Love thy neighbor

By JOHN HUNNEMAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, June 28, 2008 11:37 PM PDT ∞

Good Sunday morning to you. Murrieta's Honeycutt Farms sounds good for breakfast today.

There's a place on my computer where, over lo, these many years, I've stashed a copy of everything I've written.

Columns are filed by months, so if I need to know what I wrote on, say, March 4, 2001 ---- opening day for Murrieta National Little League ---- it's just a click away.

Looking through past Junes, on the last Sunday of that month in most years this column has been about the annual winners of Temecula's Good Neighbor contest.

Since 1993, residents have nominated neighbors for the honor, which recognizes those who make a difference in the community without seeking recognition.

The nominations are anonymous, and a panel of city folk and community leaders choose the good neighbor and a runner-up. The winners are honored at the city's annual Fourth of July parade.

Common threads run through all the winners: They are all surprised to win and, even more so, that someone took the time to notice and commend their efforts.

This year, Mary Boyce has been chosen the Good Neighbor winner and Alan Pask the runner-up.

Boyce, who is out of town but will be back in time for the parade, was praised for many reasons by her neighbor. However, she was singled out for her efforts to help a local soldier who lost a leg and an arm in Iraq obtain a modified Chevy Tahoe he could drive from the community-minded folks at Paradise Chevrolet.

"I believe if she had not taken the step to call (Paradise vice president) Terry Gilmore, this amazing event would not have taken place," the neighbor wrote.

Boyce will serve as the parade's grand marshal.

Pask's reaction was typical of all those who have been selected over the years.

"When I found out, it was pretty amazing," he told me on Friday.

Being in the parade is nothing new for Pask. Broadway Starz, the nonprofit theater group he founded, is making its third appearance in the Fourth fest.

The neighbor who nominated him said Pask "has taught and encouraged over 500 kids" in the past two years.

"He has also raised money offering over $12,000 in scholarships for less privileged kids to participate in programs," Pask's neighbor wrote. "He stays behind the scenes, allowing the kids to shine."

That's also typical of all the winners over the years, who have all helped, in one way or another, make their community shine.

Contact columnist John Hunneman at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2603, or hunneman@californian.com.

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