The Neighborhood Resource Organization handed out its 2016 Good Neighbor Awards in November and three residents of the Academy Neighborhood were recipients. I nominated all three and you can read my nomination letters below.
Susan Earl
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| That's Sue on the left, back in 2013 |
Susan is the very definition of a
good neighbor. She is friendly when dealing with neighbors, looks out for the
safety of others, and is active in every aspect of the Academy Neighborhood
Association. She has been the very picture of consistency within our
organization. She has regularly attended meetings for three years now, has
volunteered at our neighborhood cleanups and fundraisers, and can be counted on
to sign up for a shift at any event or activity.
Susan went above and beyond her
normal responsibilities as a citizen and I found it to be particularly
inspiring. Earlier this year, Susan told me that she had spent an hour or so
picking up garbage and trash from a particular part of our neighborhood for
which no one takes responsibility. It was a small action but one that got me
thinking – Why can’t this happen more often? Why can’t everyone step outside of
their comfort zone and work to improve the neighborhood, quietly and
independently? What can our neighborhood organization do to make Sue’s actions
seem like the norm?
I nominated Susan so that she would
know, and that everyone would know, that stepping out of your comfort zone to
help is the norm, or hopefully the new norm in Erie. The Academy Neighborhood
Association has benefited greatly from having Sue as part of our team: I
cannot imagine the association, or our neighborhood, or our block, without her.
Debbie Knecht
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| Debbie Knecht and Donald "Gizmo" Johnson |
Debbie never misses a meeting. Debbie never misses a
volunteer opportunity. From our very first meeting at a bar in 2013 to our
latest Saturday coffee gathering Debbie has been there. She made cookies for
our latest bake sale and was on hand at our National Night Out in August, our
biggest event of the year.
Additionally, Debbie has had to go through some tough times
in our neighborhood. Her husband was injured in a shooting several years ago, and
just this summer there was a “shots fired” call in front of her residence. There was also a serious house fire across from her home on German
Street.
Prior to being involved in the Academy Neighborhood
Association, Debbie was a key player in the Brickyard Neighborhood Watch group.
She has been a consistent voice for our part of town for the better part of a
decade.
I’m nominating Debbie Knecht for the Good Neighbor award.
She has been a good neighbor, an active association member, and friend.
Johnson's Car Care
Johnson’s Car Care is a private business in the Academy
Neighborhood and I am nominating them, and their owner Donald “Gizmo” Johnson in the Community
Ally category.
Johnson’s Car Care opened in the heart of our neighborhood,
3213 German Street, in 2015. Since that time the business has gained a
reputation for its quality auto body repair work.
The Academy Neighborhood Association holds its annual
National Night Out event in August every year.
Staging the event isn’t easy. There are many necessary expenses: The
performers, stage, sound system, tents, chairs, food, drink, and port-a-potty,
all have to be paid for. The event itself is well worth it. National Night Out
brings together hundreds of people in our diverse neighborhood.
When we approached Mr. Johnson about making a donation to
make our National Night Out event, in August of 2016, he responded
promptly by writing a check. The check was generous and it relieved any
pressure we had felt about funding National Night Out.
The support we have received from Johnson’s Car Care in the
short time the business has been in our neighborhood has been tremendous. It
assured the financial health of our National Night Out event for not only 2016
but the years to come as well. We respect and appreciate the hard work that it
takes to be an entrepreneur. In keeping with our pledge to promote appropriate
economic growth in the Academy Neighborhood we nominate Gizzy Johnson and
Johnson’s Car Care for a Good Neighbor Award.
Our neighborhood has many good neighbors and these three are truly deserving of the extra recognition.
