One of the best parts about working in a local newsroom is that we get to write about average people in our city who have done extraordinary things.
Whether it’s a lifelong endeavor or a spur-of-the-moment good deed, these are a few of our favorites from 2024.
A daring rescue
Talk about being in the right place at the right time: Scott Dixon, a lifeguard battalion chief, just happened to be driving from a Christmas party when a truck veered off the road in front of him.
As it sank into a roadside flood channel, Dixon jumped right in — pulling three people to safety before climbing back into his own car and heading home with his family.
A legendary barber
Nicolas Nicola has a 47-year legacy on Fourth Street.
An immigrant from Cyprus, Nicola built a barbering business that earned such loyalty from customers that they kept coming back for decades.
As he was closing up shop for the last time in September, he had a piece of advice for anyone hoping to learn from the pride he took in his work: “Always, you have to look for not only today. You have to look for tomorrow, for next week, for next year, for your future for yourself and your family and your kids.”