Not long ago, during one of Staten Island’s community social events, a local politician stood before the microphone and told the crowd that I complain an awful lot in my weekly “Hi Neighbor” missives.

He was right. I do squawk about traffic. Lousy roads. Incivility. Crummy transportation. And let’s not even get into national politics.

I grumble because I want Staten Island to be the best it can be. The only way to get there is to shine a spotlight on what’s wrong.

Fact is, there is so much right about Staten Island.

Incredible restaurants.

Pizza!

Snug Harbor. Historic Richmond Town. The St. George Theatre. Alice Austen House. The Conference House.

Pizza!

A growing a diverse population.

The Great Outdoors. Clove Lakes. The Greenbelt. Great Kills Harbor. Lemon Creek. Silver Lake. Wolfe’s Pond.

Pizza!

Good schools. Terrific colleges. And did I mention . . .

Pizza!

All that is what makes today so special for the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.

Today, we salute the people who do so much to make all that happen.

Today, we salute six extraordinary women – the Staten Island Advance Women of Achievement, Class of 2025.

They are women who have brought national fame to our supposedly “forgotten borough,” one through her tiny Stapleton restaurant serving up the most delicious soul food you’ll ever have, while another brought a world-class indoor track to our East Shore. They are women who help the helpless, feed the hungry, right the wrongs, and heal the suffering.

Today, we share the stories of all six of the 2025 Staten Island Women of Achievement. Read each profile. Think what Staten Island would be if each woman had not stepped up with her passion to do good...to do the right thing.

In an ever-changing world, Staten Island remains a community of neighborhoods. Our 2025 Women of Achievement help make that happen.

These remarkable Staten Islanders will be honored at a gala lunch sponsored by the Staten Island Advance/SIlive.com and Richmond University Medical Center on May 15 in the Hilton Garden Inn.

To help honor these extraordinary women, we invite you to attend the event, which is also an opportunity to network and celebrate our community.

Information and tickets are available online at siwoa.givesmart.com.

A reservation coupon also appears today in the printed edition of the Staten Island Advance and will appear every day through May 2.