Thumbs up to the proposal to create a new police station for Old Orchard Beach that will address the need for more space for the department. The town is grappling with whether to consider a 9,000- or 12,000-square-foot building, due to cost concerns.

Councilors must carefully assess the merits of spending the money now and the risk that more may need to be spent later if an addition is necessitated on a smaller station.

Thumbs down to the closing of the University Health Care system operated by the University of New England. Many patients depended on these locations for medical care and students found hands-on training there as well. Eighty-two employees are poised to lose their jobs with the closings. Hopefully, Southern Maine Medical Center, which has been approached to review the system’s offerings, will be able to fill the gap in both jobs and care.

Thumbs up to the City of Biddeford’s efforts to allow the town clerk to renew business licenses and update the ordinances regarding those licenses. The City Council has more pressing matters to deal with than renewing licenses and will still have control over allowing liquor and addressing problem businesses.

Thumbs up to all the teachers, school staff, bus drivers and administrators who got this school year off to a smooth start for York County students. This year presented particular challenges for several districts that consolidated into regional school units ”“ particularly those of Arundel/Kennebunks and Dayton/Saco/Old Orchard Beach ”“ and bringing the districts together was no small task.

Thumbs up to the Roman Catholic diocese of Portland and the Catholic Education Board for choosing to save money by having one principal for both Saco’s Notre Dame School and Biddeford’s St. James. At a time when churches are closing due to a decreased Catholic population and escalating costs, consolidating administration is a prudent move.

Thumbs up to the Public Utilities Commission for ordering Central Maine Power Co. to meet with residents in the area of Saco Middle School to discuss planned power line placement. The upgrade to the lines is necessary and putting them underground is clearly cost prohibitive. Residents do not seem to have any proposals for an alternative location for the lines. It’s either closer to the school or closer to the housing development. They’ll have to make a choice because it is doubtful that their fellow citizens will want to pay for the $2.1 million underground project.

Thumbs up to the Town of Wells for working to improve the efficiency of lighting in town buildings. The initial investment will pay for itself in electricity savings, ultimately helping to keep our environment healthier.

Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.