Thumbs up to all those who have spent the past week working in heavy snows and bitter cold to provide the services upon which the rest of us depend. Police officers, sanitation workers, water crews, plow drivers, EMS crews and a host of other occupations don’t have the option of calling in to work when the weather is poor, nor do they have a warm office or store in which to spend their days. As we all dig out from last week’s storms, we should remember that it would be much worse without such dedicated employees keeping the roads clear, responding to emergencies and keeping the lights and water on.

Thumbs up to Kimskids Daycare for a festive donation to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital. The local day care center donated tiny holiday outfits for newborn babies born in the hospital because Kim Hurley, day care owner, decided she wanted to do something special for the newborns. “Our daycare’s tradition is to visit the local nursing homes and places of care to bring joy to those who need extra special cheer during Christmas,” said Hurley. “My oldest son was born in December and nothing brought more joy to our lives than bringing a newborn baby into our world during the holiday season. We could not resist the urge to bring that same joy to other new parents.” The outfits will be a wonderful way for families to remember their little Christmas-time deliveries.

Thumbs up to all of those who attended a recent meeting in the town of Carroll to discuss the reopening of the former Jones-Carroll Landfill on Dodge Road. While the atmosphere in the room was overwhelmingly against the dump’s reopening, the thumbs up is to the lack of apathy regarding town affairs. For a multitude of reasons, municipal meetings are sparsely attended. It is heartening to see so many show up on a winter’s night, in the midst of hustle and bustle of Christmas, to speak their minds and hear from elected officials on an important matter.