Give A Good Neighbor Worthy Recognition

Do you look forward to a knock on your door, knowing it’s probably your neighbor stopping by to visit?

Does that neighbor inevitably offer to help with something that’s been nagging you? The growing grass? The broken fence? Your dwindling pile of firewood?

If so, take note.

The North Side Voice is inviting nominations for our 11th annual Good Neighbor Contest.

You know your neighbor deserves the recognition.

“I really appreciated that the neighbors cared enough about me to put me in,” said past Good Neighbor Contest winner Gene Merrithew. “It made the neighborhood a little closer as a group, gave us another chance to get together, share food and have a good neighborhood time.”

Merrithew was honored for serving as the informal town crier. When Merrithew takes his nightly walks as block watch representative, he takes time to visit with his neighbors and share information. He also organizes garage sales, summer barbecues and Christmas parties.

“He makes sitting out on the front porch fun,” neighbor Karen Marshall said.

Certainly you know someone whose thoughtfulness and energy rivals Merrithew’s.

If so, grab your pen and write a 250-word letter explaining why your neighbor tops the charts. Remember to include concrete examples of their good deeds, with all the details you can think of.

We’re looking for people who show a deep commitment to nurturing a sense of community in their neighborhood. People like Bob and Joan Hilton, honored in part because they bring their North Side neighborhood together by throwing welcoming parties for every new family on the block.

Or people like Dorothy and Morrie Silvey of the Spokane Valley, who take care of tasks that prove difficult for some of their elderly neighbors.

Don’t worry if you’re not a Shakespeare. If the words come from your heart they’re sure to capture your neighbor’s grace.

Just make sure your entry is in our hands by the end of the day on July 26.

Then, with the help of good neighbors from years gone by, we’ll choose one winner each from a North Side, South Side and Valley neighborhood.

All winners will be honored with an engraved plaque and a catered block party. Plus, we’ll publish a cover story in the Voice to help everyone get to know your good neighbor.

So don’t delay, let your neighbor know how much they’re appreciated.

Need a little inspiration? An excerpt from the letter nominating last year’s North Side winners:

“Joan and Bob Hilton have brought our neighborhood together. We were a typical suburban subdivision missing out on the old-fashioned enjoyment and support of actually knowing each other.

“But that was before the Hiltons moved in. Bob and Joan were soon organizing potlucks and dessert socials to greet new arrivals, to say goodbye to departing neighbors and to celebrate special events such as the happy occasion when a neighborhood couple became U.S. citizens.

“We now live in a real neighborhood where we all know each other by name, look out for each other, and really enjoy being together. Thank you, Hiltons!”

This sidebar appeared with the story:

CONTEST DETAILS

How to nominate

To nominate your Good Neighbor, send your letter to: Good Neighbor Contest, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-2160. You can e-mail your nomination to goodneighbor@spokesman.com. Or you can drop off your nomination at The Spokesman-Review office, 999 W. Riverside.