#1 Desert Landscape Photograph
This photograph was taken as the sun rose over the San Felipe Wash in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park in California. This photograph received third place award for desert landscapes in a prestigious California photo competition.
Donated by Karl Kirkman Value $250
#2 Hand-Painted Portrait of Your Pet
Redeem your gift certificate for a beautiful, hand-painted 16” x 20” acrylic canvas of your “best friend.”
Donated by Lynnmarie Landwei-Phillips Value $250
#3 Third Crossing Oil Painting
Oil painting entitled “Third Crossing” painted “en plein air” in Coyote Canyon, located in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Donated by Nora Kirkman Value $250
#4 United We Stand
Hand-crafted, 20” x 30”, rustic, wooden flag. Custom hand-engraving with Andy’s artwork and favorite quote. Hand-cut stars. Flag is sealed to insure longevity.
Donated by Sanatore Custom Creations Value Priceless
#5 Waving Metal Flag
Proudly display this 2’ x 4’ waving, metal flag representing the Marines as well as the Thin Blue Line of Law Enforcement.
Donated by Rich & Tammi Michali Value Priceless
#6 American Flag Wall Art with Concealed Gun Case
One-of-a-kind Heroes for Andy American Flag wall art with secret compartment. This American Flag is beautiful to look at and also opens to store/hide your firearms or valuables.
Donated by Brian & Sara Hirschmann Value Priceless
#7 One-of-a-Kind Ohio-Shaped End Table
Bid on this rustic, solid walnut, hand-crafted end table shaped like the State of Ohio. This beautiful table has a clear satin finish. It’s 20” tall with a 2’ x 2’ top and 1” steel pipe legs.
Donated by Chad Johns Value $250
#8 Beers of the World Package
Enjoy a variety of beers from around the world, and show your support for Dog Tag Brewing by wearing your new XXL t‑shirt! Sample beers and ales from Italy, Japan, Poland, Ireland, and many other places using your ACE mason jar mugs.
Donated by Anonymous & Dog Tag Brewing Value $175
#9 Pub Frato Basket
Basket contains a $100 gift certificate, Pub Frato pint glasses, and features assorted craft beers & wine.
Donated by Pub Frato Value $175
#10 Cigar & Bourbon Package
Enjoy this box of 10 Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro Churchill cigars, along with bottles of Four Roses Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Weller bourbons.
Donated by The Brown Family Value $400
#11 Napa Wine Basket
A basket of special occasion wines, all from world renowned Napa wineries! All four wines are rated at the top of their class and will elevate any dinner to something special.
Donated by Stephine Boledovic Value $185
#12 Celebrate with ACE
Enjoy a drink of this one-of-a-kind Crown Royal Black with special Heroes for Andy Gala label. An embroidered gift bag is also included.
Donated by Susan & Byron Toth Value Priceless
#13 Wine Tasting for Six
Bring 4 of your friends, for a total of 6, and enjoy a wine and food pairing at the Nowacki home! We will present four types of wines, with small plates prepared to complement the wines. It will be a fun evening with great conversation, unlike any other! Please redeem it before March 2024.
Donated by Denis & Sheila Nowacki Value Priceless
#14 Andy “Ace” Nowacki Hand-crafted Wine Collection
This hand-crafted maple, mahogany and hickory wine set includes a charcuterie board with laser engraved flag, 2 glass wine caddy, laser engraved coaster set, a set of leather wine glass markers and a bottle of 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon with a special Heroes for Andy label.
Donated by Phil Humbert Value Priceless
#15 Billy’s – A Cappelli Martini Bar
You and nine friends can enjoy a two-hour “happy hour” including appetizers and cocktails at Billy’s Martini Bar.
Donated by Linda Cappelli Value $500
#16 Remember Me Andy “Ace” Nowacki Watch
One-of-a-kind Andy “Ace” Nowacki watch. It’s 100% authentic, sustainable, natural ebony, all wood/sandalwood, non-water resistant, splash resistant, and the band has an adjustable fold-over clasp. The back side is inscribed with “There is nothing to be unhappy about – “Ace”.
Donated by Taylre Sanatore Value Priceless
#17 Hero’s Tribute Quilt
All cotton, machine pieced and quilted. The pattern name is Hero’s Tribute by Liz Porter. Size is 56″ x 72″.
Donated by Margaret Maritz Value $300
#18 Pedi Party
Invite four of your friends for a pedi party at Jenniffer & Co. The package includes flip flops, lotion, and nail polish. By the end of the night, your feet will feel rejuvenated!
Donated by Jenniffer & Co. Value $300
#19 Dazzling Necklace
Dazzling, sterling silver necklace with a beautiful red and pink tourmaline pendant.
Donated by Paul Christopher Value $675
#20 Family Photo Session
This Northeast Ohio photographer will guide you step by step for a one-hour family photo session. She will help you with the location, attire, and time of day to help you capture an amazing family memory.
Donated by Grace Hannah Value $525
#21 Who’s Ready for Spring?
Check out this stunning perfect petals necklace & golden wrap-star bracelet, made with genuine Swarovski crystals.
Donated by MyHang Truong Value $200
#22 Memories You Can Snuggle Up To
You provide the T-shirts and pick the size of the finished product. Diane Perry will then make your unique, custom, memory t-shirt quilt or wall hanging.
Donated by Denny & Diane Perry Value $300
#23 Custom Glass Blowing
Use this $150 gift certificate to book your studio hours and create your own masterpiece. Also, enjoy the Glass Asylum t-shirt (M) and 4 custom-created champagne flutes.
Donated by Glass Asylum & Ainslie Reschke Value $250
#24 Let’s Go Cavs!
Bid on this autographed basketball from our very own Cleveland Cavalier #45 Donovan “Spida” Mitchell.
Donated by Cleveland Cavaliers Value Priceless
#25 Cleveland Monsters
This voucher entitles you to a Suite for up to 18 people, and two (2) parking passes for a mutually-agreed-upon Monsters home game during the 2023-2024 regular season. Does not include food or beverage.
Donated by Cleveland Monsters Value Priceless
#26 Autographed Cleveland Indians Baseball
Baseball autographed by former Cleveland Indians players – pitcher Jose Mesa & left fielder Kevin Rhomberg.
Donated by Sheila & Denis Nowacki Value Priceless
#27 Guardians Package
Major league baseball signed by Guardians pitcher Cal Quantrill #47 & Center fielder Miles Straw #7. Includes two tickets for Saturday, July 22nd, Section 117, Row J, Seats 8 & 9. This package includes Steven Kwan bobble-head night, $2 Miller Lites pre-game, and post-game fireworks.
Donated by Gwynn Hampel and Peg Liberatore Value Priceless
#28 Jadeveon Davarus Clowney Autographed Football
Add this former Cleveland Browns defensive end signed football to your sports memorabilia collection.
Donated by Cleveland Browns Value Priceless
#29 Cleveland Browns Gear
Browns: Signed Harrison Bryant – Riddell mini helmet, 16-can cooler tote, slim can powder-coat coolie, 32 oz water bottle, 3-D stadium replica coasters, and a luggage tag.
Donated by KeyBank Value $220
#30 Joe Thomas Autographed Jersey
Joe was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, making him the first Hall of Fame member of the Cleveland Browns to play in the 21st century. Display this one-of-a-kind signed jersey.
Donated by Ryan Cunningham Value Priceless
2023 Heroes
Hero Daniel Pugliese
While attending the local college, Danny Pugliese realized he was not “college” material. So, Danny met with an Army Recruiter who assured him, that if he enlisted rather than waiting to be drafted, he could pick his own MOS (military occupational specialty). The Army made Danny a truck driver in Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam in September 1971, he joined the Ashtabula City Fire Department, following in his father’s footsteps as a fireman. After an injury that he received on the job, Danny retired as a Captain with 20+ years on the fire department.
In 2015 and 2016, Danny attended a Veteran Recognition Ceremony to honor his father and his father-in-law, respectively. The ceremonies were held by the Veteran volunteers of the Hospice of the Western Reserve, and Danny became interested in joining this volunteer group with the hospice. He became a volunteer in December 2019 to give Veteran patients the recognition that they deserve.
Danny learned to play the guitar at a young age; and he performed with his father and several area bands. At the end of every Veteran Ceremony, he plays the guitar and sings “God Bless America”. Everyone joins in and it is a moving experience for all. He also provides music and companionship visits for other hospice patients.
Danny always brings a cheerful outlook and adds a positive aspect to all his Veteran encounters.
We thank Danny for his service and his compassion.
2023 Heroes
Hero Lorraine Fende
Lorraine Fende has been in public service for over thirty-three years. She began serving her community as a councilwoman and then became the first female Mayor/Safety Director of Wickliffe, Ohio. Lorraine went on to serve eight years as a State Representative in the Ohio Legislature followed by a tenure as the Treasurer of Lake County.
During Lorraine’s term as a State Representative, she introduced the legislation that would name part of Ohio State Route 44 as “The Lance Corporal Andy Nowacki Highway”. At that time, Lorraine was a freshman representative and naming highways for our fallen was not the norm. But she persisted, and the legislation was enacted into law and dedicated in September 2007.
Lorraine no longer holds public office but remains active in the community as an auxiliary member of American Legion Post 678 and a member of the Blue Coats, an organization honoring Lake County Safety Forces personnel who have demonstrated heroism. She is a former member of the Lake County Police Chiefs Association and the Willoughby Municipal Court Safety Committee.
Lorraine Fende has achieved her many service accomplishments while also being an EMT for over thirty years.
2023 Heroes
Heroes Gabriel Ananea, Bryan Brown, Rollin Pachinger, and Jason Sorgen
In August 2022, Gabe Ananea, Bryan Brown, Rollin Pachinger and Jason Sorgen were Alaska to begin backpacking through Denali National Park and Reserve. The four friends, three of whom are firefighter paramedics, had been planning this trip for years.
As a warm-up for their Denali trek, they set off on a hike to Flattop Mountain, a challenging trail in Chugach State Park near Anchorage. During this hike, they encountered Janet Johnson who was laying on the ground, unable to walk. Janet was on the mountain to honor her husband’s request to scatter his ashes; however, she tripped on some loose rocks and injured her ankle.
The Anchorage Fire Department was not available, and a helicopter rescue would have been costly. Without hesitation, Gabe, Bryan, Rollin, and Jason offered to help Janet and took turns giving her piggyback rides over the two and a half miles down the mountain to get medical treatment. It was discovered that Janet’s ankle was broken in three different places and required multiple surgeries.
Janet calls Gabe, Bryan, Rollin, and Jason her angels and “will forever be grateful for their kindness, gentleness and willingness to help a stranger”.