I don't mean to always come off sounding like the town cheerleader, relentlessly beating the drum for how great this community is. But let's face it; this is a pretty great community, full of good people who are quick to come together to help others.
A case in point is last weekend's Back to the Strip event. Originally launched in 2012 as an excuse to get together with friends and relive the days of youth, the night to bring out the old cars and cruise the strip has become something else entirely. Thanks to the efforts of Chris Terry, Mary Walker, Rob Nunley, all the other good folks at Custom Vinyl Signs and Shirts as well as Back to the Strip Board members and countless other volunteers and donors, Back to the Strip has raised a huge amount of money and food and has made a real difference in the lives of countless locals.
It's very encouraging to see the community so universally embrace something like this, and it's even more rewarding that it all goes for a good cause. As I wrote about in Wednesday's newspaper, all the organizers are absolutely blown away by the support they receive from business owners, volunteers, city and county officials, law enforcement officers, volunteers and the community at large.
As Back to the Strip has continued to ingrain itself more completely in the community's consciousness over its 13 years, it's great to see all the ways other people and organizations have jumped aboard and even added value to the night. It has become something embraced by Warren countians in a way that may only be surpassed by the Warren County A & L Fair, and that's saying something.
One of my favorite parts of this year's Back to the Strip came about as the result of an idea from NHC's Amanda Sain. She asked Strip riders to take a lap through the facility's parking lot so that residents could greet the cars as they passed by. Seeing the patients' faces light up as they saw pieces of their youth drive by was a real treat. In addition to that bit of nostalgia was the human connection which came from friends and strangers, (54 cars according to Amanda), going out of their way to come say hi and wave to the kind folks who don't often see anyone outside of the confines of their own rooms. It was a heartwarming highlight on a night of heartwarming moments.
Much like this winter's outpouring of support for McMinnville Special Games centered around a basketball game rivalry, Back to the Strip further demonstrates the county's great propensity for taking a fun event and incorporating a way to give back to others alongside a night of entertainment.
I'm proud of my county.
Standard Managing Editor Seth Wright can be reached at editor@southernstandard.com
