I am a recent transplant to Viroqua. I read this editorial page regularly, and I want to thank everyone in the community for helping to make the Broadcaster a terrific newspaper. Beyond that, everyone in Vernon County deserves a pat on the back for creating and maintaining a community that is at once progressive and traditional, invigorating and peaceful. Since moving to Viroqua last September, I feel as though I have rediscovered a childlike contentedness in my heart and mind, and I believe that this town, this county, actually, has a lot to do with it. The evening of Friday, March 4, deserves comment.

Where else in the world could I walk three blocks from my home to a renovated commercial automobile garage and enjoy a truly inspired and generous tsunami relief fund-raiser; including an Indian buffet (prepared by a local chef, served by local children), live Indonesian music (performed by local musicians), complete with local belly dancers performing an original interpretive dance and handsomely costumed fifth-graders leading a group of maybe 200-plus in a native Indian song? Don't stop there. Where else in the world could all of this happen, and then I could walk across the street to a beautifully restored theater and relax to an absolutely amazing sequence of high school musical talent, ranging from solo vocalists to a flute quartet? The VAS Arts Fest was exemplary in its dignity, modesty and talent.

The Broadcaster does a fine job of keeping us posted on upcoming events. If the articles announcing these events were not printed, I would have missed them. It was good to see them recorded in last week's Broadcaster with photographs. As a former student-artist, I know the students involved in these events would have loved to read reviews about their performances. And they deserve it.

Thank you everyone for spreading such a wonderful vibe throughout our county.

MV Koppa

Viroqua