Neighborhoods Inc. encourages residents through contests

EAST CHICAGO | On December 20, Neighborhoods Inc. (NI) held an awards ceremony for the participants of the Fall Spruce Up and the Winter Holiday Decorating Contests at the East Chicago Library community meeting room.

The ceremony began with an introduction by NI Executive Director, Keith Speaks. The contests were sponsored by a Foundations of East Chicago (FEC) grant. NI has been doing improvement, decorating, and landscaping contests since 2001 and has hosted more than 30 contests with nearly 4000 participants in the cities of East Chicago, Hammond, Highland, Calumet City and Burnham.

Nearly 50 excited contestants with their family and friends attended and were treated to hot chocolate and sweet treats as they got to know each other and talk about their projects. Attendees received certificates, door prizes, and cash rewards of up to $500 for their efforts. The door prizes consisted of gift bags as well as gift certificates provided by local businesses such as Plaza Lanes, Michael's Restaurant, Easy Clean Car Wash located in Highland and Dairy Queen of East Chicago.

This is the second year that NI hosted the Fall Spruce Up contest in East Chicago with 28 participants. Residents painted, planted and decorated their homes. Some had benches installed on concrete stamped pads to complement the look of their homes and encourage neighborliness. The benches are a part of a program called "Please Have a Seat" sponsored by FEC, Legacy Foundation, and NIPSCO. There are 38 bench locations in East Chicago.

NI is a not for profit organization dedicated to improving the neighborhoods of the Calumet Region. NI goes beyond traditional community development activities by initiating innovative programs, contests, and events. NI recognizes that East Chicago residents need more than a place to live; they need a place to continue to enjoy. When a person sees a neighbor improving or decorating their property it often motivates them to do the same. House by house and block by block neighbors are setting the example and making East Chicago a nicer place to live in.

The winners of the 2011 Fall Spruce-Up Contest include 1st place, Stephanie Williams,3901 Carey, $500; 2nd place, Julia Nazario 4902 Drummond, $250; 3rd place, Theresa & Joe Berlanga 4355 E. Guadalupe, $100.

The winners of the 2011 Winter Holiday Decorating Contest include 1st place, Ruby Perry, 4130 Hawthorne, $100, 2nd place, Estelle & Warren Williams, 4017 McCook, $75, 3rd place, Ida Hill 4425 W. Guadalupe, $50.

The second contest, the Winter Holiday Decorating Contest, had 54 participants. This was the fourth time since 2005 that NI organized a winter-themed decorating contest in East Chicago . Entrants decorated with lights, holiday inflatables, and other holiday lawn and house ornaments. Their efforts illuminated their neighborhoods as they competed to capture the holiday spirit and win first place. Contestants commented that they had received compliments from their neighbors on their decorations and also on the benches that some of them had installed.