VIDALIA — Perhaps some people prefer to surround themselves with the noise and businesses in the city, but the Ellis family enjoys their quiet and friendly neighborhood on the Vidalia riverfront.

When The Dart landed Friday in the vicinity of Laurel Street, the entire Ellis family was dressed and ready for Vidalia Vikings’ homecoming game, complete with their royal blue Viking T-shirts.

Verna Ellis, originally from St. Joseph, Louisiana, said she enjoys going to the games with her two children Clarvira and Clerance.

“Actually, I like basketball more,” said Clerance, an eighth-grader who was getting pumped on Friday afternoon to watch the homecoming football game later that evening.

Clarvira said she likes sports too and her favorite subject is math.

“I like this community,” Verna said of Vidalia. “It’s very quiet and there’s not as much crime.”

Verna said she not only loves the education her children receive at Vidalia schools but she also enjoys being in a small neighborhood where her neighbors are quick to lend a hand whenever struggles occur.

Verna said her car broke down in the middle of last summer just before Clerance and Clarvira started school. Several friendly neighbors have noticed the family walking and offered them rides.

“When school started back and they were walking to school, that’s when the people in the community started noticing and would give them a ride to school,” Verna said. “Then a lady on the corner (Leatrice Smith) told the bus driver one morning and they’ve been riding the bus ever since.”