Simon photos captured a memorable night of dancing

I just wanted to send you a note about the photos taken at the Cape Parks and Recreation Department's event on Saturday night. The event was the Father Daughter Dance at the Osage Centre. A lot of time, effort and attention to detail goes into the planning of events like this one where more than 1,000 people attend for a very special evening.

First, I would like to thank Laura Simon for taking the time to come photograph the event on a Saturday evening; I'm sure she had other things on her schedule that night, but she took time to come by anyway.

The second item is that Ms. Simon is an exceptional photographer. She has the ability to see what is important and capture the feeling of what is going on. As I went through the online photos, it really hit me about what was actually going on. So many daughters sharing so much with their fathers or grandfathers. This is good stuff, and Ms. Simon "gets it." She really captures the moment and documents it for the rest of us to see.

I truly love my job and have a passion for the parks and recreation department. Our staff puts in a lot of time in providing good things for this community. It is obvious to me that Ms. Simon has the same passion for what she does. Those pictures were incredible and meant so much to the people who attended. It was a night that most of them will not ever forget.

I commend you, Ms. Simon and the staff of the Southeast Missourian for helping us promote what is good in this community, showing all people the wonderful quality of life we have in Cape Girardeau. Keep up the good work and thank you for helping us make a difference everyday.

Penny Williams is the recreation division manager for the city of Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department.