Over the last several months of working in Suffolk, I’ve learned many great things about this town.

I’ve found hidden culinary gems that offer some of the best food and desserts I’ve ever tasted.

I’ve met people with inspiring stories who are working hard to make Suffolk great.

I’ve seen the power for good Suffolkians can wield when they put their minds to it.

I’ve even witnessed the fun Suffolkians can have when they gather to celebrate food, peanuts or the holidays.

My favorite thing about Suffolk is the beauty of the area.

My daily drive down from Newport News would otherwise be monotonous were it not for the scenery along Route 58. The road that takes me from the interstate into town is flanked by hundreds and hundreds of trees that offer scenery that changes with the seasons. Compared to the usual scenery of storefronts, car lots and gas stations that line the streets in Newport News, Suffolk offers a definite relief.

When I embarked on my first trip to Suffolk for my interview last spring, the trees welcomed me with new, bright green leaves and scattered blooms.

By July, the trees were a deeper shade of green that filtered the almost painful summer sun.

Just as I was getting bored with the summer scenery, September finally brought a change. At first, a few scattered leaves turned orange, but it was no time before the trees were awash in reds, oranges and yellows.

Winter invoked an Ansel Adams photo, complete with snow-covered bare trees.

I didn’t expect to see another change until spring, but I was wrong. On a recent drive to work, I spotted a new sign along the road. It announced what Suffolkians have already known for years: Suffolk is one of the 100 greatest towns in America.

Judging by what I’ve learned in the last six months or so, Suffolk has earned this honor. I look forward to discovering even more about what makes Suffolk so great.