Thumbs up to the volunteers from around the county and beyond who participated in United Way of York County’s annual Day of Caring. Locally, volunteers worked at the Community Bicycle Center, Ever After Mustang Rescue and Joyful Harvest in Biddeford; the Nasson bicycle center in Sanford; Saco Bay Trails and Sweetser in Saco; and The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach.

Every year, volunteers from area businesses and local students donate their time to support York County non-profits through the Day of Caring and their efforts make a real difference, improving the communities in which we live.

Thumbs up to the members of the Biddeford Police Department who participated in a torch run for the Special Olympics last week. Lt. Everett Parker, Sgt. Steven Gorton, and patrol officers Matthew Rousseau and Randall Medeiros jogged from the Arundel town line through the five points intersection, and passed in front of the Biddeford Police Station before stopping at the Saco line to pass off the torch for this annual event. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is one of Maine’s largest fundraising events for Special Olympics, and involves more than 600 law enforcement officers who run from Berwick to Fort Kent. It also kicks off the Special Olympics, which took place over the weekend in Orono.

Thumbs down to the low voter participation in the county. In Wells, a vote on the school district’s $21.3 million budget could only draw about two dozen voters. In Biddeford, only 190 votes were cast on the $31 million school budget. In Shapleigh and Newfield ”“ two of the six towns in Regional School Unit 57 ”“ fewer than 100 voters cast ballots on the $35.5 million school budget, while Alfred had just more than 100 voters turn out. Voting, and taking part in the budget and political processes as well as elections, is important. People need to go to the polls to support their school districts and elected officials or make their voice be heard on why they don’t support an official or a school or municipal budget. The right to vote is something many people take for granted, and we hope York County ”“ and Maine ”“ residents will treat the opportunity to vote as the privilege it is.

Thumbs up to Sanford Council Chairman Gordon Paul for his decision to have a talk with two councilors to try and resolve their differences. It seems a wiser choice than proceeding with the convening of the council’s Ethics subcommittee, which could be fraught with all kinds of problems because the three-member panel has no process to follow, and two of the members are embroiled in the issues in question. At the same time, thumbs down to Sanford Councilors Brad Littlefield and Alan Walsh. Sure, not everyone gets along all the time and cannot be expected to do so, but there comes a time when personal conflicts get in the way of productivity. Seems like we’re at that juncture.

Thumbs up to the Capotosto family for taking over the historic Palace Diner in downtown Biddeford, which went up for sale earlier this year. The Biddeford family has been working hard to open the restaurant and did so in late May, preserving this city’s iconic eatery for future generations.

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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.