You Decide: Syosset People Who Mattered in 2011

A World War II veteran. A school administrator. A Syosset High School senior. A property developer. Though their occupations, ages and beliefs differ greatly from one another, there is no denying these people matter to Syosset.

Who mattered most in 2011? We've chosen the top ten and alphabetized them, so refresh your minds by reading the little blurb provided or click any link in blue for the full rundown. When you decide, vote in our poll below.

Putting Syosset on the bakery map this year was Corina Elgart of Cakes by Taste. After making it all the way to the finale of TLC's Next Great Baker, Elgart took home second place in the competition. "Taste is a boutique cake shop and I am totally happy with the outcome," said Elgart after the premiere of the finale episode. Although she didn't win the grand prize, she won the hearts and sweet teeth of everyone in Syosset.

These two people who mattered go hand-in-hand.

Fabricant wants to improve the community by near a Syosset elementary school. Taubmann wants to improve the community. When you refer to someone as "the mall guy" in Syosset, you are probably talking about one of these two men. The debate over the Mall at Oyster Bay project continued this year, with a on Robbins Lane in November.

"Once daylight savings hits, it gets darker earlier and if your lights are off, it looks like you're not home," said Fucito, addressing the hundreds who attended the North Syosset neighborhood watch meeting in October. Fucito, in anticipation of the autumn and winter increase in break-ins, worked with concerned locals in Syosset to form the neighborhood watch last spring. Since then, the group has become a solid network for reporting crimes, documenting suspicious activity and brainstorming new security ideas.

She caught state and nationwide attention when she was called out by Governor Andrew Cuomo for being the highest paid superintendent in New York State. Once budget season rolled around, of her and all she has accomplished for . So whether you loved her or you didn't, Dr. Hankin definitely mattered this year.

One of the few democrats to survive the elections in November was Judy Jacobs. The 14-year legislative veteran from Woodbury with almost 60 percent of the vote. Her voice was heard on several Syosset-centric issues, including the Cerro Wire Coalition/Mall at Oyster Bay debate.

Making yet another Year in Review list is Evan Kappatos, a Syosset linebacker who recently set the record for most consecutive Piner Awards won. The award is given to the most outstanding linebacker in Nassau County, and Kappatos' third win was only partly surprising. “It’s always a surprise because you always try and be humble,” Kappatos said. “It was the icing on the cake…It was really awesome.”

Some kids would see a famous athlete getting into trouble for partying too much and think they're cool. Josh Lafazan is not one of those kids (he's 17 so he's not really a kid at all). After seeing former New York Jet Braylon Edwards' DUI arrest, he decided to do something to prevent his peers from making the same mistake. He started the Saferide Syosset program, a free transportation service for students to use if they have been drinking. "Our goal is not to eradicate teenage drinking," said Lafazan honestly. "It is, however, to stop teenage drinking and driving." On Halloween, Saferide brought 25 Syosset students home, which Lafazan's supporters interpret as a life-saving act.

This firecracker sparkles more than any patriotic firework. Dubbed "Mr. Memorial Day" by the Syosset-Jericho Tribune, the World War II veteran runs the Syosset Memorial Day parade every year with the same no-nonsense efficiency as was expected of him in the Navy. With no intention of giving up his post as the boss of the parade, we're sure he'll continue to matter next year too.

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