Thumbs up to state Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean, for making sure legislation to extend sales, occupancy, mortgage recording and real estate transfer taxes reached the Senate floor. The New York State Association of Counties recently singled out Young’s leadership in making sure the home rule legislation was approved during the recent Extraordinary Session of the legislature, ensuring there is no question about an important revenue stream for counties around the state. If only more of her colleagues in the legislature displayed such common sense.

There are several spectacular fireworks shows every year on July 4. Thumbs down to those who feel the need to bring the noise into city neighborhoods. Not only is doing so dangerous in a city with old housing stock, it is downright rude to light loud fireworks in areas packed with young children and the elderly. Sparklers are one thing. Re-creating the War of 1812 in city neighborhoods is entirely another.

Thumbs up to the Western New York Kidney Connection for helping yet another area resident find a matching donor. Patrick Hoover of Frewsburg had done just about everything he could think of to find a kidney donor, including painting a message on his truck. But it was the Kidney Connection that brought Hoover’s plight to the attention of Paul Liuzzo of Jamestown. After tests confirmed Liuzzo was a match for Hoover, the surgery was scheduled for April 25 in Rochester. Eveything went smoothly. The WNY Kidney Connection was founded by Jamestown resident Jeanette Ostrom in 2006 after she successfully found a live kidney donor for her son on Matchingdonors.com, which is a national website. This experience inspired Ostrom to start a regional version of the website to help other individuals in her community.