Search is On for Haupauge's Greatest People of the Year

With TIME magazine announcing its Person of the Year this week on Wednesday, selecting "the protestor" to represent people taking a stand in the Middle East, Occupy Wall Street and countless other protesting groups.

We are Hauppauge  Patch thought it might be fun to launch our own People of the Year style contest.

Each year, TIME asks its readers to submit their nominations and vote on people who have influenced the news most. This year, readers elected everyone from Susan Boyle (No. 3) to Japan's Fukushima power plant workers (No. 16) to popular celebrity figures like Kim Kardashian (No. 201).

We are inspired at Hauppauge Patch, and want to ask you to do the same. Every day at Patch we hear stories of people who are making a difference in the Hauppauge and Nesconset community, and there no doubt are many more out there we have yet to learn about.

In 2010, Hauppauge Patch selected a list of This year, we want your advice.

We're asking you to nominate those Hauppauge and Nesconset residents to be named among the Greatest People of 2011. Tell us the name of someone deserves to be recognized for their actions or work and why. Nominees can be a singular person, a business or a group.

You can tell us in the comments section below who deserves to be selected and why. Or email the editor at sara-megan.walsh@patch.com if you want to remain anonymous. All nominations must be received by Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.