Hometown Hero Luncheon 2017

This year's Hometown Heroes Luncheon by 97.9 The Hill was held Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Sancar Turkish Center. Check out photos of the event!

Each week, 97.9 The Hill WCHL celebrates a Hometown Hero for the work they do — big and small — to help others in our community. On February 4, the Hometown Heroes nominated from 2022 gathered for a special luncheon to continue celebrating their altruism and efforts. The event was held at the Blue Hill […]

This week's Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is Julie Byerley, the Vice Dean for Education and Chief Education Officer for the UNC School of Medicine.

Winning Chapel Hill Magazine’s “Best Indian Food in Chapel Hill” award in 2012 and consistently placing as a finalist in “Best of” and “Reader’s Choice” polls in Indy Week’s “Best of the Triangle” awards isn’t the only thing that’s made Vimala’s Curryblossom Café notable here in Chapel Hill. The owner, Vimala Rajendron, garners just as […]

This week’s Hometown Hero, Leah Tilden, is a Level II EMS instructor and UNC alumnus with a degree in psychology and a graduate certificate in community preparedness/disaster management. “It’s an exciting time in EMS,” said Tilden. “Because community paramedicine is becoming a really big thing. We’ve realized that EMS providers shouldn’t just be taking people […]

Laurie Paolicelli has served as the executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitor’s Bureau for 11 years. Deb Stroman, who nominated Paolicelli for this week’s Hometown Hero award, says that Paolicelli “exudes energy, creativity and kindness.” As the executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitor’s Bureau, Paolicelli has worked to make a difference […]

This week’s Hometown Hero is an experienced officer with the Chapel Hill Police Department, a captain who has extensive experience in public safety disciplines, and a lifelong Tar Heel and UNC alumnus. Jackie Carden has served the Chapel Hill community actively since 1990, working both behind the scenes and in the field. “Jackie is one […]

This week’s Hometown Hero is Maggie West, a UNC alumnus and engaged member of the community. West co-founded the Community Empowerment Fund in 2009 while she was a student at UNC as a sustainable way to help the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in Orange and Durham County. “We work with people […]

This week’s Hometown Hero is Cresha Cianciolo, a frequent volunteer and organizer for many programs instilling positive change in our community.   As a founding volunteer for annual fundraiser “Opening Doors,” benefitting the Community Home Trust, Cianciolo has helped raise the capital to help push for local affordable housing. She has also volunteered with the […]