By Bryan Hanks

My lovely girlfriend Linda and I were driving up Vernon Avenue Wednesday in the heat of the day. The windows were up and the air conditioning was kicking.

As we sat at the stoplight at Vernon and Herritage, we noticed a familiar face crossing the intersection – Seraphim Smith. He was carrying a bunch of signs advertising that night’s Summerfest concert at Pearson Park. On his own time and on a holiday (when others were having cookouts or spending their time with family and friends), Seraphim was walking all over downtown placing signs to encourage folks to come and enjoy a scheduled concert and the fireworks that would follow.

I rolled the window down, yelled a long “DUUUUUUUUUUDE!” at him and we continued along Vernon. Linda and I looked at each other and marveled aloud at Seraphim’s heart – here is a person who has only been in Lenoir County for a short amount of time but who has poured all of himself into his adopted community.

I’ve lived here long enough to know Seraphim is not the only one – our community is full of these everyday heroes like Seraphim who give of their time selflessly and without any thoughts or expectations of recognition.

Until now. The Neuse News is launching a weekly feature called “Neuse Neighbors” in which we recognize those folks in Lenoir County who give of themselves to make this community a better place. We will write a story and publish a photo about these everyday heroes and later present them with a certificate honoring them for their selflessness.

This is where you come in, dear reader – we need your nominations for this feature. The only stipulation is that your nominee live or work in Lenoir County. Send your nominations to me at bryan@neusenews.com with “Neuse Neighbors” in the subject line.

There are folks here in our beloved home that have worked their entire lives to make Lenoir County a better place to live and work. Let’s give them the recognition they so richly desire.

Bryan Hanks is the editor of Neuse News; you can reach him at bryan@neusenews.com. Follow him on Twitter (@BCHanks) and send him a friend request on Facebook.