to assist active and retired military men and women and their families throughout Long Island. 
6. Malverne artist set out in 2010 to bring live theater back to the village. The graduate of is looking forward to getting his acting troop off the ground in 2011 and opening the curtain on the first repertory theater production the village has seen in over a decade.
7. If you've been to a meeting of the West Hempstead Board of Education this year, you'll know. As the president of the West Hempstead Educators Association (WHEA), the teachers union for faculty in the district, Hafner is very vocal about her discontent over the fact that there is still no resolution in the ongoing contract negotiations between the teachers and the board. To date, they have been working over 500 days without a contract. The two parties are entering into the  in early 2011.
8. As the mayor of Malverne,  is obviously one of the key newsmakers in the community, but this alone is not what places her in our roundup of interesting people. McDonald's rich ties to the village, a place she grew up and continues to raise her family is a big part of her draw. Her family is also remarkable. Her husband, Steven, served as a New York City police officer until he was paralyzed while shot on duty and her son, Conor, is now proudly carrying the torch. He graduated from the New York Police Academy in late December of this year.
9. 2010 was a great year for the . The high school musicians took home a state championship trophy this fall and also recently received a citation from the village for their accomplishments.
10. principal of St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead, has an interesting way of engaging her students. Teisch makes our list for her continued efforts to embrace technology and enlighten her pupils about different cultures. She uses video conferencing on a regular basis to enable her students to interact and learn from experts, teachers and other children around the world. 
11. Malverne historian  is devoted to preserving Malverne's past and bringing it to life for residents of the village, but whether he realizes it or not, he also plays a role in shaping the community's present. Working with members of the Historical Society, the Malverne Civic Association and other volunteers, Powers hosts several events throughout the year that bring the community closer together. In 2010, he invited several residents into the cozy restoration home to tour the displays of Malverne's history, showcase the artwork of the talented  also of Malverne, and celebrate the holidays with a. The events fostered the bonds between neighbors and captured the qualities that make Malverne special.

Patch is looking forward to getting know even more interesting members of Malverne and West Hempstead in 2011. Happy New Year!