Greetings, neighbors

I can’t believe the Northside News has been coming to our homes for 20 years. Think back to where you were 20 years ago. I was 24, pregnant with my son, Robert, and living in Monona. In 1997 we bought our first house on Sheridan Drive, and I was introduced to the Northside Planning Council (NPC). My neighborhood association needed someone to represent us on NPC’s board. I was new to the neighborhood and wanted to get involved. What better way?

What better way, indeed. Since those days, we have grown the Northside News to be the best community newspaper ever (in my humble opinion), helped get Warner Park Community Recreation Center (WPCRC) built, helped get Troy Gardens (now Community GroundWorks) up and running, brought a farmers market to the Northside, started the Northside Youth Council, built the FEED Kitchens, and are now serving our community with the Year of Equity initiative.

You may find yourself like I was 20 years ago — new to the area or just wanting to get involved. I highly recommend that, by the way. You can join in the Northside wave in multiple ways. Sign up for a program at WPCRC, join us for a free Sunday Supper March 29, take a tour of FEED Kitchens, write an article or submit a photograph to the Northside News, buy a share from Troy Community Farm, volunteer at the next Youth Empowerment Summit, join the Year of Equity movement or just be neighborly. 

Remember, you don’t have to move to live in a better neighborhood; you just have to get involved with the neighborhood you live in. I truly believe that and hope you do, too.

See you around the neighborhood.