Nominate Your Neighbor

Thu., June 25, 1998

Angie Gaddy Staff Writer

You’ve got a good neighbor.

You know the type. The person who volunteers to watch your dog and pick up the mail while you’re on vacation. The person who dutifully shares barbecue in their backyard and bakes enough cookies to feed the entire block.

We want to hear about them. It’s time to give your good neighbor some credit. Publicly.

The Spokesman-Review is sponsoring the ninth annual Good Neighbor contest. We’re looking for those people who display care and compassion, who make you proud to call your neighborhood home.

In 250 words or less, tell us how neighborly your neighbor is. Do they turn on the sprinkler not just to water the roses but to cool off the kids? Do they go the extra mile to pick up your paper? Do they organize the neighborhood? Map carpool routes? Publish a newsletter? Give kind words of wisdom?

When writing your nomination, be sure to include specific examples of how they make a difference.

Remember these are the people who go the extra mile with time and energy, not people who just support the community with financial donations.

If last year’s nomination didn’t win, give it another shot. Good neighbors last for years.

And just like in years past, the Good Neighbor winner will be recognized by The Spokesman-Review with a profile in the North Side Voice. They’ll receive a plaque, and we’ll cater a picnic for your whole neighborhood.

So it’s time to get writing. All entries must be received by July 24. Winners will be announced in the Voice on Aug. 6.

Don’t worry if you’re not a writer. Speak from the heart.

Need a little inspiration? Here is part of one of last year’s winning nominations.

I nominate Patty Sarner for best neighbor.

Patty has three small children. She is home during the day busy taking care of her kids, but is always offering to help all of us working mothers.

All during the school year - before work - I had to take my older son to school each morning. Patty offered to have my two younger children, ages 9 and 10, come over for the 40 minutes I was gone so they wouldn’t have to take the long ride with me each day.

When my husband was in the hospital for a week, she made a huge “Welcome Home” banner and had all the other neighbors sign it. Then she put it across our garage door.

Another neighbor was having trouble paying daycare costs while she was in school, so Patty offered to take care of three small children for three days a week until she graduated.

- Nominated by Terri Stallman

SPEAK FROM YOUR HEART Won’t you tell us about your good neighbor? Tell us why you think your neighbor should be the 1998 winner of The Spokesman Review’s Good Neighbor contest. Write a letter, no more than 250 words, giving us lots of examples of how your neighbor makes your neighborhood a better place to live. Send it to: Good Neighbor Contest, North Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615. All entries must be received by July 24. Winners will be announced in the Voice on Aug. 6.

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