It can even make you wonder if society is reaching the point where criminals and misfits are taking over. So when a note of good news comes along, you want to hold onto it, let it linger a spell so you can fully appreciate it. That s the case with news about the Shenandoah Valley High School Band that came to the fore this week. The group is rehearsing for its Christmas concert, to be held at 7 p.m.

Wednesday in the high school auditorium, under the direction of its new band director, who seems to be a firecracker just what the band needed. Robert Stoner was hired earlier this year to run the district s music program, and he has been working to continue development of the high school band grades seven through 12 and an elementary band, starting with students in fourth grade.

He has also established a high school choir, something that s been missing from the Shenandoah Valley scene for, well, a long time. But it s now just the fact that Stoner, who had been a band director at Millersburg Area High School from 1970 to 1976, is developing these programs it s his attitude in doing so. Good things are happening here, he said in a story dealing with the upcoming concert and a sale of DVDs to help foot the cost of new band uniforms for the kids. My goal is excellence.

I am finding kids that are on track with that excellence. I didn t come here to tread water. I am a dreamer. I saw needs and wanted to fill them. Whew. Talk about a breath of fresh air and enthusiasm. It conveys the message that not only is it possible to develop a music program at Shenandoah Valley it s possible to develop a good one.