Thumbs up to teacher Lucy Poli for her amazing level of dedication to teaching for a total of 66 years, largely in the Biddeford school system. Poli has been called an inspiration by her peers and we wish her the best of luck as she moves on to retirement.

Thumbs down to the Town of Arundel’s decision to deny an appeal filed by Bentley’s Saloon for a citation that states they were over their 180-person capacity on Aug. 7. The establishment was below its fire code limitations, which means there was no life safety situation despite the arbitrary use permit limit of 180.

Neither the bar nor the police officers on the scene that night had an accurate head count, admittedly, and with estimated counts that represented only about 20-person difference, the bar should have been given the benefit of the doubt.

Thumbs down to the closing of Stop & Shop Supermarkets in Kennebunk, which will result in another batch of lost jobs and lost revenue for the town. Kennebunk Marketplace, like Biddeford Crossing, is becoming a ghost town as local businesses like Ricetta’s and large chains like Linens ”˜n’ Things close up shop. Perhaps it’s time we rethink the strip mall model before we have too many unsightly empty strips.

Thumbs up to the City of Saco for considering forming a regional group to address rising sea levels and recovering from coastal storms. The problems are worldwide and certainly regional, so it makes more sense for communities to work together toward solutions. We support the development of such a group for Saco Bay.

Thumbs up to the City of Biddeford for completing the purchase of Westbrook Skating Rink on Pool Road. The site has been a community destination for generations and with the Masons and Knights of Columbus willing to support its operation, it can continue to be a busy site for years to come. The city got a great deal on a prime piece of real estate that is also a landmark.

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.