All who love our community, including this writer, owe thanks to John Nugent and Marc Iacona for producing XRIJF, an event City's Ron Netsky writes "is not only a Rochester institution, it's Rochester's best institution."

The event this year grew to 133,000-plus attendees despite less than optimal weather, especially Saturday's closing night-long heavy rain. One has to believe 140,000 or more would have attended without the rain. Nugent and Iacona continue to build an event permeated with high-quality music, both by known and not-so-known musicians. At the same time, XRIJF is a bona fide festival that can be first-rate entertainment for non-jazz and/or non-music-enthusiasts.

Thank you, also, to Xerox, M & T Bank, Mayor Duffy and the City of Rochester, Senator Jim Alesi and all other partners and sponsors whose participation is essential to the event's success.

Every year, more people - Rochesterians and out-of-towners - plan a week's vacation around XRIJF in order to be able to soak up all the music.  As Spoleto USA has transformed Charleston and South By South West Fest has forever altered Austin, XRIJF is making Rochester increasingly "the place to visit."

NED CORMAN, PENFIELD