Thumbs up to each and every individual who took part — in both large and small ways — in the dozens of donation drives during this holiday season. Agencies have said repeatedly the need has never been higher for both basic necessities and for holiday gifts for children, yet Chautauqua County has stepped up again to do the best it can to make the holidays a little brighter for everyone. It’s not easy to do so. Families are busy this time of year between work, children’s activities, school and other activities. Our community digs deep. This year is no exception.

Thumbs down to taking politics a bit too far earlier this week. State Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, apologized Tuesday for what he called a “poor choice of words” after sending a tweet to Republican Senate aide Candice Giove consisted of only two words: “Kill yourself!” It came after Giove took to Twitter to accuse Parker of misusing a Senate parking placard in Manhattan. Parker quickly deleted the tweet and later apologized in another message sent to Giove. Messages were left with his office. First elected in 2002, the Brooklyn lawmaker won re-election last month and was recently named the incoming chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. “I used a poor choice of words,” he wrote. “Suicide is a serious thing and and (sic) should not be made light of.” He’s darned right. It’s high time for Republicans and Democrats at all levels of government to take a deep breath before making public statements. We’re glad Parker apologized — but it would have been better not to have made such a hurtful and insensitive remark in the first place.

Thumbs up to Kara Benson, a Fletcher Elementary School kindergarten teacher, for using the Elf on the Shelf to teach her students the importance of kind acts. Students receive “brag-tags” when they have completed a kind act throughout the day. Benson said the students are shocked when they’re given the brag-tag for their actions because they were unaware anyone was watching. The more brag-tags a student has from completing acts of kindness, the higher the chances are for them to be selected for a prize. Additionally, group activities are completed to spread kindness throughout the school, including leaving kind notes for staff throughout the building. Kudos to Benson and all the teachers who find new ways to teach important lessons that children should carry with them for the rest of their lives.