Stories & Blog Posts
Growing Environmentalist
Our grandsons are coming! The words promise exciting times ahead. With five grandsons, summer is prime time for family visits. The oldest is 17 (already!), and we’ve shifted from making...
5 Steps to a Successful Block Party
Few things bring neighborhoods together like a good old-fashioned block party. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors, catch up with friends, enjoy good food and entertainment,...
Little Free Libraries Have a Unique Neighborhood Goal
As the son of a retired librarian, I know the humble book remains a powerful tool for education, enlightenment, and entertainment. In this digital age, a good book can show us what...
How My Dog Helped Me be a Better Neighbor
I’m a cat person. When I was growing up, my family had both dogs and cats, but I’ve always preferred cats. When I grew up, I married a man who also loves...
Be Up Front About It
What’s going on in your front yard? If your answer is along the lines of “It looks nice, but I never spend time there” or “I’m keeping my grass alive,...
Unexpected Factors Cause People to Love Where They Live
A three-year Gallup study of 26 U.S. cities (released in 2010) found that people’s love and passion for their community may be a leading indicator for local economic growth. Surprisingly, social...
Five Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Your Neighborhood
Several Februaries ago while on a walk in my neighborhood, I noticed that one of my neighbors had decorated her windows with red and pink paper hearts. It was a...
Why (and How) to Start a Helpful Neighborhood Social Media Group
Whether your neighborhood is made up of ten homes or three hundred and fifty, it can be hard to stay in good communication with each other, especially during the shorter...
What I Learned about Neighboring from Fred Rogers: 5 Takeaways
This blog post is the third in a three-part series by Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Mary met Fred Rogers while writing an article about the famous television personality, and they...
What I Learned about Neighboring from Fred Rogers: Listening
This blog post is the second in a three-part series by Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Mary met Fred Rogers while writing an article about the famous television personality, and they...
What I Learned about Neighboring from Fred Rogers: Respect
This blog post is the first in a three-part series by Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Mary met Fred Rogers while writing an article about the famous television personality, and they...
Lessons from Sweet Auburn Avenue
The leader of our tour announced, “We are now turning onto Sweet Auburn Avenue.” The big tour bus drove down the neighborhood street. The air was warm, fresh, and peaceful,...