Local neighborhood example to community

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    By Kim Edwards

    Lending an egg to the next door neighbor, planting 1,000 tulips and just being an all-around friendly person is just what Maeser neighborhood is looking for to revitalize their area.

    Residents of the Maeser neighborhood gathered together Wednesday night to kick off their new, year long “Good Neighbor” program.

    The program was developed to help encourage residents to improve their property and get to know their neighbors a little better.

    The winners received a good neighbor sign to be placed in their yard along with a gift certificate from a local business and a certificate of appreciation.

    Provo Mayor Lewis Billings presented the good neighbor signs to the three winning residents who exemplified an overwhelming willingness to beautify the neighborhood and help others in times of need.

    “If we want good neighborhoods, we have to be good neighbors,” Mayor Billings said. “I would hope that everyone would get to know who lives on either side of them.”

    Gary Daynes, professor in the department of history and American heritage, spoke to the Maeser citizens on being a good neighbor.

    “Communication, trustworthy, helpfulness are all characteristics of a good neighbor,” Daynes said. “Treat them nice, even though they may be there temporarily.”

    Students, just like the Maeser neighborhood, have experienced the effects their neighbor can have on their life.

    BYU graduate Becky Carter still remembers the stress of living next to inconsiderate neighbors while living in King Henry.

    “They had this huge stereo system that would just vibrate our apartment until all hours of the night,” Carter said.

    Carter said her apartment tried everything to deal with their neighbors. They tried talking to them about the problem and even took them homemade bread.

    “There was one night during finals when we went over and asked them to turn down the stereo a little,” Carter said. “They just told us they had a right to dance and to go to the library.”

    Carter and her roommates finally solved the problem by pretending to be the King Henry resident advisor and threatening to report them to BYU.

    “We couldn”t sleep at night, we couldn”t study. It disrupted our whole life,” Carter said.

    Julie Rowe, 20, a junior from San Diego, Calif., majoring in political science, also thinks the type of neighbor she has makes a difference in her life.

    “My neighbors are the greatest,” Rowe said. “They are always willing to talk to us whatever time it is and they also bring us treats. Good neighbors make stressful times easier because there is someone you can always go to.”

    Mayor Billings said he hopes everyone can look to the Maeser neighborhood as examples of those striving to improve their area and their neighbors.

    “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” Mayor Billings said. “Isn”t that a great rule?”

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