Twenty-nine local writers celebrated a two year anniversary on October 10th. The Dear Neighbor column, available regularly in the Salisbury Post, is a collaborative effort to share values through storytelling. It is another small way to take action for democracy.

Dear Neighbor, 

It started with a dog, a walk in the neighborhood, and curiosity about what creates connections in society. That first letter from Nan Lund, (10/10/23) for the now recurring Dear Neighbor column, ended with her conviction that community and conversation are “good for your health and it’s good for democracy.”

October 2025 brings the second anniversary of Dear Neighbor, a plan hatched by 3 friends that involved developing a collaboration of different writers to use story telling to express and explain core values. We hoped our stories might encourage folks to consider different viewpoints as a normal difference among neighbors. Last year we celebrated the one year anniversary of Dear Neighbor with 16 different writers. On this second anniversary, 29 of your neighbors are still telling their truth through their stories with the publication of 107 Dear Neighbor letters as of today.

The Dear Neighbor column has tried to establish a trust that our opinions are formed on more than just gut feelings and that views expressed are supported by factual information rather than depend upon the too prevalent and readily available disinformation and misinformation that often parades as facts and spreads like wildfire. Agree or not, I dare say that each of these writers would be willing to listen and hear your story and answer your questions. Curiosity and differences, coupled with kindness, make good neighbors. 

Two years later the words from my first Dear Neighbor submission still hold true in my heart. – “Maybe life, and the words we use, isn’t as simple as those sitting in elected office try to tell us as they throw out buzz words to incite the masses and garner more power. We need to listen carefully and be aware of our reactions.“ I concluded with these words: “May we embrace the day. May we embrace our differences. May we watch our words. And may we watch our choices as we maneuver this life we share with our neighbors.”

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.