Hometown Hero

Emily Wiley, of Schenectady, cares deeply for her community and everyone in it. She created a foundation in her name to help gather items for families in need in Schenectady, including school supplies and warm winter coats. She also helps buy holiday presents and toys...

This week's "Hometown Hero" is Louise Belensz. Louise volunteers throughout her community, including at a local school tutoring children and teaching others how to ski at the Double H Ranch. But she really enjoys bringing her therapy dog, Otis, to local nursing homes to help and cheer elderly residents...

Breanne Duesler, of Ames, was not only honored as one of our "Hometown Heroes"-she was recently honored by her peers as well. Breanne was recognized as an outstanding 4-H volunteer for her work with the 4-H Youth Development Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties...

Rafael Chaverri, of Amsterdam, does much more than deliver mail to local residents. He delivers cheer. Many neighbors along his route have come to love and respect Rafael, a Costa Rican native who came to America at age 18 and has been delivering mail for the past 10 years...

  Joe Germano, of East Greenbush, has been a state trooper for the past 27 years. Whether on the road or teaching other troopers at the academy, he's known to always be lending a helping hand to others. As part of the “Hometown Heroes” series, we’ve partnered with County Waste, Latham Ford and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region to celebrate local unsung heroes for their good deeds and

Sara Mae Hickey, president and founder of The Autism Initiative, a non-profit organization committed to improving the livelihood of families and individuals affected by autism, is in the process of building and opening Puzzles Bakery & Café, located on State St. in...

John Sumpter was moved by the loss of two teenagers in Amsterdam two years ago and decided to create a not-for-profit organization geared toward mentoring and coaching the community's youth. He started W1shfu1 Th1nk1ng and currently mentors 100 to 200 local kids of various ages and grade levels...

Rayn Boncie has devoted her life to helping children in need, providing clothing and essentials to them through a non-profit foundation she started, Children in Crisis. The Scotia mother of four sacrifices much of her own time to help between 4,000 and 5,000 children per year...

There are few things Jennifer McKeon, of Coxsackie, does not do. By day, McKeon works as a nurse at a pain clinic in Clifton Park and at night she teaches phlebotomy students. In between, she volunteers as a firefighter and also finds time for her three children and one grandson...

For the past 19 years, Michele and Hal Bergeron, of Schenectady, have been helping the children of their community not only have a fun Halloween night, but one that includes a full meal. After noticing that many children had little else to eat but candy on that night, the couple started "The Bergerons' Annual Halloween Hot Dogs," serving between 400 and 600 hot dogs within a four-hour pe

Stephen Kolbe, of Amsterdam, dedicates his life to others, currently serving as a firefighter, EMT and member of the Army National Guard. As part of the “Hometown Heroes” series, we’ve partnered with County Waste and Latham Ford to celebrate local unsung heroes for their good deeds and honorable work...

This week we honor a local not-for-profit foundation on a mission to give children with cancer and other diseases their "Best Day Ever." Erin Musto, president of Maddie's Mark, started the foundation with her husband and family last year in honor of their daughter, Madeline, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at just five years old...