Families participate in Civic Season activities during last season’s Summer Reading Program at the Sherburne Public Library. Visit the Chenango County Historical Society on March 14 from 10 a.m. until noon for the inaugural 'Be My Neighbor' Day to celebrate kindness and what it means to be a good neighbor. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH – Join the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) for the inaugural 'Be My Neighbor' Day from 10 a.m. until noon on March 14. Celebrate kindness, enjoy family-friendly activities, meet community members, and say hello to Chenango County’s award-winning children’s author and illustrator, Suzanne Bloom.

Inspired by WSKG Education and PBS Kids, 'Be My Neighbor' Day is based on the principles of Fred McFeely Rogers, colloquially known as “Mister Rogers.” It focuses on bringing people together to celebrate kindness and what it means to be a good neighbor. This special community gathering features several local groups that help make our neighborhoods a better place. Guest organizations include Chenango County 4-H Youth Development, Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, and The Place.

CCHS is hosting 'Be My Neighbor' Day as part of Civic Learning Week (CLW), an initiative held annually to highlight the importance of civic education in sustaining and strengthening constitutional democracy in the United States. During CLW, community organizations host various activities to demonstrate the key role different groups play in ensuring high-quality civic education is accessible to every student across the nation.

“We are so excited to be hosting ‘Be My Neighbor’ Day during Civic Learning Week,” said Jessica Moquin, CCHS executive director. “As a community-centered organization, encouraging kindness and collaboration are important.”

First established in 1939, CCHS is the area’s premier heritage museum dedicated to celebrating local culture – its unique traditions and noteworthy stories. CCHS programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. CCHS is also a proud partner of Bloomberg Connects, an app that allows visitors to enhance their exhibit experience through audio clips, videos, and more. Download this free digital museum guide via the Apple Store or Google Play, and visit www.ChenangoHistorical.org for more details about this and other museum programs.

Civic Learning Week (CLW) is hosted annually by iCivics, a nonprofit organization that encourages students to become active citizens. By highlighting the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that provide the foundation for an informed and engaged populace, CLW seeks to further prioritize civic understanding across the nation.

WSKG serves to inspire with the highest quality educational programming, explore the arts, culture and heritage of the region and beyond, engage in thoughtful consideration of news and issues of importance, and entertain with the very best in multimedia programming. WSKG’s educational services and community engagement initiatives focus on local and national news, arts, history, and youth content.

- Information from the Chenango County Historical Society & Museum