Final candidates nominated for a complimentary makeover have been chosen by two doctors' offices in the area that are sponsoring the project.

Larry Winans, owner of Lawrence J. Winans DMD in Lewisburg, and Robert Lamont, chief operating officer at the Eye Center of Central PA, have chosen nine local residents as finalists in "A Brighter Smile -- A Clearer Vision. Recognizing Generosity" total makeover.

The finalists were nominated to honor their contributions to the local community through community service and volunteering.

Residents can vote for makeover finalists online at www.dailyitem.com and www.wqkx.com between now and Nov. 20. Based on those results, two recipients will be chosen Nov. 21.

Winans' office will perform dental improvements while the Eye Center of Central PA will provide vision improvement in December.

Sculptures Salon in Northumberland and Advanced Skin Care Salon and Spa in Lewisburg will provide both recipients with services the day they reveal their new looks. A clothier will be chosen to also give the pair new clothing to be worn for the reveal.

Makeovers will be revealed Jan. 3 at the Lewisburg Hotel.

"It's kind of the pay it forward effort that makes everybody feel good," Lamont said.

Nominee profiles

Gayle Tobin, a part-time instructor at Sunbury's YMCA, teaches yoga, step class and spinning to inspire others care for their health. She says her favorite job at the Y is being a personal trainer to special needs individuals. Tobin participates in ministries at her church. When it comes to family, Tobin and her husband saved money to give their children braces to prevent them from feeling the embarrassment Tobin said she's felt from having crooked teeth.

When a friend in need of a heart transplant required extra care and help, Katie Wilk welcomed him into her home. She helps take care of him, changing dressings and getting him to doctor appointments. Wilk has given both physically and financially to make sure her friend has the things he needs. Katie and her husband have two young children.

Beth Ginck has severe diabetes and offers diabetes education and support for those needing help. She travels to patients' homes, educating them on diabetes and insulin pumps. Ginck volunteers at a camp for children with diabetes. When her father passed away 10 years ago, Ginck welcomed her mother and brother into her home, where they still live. She has also opened her home to other people who needed some help until they got back on their feet.

When Christopher Burke's father became paralyzed five years ago, he depended on his wife and son to tend to his needs. Burke, then 20, took on responsibilities of being a personal care attendant for his dad. Burke began helping his father tend to his daily personal needs, lifting him in and out of his wheelchair, running errands and doing laundry and outside work, while his mother worked her full time job. Last year, on his 25th birthday, Burke spent endless hours in the hospital with his mother while his dad underwent surgery.

Chris Burgess has helped with Sunbury Quadra League baseball for three years as a coach, a member of the board of directors and president. He was just re-elected to serve as president next year. The husband and father of a 3-year-old spends hours helping kids in administrative duties as league president and as a coach. The vice president of a local construction company, Burgess has been asked to run for school board and for local commissioner and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

Tracey Whitmer has volunteered for her children's sports teams and the local library. She took a paid position on the local school board but donated the money back to the school. When Whitmer's friend lost her son, Whitmer established a memorial scholarship in his name. Whitmer was saving money to have LASIK surgery. Her friend, still reeling from her son's death, had an opportunity to go on vacation, but no one to go with. Whitmer, saying her friend deserved the vacation, spent her savings to go with her friend. When Whitmer's friends planned their LASIK surgeries, Whitmer had spent her savings helping her friend.

Adam Tarin works as a pharmaceutical reimbursement coordinator at Geisinger Medical Center helping low-income patients unable to afford life-sustaining medications to get prescription drugs at little or no cost. Tarin has also spent time volunteering at animal shelters, political events and, as a musician, has performed at no cost for fundraising events. He frequently volunteers his time to help friends and neighbors work on their homes when they are unable to afford to hire someone to do it.

Sherri Heckman considered getting laser vision correction, but fell ill during pregnancy, giving birth to her son 13 weeks prematurely. She recovered quickly, spent several months with her son at the hospital, leaving work for five months. Her family's finances didn't allow for extras. Heckman volunteers with the March of Dimes at the Janet Weis Children's Hospital and helps other premature babies and their families. She joined a Women's Club, collecting donations for children with cleft palates overseas. With dental bills for her 3-year-old son, Heckman must delay LASIK vision correction.

John Rowe, 28, teaches gymnastics at L.A.R.A., donating at least four hours a week. When he's not teaching, he plays at the park, meeting lots of kids, trying to make their day by doing back flips. He volunteered for four months helping out District Attorney Pete Johnson to gain experience in the legal field. Many may not know Rowe by name, but those watching December's Lewisburg Victorian Parade will see John dressed as Peter Pan doing flips. John never objects to making time for children because one of his biggest goals in life is to set a good example for them.