“Would you like a dozen roses absolutely free? Who wouldn’t?What’s the catch? The catch is that you have to agree to give away 11 of them. That’s the premise of Good Neighbor Day as celebrated nationally by FTD Florists on the first Wednesday in September. South Whidbey will celebrate its first Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 6, courtesy of Something Special florist in Langley, Flowers by the Bay in Freeland, and the South Whidbey Neighbor to Neighbor project. It’s a great way to say thank-you to a neighbor, make new acquaintances or renew an old friendship, said Debbie Holbert, owner of Something Special. And since Sept. 6 is the first day of school here, people might want to take roses to teachers and administrators. Neighbor to Neighbor promoted a network of neighborhood coordinators last year in anticipation of problems at the turn of the century. When all went smoothly, we turned our attention to building community on South Whidbey, said Nancy Waddell, a Neighbor to Neighbor volunteer. This is just one of our projects, and we hope it will grow each year. Tracy Schultz, Flowers by the Bay owner, had wanted to participate in the past, but didn’t feel she could go it alone. The cooperation organized by Neighbor to Neighbor was a key reason I got involved, Schultz said. The floral shops will open early that Wednesday and will distribute flowers while quantities last. Several businesses will also participate by giving away roses to their customers and helping with the cost of flowers given to community organizations to distribute. A full list of locations will be published before the event. (Businesses that wish to get involved can call Waddell at 221-5781.) Good Neighbor Day is being held for the seventh year throughout the United States and Canada at participating FTD floral shops as a way of celebrating good will toward all people, Waddell said. It is expected that thousands of FTD florists will participate this year, giving away millions of free flowers. Mayor Lloyd Furman plans to declare Sept. 6 as Good Neighbor Day in Langley. South Whidbey is already a friendly place, but this event is a good way to make visible our caring and compassion, and have some fun, organizers said. “