After writing up several tidbits for our second annual Best of Tacoma edition, I decided to save the most important topic for this Scene of the Crime column to describe a group of people who really do make this city a great place to be.

It’s with the utmost sincerely that I offer the following statement on behalf of every person who has anything to do with this Weekly Volcano. Please open your eyes widely to take this information in, and don’t you ever forget it:

Without a doubt, the very, very Best of Tacoma is YOU, our wonderful Weekly Volcano readers.

As our paper continues to grow, each success that’s achieved has been because of each of you.

More and more of you are picking up our rag and keeping it with you. That helps us sell ads to keep this ship sailing (even during economic downturn), and it also helped us to increase the size of your paper. Yes, size does matter.

When I started writing this column three years ago, I constantly had to describe what the Weekly Volcano is and what it does, but thanks to you and your word-of-mouth referrals, our paper has moved to a must-read status for which we’re eternally grateful.

Our readers are without a doubt the coolest and hippest people throughout our region, from all walks of life, ethnicities, and aged 18 to 65. On that end, I’d like to send a message to the woman in her 70s who hunted down Pappi Swarner at the Swiss a few months ago to convey how much she appreciates this column: Your feedback brought tears to my eyes and I dearly love you back.

Best of all, I’m indebted to those of you who take these nightlife, restaurant and general Scene of the Crime suggestions to heart, as you choose to visit and frequent the businesses, often small and locally-owned, that are very worthy of your patronage.

I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve got this agape thing where I genuinely do want you to have an incredible time discovering or revisiting amenities, and I’m really gunning for these South Sound businesses to succeed. I’ve been constantly floored lately when owners have let me know that they’ve achieved record sales highs because you read about them in the Weekly Volcano.

Indeed, our readers are what’s making Tacoma the place to be, by getting your feet on the street and supporting the South Sound art, fashion, music, food, drinks, sports, politics and more that we rap about week in and week out.

Thus, from here on out, the Scene of the Crime and the Best of Tacoma will always be YOU.

Tell me where you like to party at sceneofthecrime@hotmail.com.