To the editor:

It is sad to think we have these wonderful youth-oriented events in our community and yet no reviews, comments or praise has been given by our local newspaper. This summer was a production from a Broadway show, “Avenue Q,” put on by our own young senior-level dancers and actors at the Lawrence Art Center. It was professionally done, featured young people with incredible talent and spirit and was a tribute to that talent and our community’s arts and cultural venues. Yet nary a word, that I saw, except as part of the daily calendar notices.

Then we had another group of incredible, talented youngsters who spent time in Japan as part of the Lawrence Sister City’s program. Then a reciprocal visit by the Japanese youth, who came to Lawrence to spend a week and all we heard (although they were great pictures) was a blurb on what they liked best about Lawrence and Kansas. There could have been a great article about each of those visits for the community to read and learn about the value of these student exchanges and the young people who represent our city.

Our paper missed several great opportunities to honor our youth. Instead we get paragraphs of comment on the newest burger/pizza/burrito eatery in town. How sad.