Ald. Peter Stueck, District 9, is truly a man who cares about his community and his neighbors.

At a meeting in early fall of last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Ald. Stueck and his wife, June. We met to discuss the potential for the Community Garden Partnership/Goodwill Industries NCW and the City of Appleton’s Revitalization Program to collaborate on a neighborhood Teaching Garden.

The concept was to teach basic garden skills to a local neighborhood for the purpose of reclaiming some of our agrarian roots and to further strengthen the ability for a local community to be self-sufficient.

Ald. Stueck was supportive and enthusiastic about the idea and felt that the neighborhood that was being considered (near Pierce Park) was a perfect fit for a Teaching Garden pilot project. Peter’s support and enthusiasm for the neighborhood site never once wavered.

He attended meetings, returned telephone calls and answered or fielded questions and concerns throughout the process of gaining neighborhood support for the Teaching Garden development.

At a time when collective action is a rare commodity and inclusive leadership is at a premium, Ald. Stueck is to be applauded. He is responsive and responsible and our community is stronger for it.

Susan Richardson, Community Garden coordinator, Appleton