Great value

We have a brand new year ahead of us, and I think it's important to start 2003 off with some well-deserved words of praise.

I really admired Mark Griffin's interview with the talented young artist Josana Blue (Dec. 27). I think it's tremendous that Ms. Blue is making imaginative and positive contributions to our culture, and also giving something back to the local community that first encouraged her.

It was reaffirming to read about someone who understands how vitally necessary creative contributions are in today's world, and this was well expressed in Griffin's article.