Today, we introduce a few of the nominees who have already made New York a better place through their selfless actions and unflagging dedication. Families of 9/11 victims call Fred Ariemma "the earth angel" and hope he wins a Liberty Medal when they're handed out at Gracie Mansion tomorrow.

That's because Ariemma has donated plants, hedges, trees and a waterfall - and his time and effort to tend them - to help transform a Staten Island traffic median into "Angels' Circle," a serene memorial garden dedicated to those who died in the terror attacks.

At its heart, at Hylan Boulevard and Fingerboard Road, are photos of 165 men and women "angels," surrounded by a sanctuary of blooms in a landscape of love devised by Ariemma, 45, a garden-center owner.

"Freddy has given [9/11 victims' families] a beautiful place to come and mourn," said Wendy Pellegrino, who started Angels' Circle. "We call him the earth angel because he's quiet and shy [and] works in the ground taking care of the angels."

Right after 9/11, Pellegrino ran to the grassy median and put up a sign reading "God Bless our Heroes" and "then someone put a picture in and the next day someone else added a picture."

As the site grew, Pellegrino began to decorate it with silk flowers.

Then Ariemma donated two huge angels, and last year before Father's Day he called Pellegrino "and said, 'Let me plant a few flowers.' He came and planted 10,000 flowers because he knew kids were coming, and he worked 15 hours in the rain with his crew."

Angels' Circle families nominated Ariemma for the Community Medal.