Thumbs up to the dozens of dentists and other volunteers who are giving of their time and talent to make the free dental clinic happen in Biddeford. Dental care is an essential component of good health and this service is especially needed in hard times.

Thumbs up to the Goodwins Mills Fire Department for getting the federal construction grant that will allow expansion of the fire station in Lyman and fund many improvements. GMFD is one of only a few in the area without a vehicle exhaust ventilation system or sleeping quarters and it’s great that the station can be brought up to date using federal money.

Thumbs up to the Town of Wells for sticking it out through a lengthy process to get a dredge application for Wells Harbor completed. The Army Corps of Engineers has given its verbal approval of the plan, at long last, but several hurdles remain in funding and clearance from property owners. In the end, the town’s patience will be rewarded by a replenished beach, if all goes according to plan.

Thumbs up to Janet Wendele and Sue Richardson of Lucky Pup Resscue in Kennebunkport; and Danielle Cyr of Kennebunk, who fosters dogs at her Recycle-A-Bull Kennels. These women are offering an additional service to supplement the considerable work of local animal shelters, by taking the time to rehabilitate abused and neglected animals so that they can be adopted. Along with all of the foster families that work with them, and those who adopt any shelter animal, these women should be applauded for opening their hearts to animals in need.

Thumbs up to Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Jack Turcotte for urging the town to formalize management of The Ballpark. Now that the Ballpark Group, made up of many volunteers, has invested so much time and money in renovating the venue, it’s time for the town to step in and create a small official board with decision-making power to oversee it. If an events manager is hired by the town, The Ballpark could easily be booked every weekend with sporting and arts events (as it used to be) and the town could find it a lucrative asset.

Thumbs up to University of New England professor Dr. David Mokler, of Biddeford, who is part of a team of researchers who are making headway in finding the causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This devastating syndrome can take the life of a healthy baby with no visible warning signs and is the leading cause of post neonatal infant mortality in the United States. Mokler’s work, finding that serotonin levels come into play, could save lives in the future and prevent heartbreak in many families.

Thumbs up to the teens who participate in the Best Books for Young Adults group at the McArthur Library in Biddeford, offering their opinions on age-appropriate novels to the American Library Association. Their opinions are invaluable to those looking to stock books that will get youth excited about reading and it’s important for the students to learn that their input matters.

Thumbs up to the organizers of the Biddeford ArtWalk, who wisely decided to move the event indoors during the winter ”“ and greatly increased participation. The event is a community builder that brings people downtown, allows for networking, and offers a chance to view local artwork.

— 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.