Madrona celebrates 20th Neighbor Appreciation Day

On Feb. 7, the Madrona Community Council (MCC) teamed up with old friends and new to celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day. When MCC board members realized that 2015 would be the 20th year of Seattle’s Neighbor Appreciation Day, they did their best to gather people who’d been part of this day in the first year and those who’d received awards over the last 20 years. The results were gratifying.

In 2015, the honored guest was Norm Rice, Seattle’s 49th mayor, who first proclaimed Neighbor Appreciation Day in 1995; Rice also was in Madrona to celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day in 1995. His ties to Madrona continue to be deep and wide.

Also present in 2015 were more than 20 award winners from previous years, as well as their friends, family and neighbors.

New winners include Madrona News editor Barbara Parker, for the Nora Award; Girlie Press owner Risa Blythe, for the Tyrone Love Unsung Hero award; and volunteer Holly Boone, for the Local Hero Award. St. Clouds Restaurant was designated the Madrona Good Neighbor for 2015.

Madrona K-8 School children kicked off the event with a rousing rendition of “Madrona Pride.” The school also honored faculty, staff and students, whose contributions to the school community are appreciated.

— Reprinted with permission from Madrona Community Council’s Madrona News