Thumbs up to those involved with the decision to keep permanent state guardianship for Laurette Doyon, a former homeless woman who became a fixture in Biddeford’s and Saco’s downtowns. York County Judge of Probate Donna Bailey granted the Maine Department of Health and Human Services permanent guardianship over Doyon recently, which means the 79-year-old woman will remain in the residential facility where she’s been staying since November.

Although Doyon reportedly told Biddeford Health and Welfare Director Vicky Edgerly that she still wanted to return to Biddeford to take care of her birds, the facility in which she is living is offering her proper meals and nutrition, medical care, and a warm and safe place to live and sleep each night. We’re pleased Doyon will continue to receive care at the facility and hope she transitions well to life there.

Thumbs up to Democratic State Rep. Don Pilon of Saco for  proposing LD 98, which would provide schools guidelines for dealing with potential concussions during athletic games and practices. Pilon said in a recent interview that he became aware of the issue after reading an article in State Legislatures magazine about a 13-year-old boy who went back onto the playing field after receiving a concussion in a football game, and now is disabled and in a wheelchair. Had he not gone back into the game, his concussion would have healed properly, according to the article. Washington’s legislature passed a bill in 2009 requiring athletes be removed from practice or competition if they are suspected of having a concussion or head injury. The law was the first of its kind. Maine’s bill received support from the National Football League, and last week, a helping hand from Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, when he came to Augusta to champion the bill. We hope legislators will agree and set rules to keep young people playing high school sports safe.

Thumbs up to the Sanford School Committee for continuing the dialogue on the possibility of changing the mascot for its high school sports teams. We hope the committee will push for a change since Sanford is the only school left in Maine with a derogatory name ”“ the Redskins. It is time to make the change despite reasons people have given for keeping it. This situation is like someone making a racist joke, and defending it by saying they are not racist. “Redskins” is offensive regardless of its local history as Sanford’s mascot, and the time has come for change.

Thumbs up to the Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 1044 and the Sanford Elks for organizing a tribute to women veterans. The event will be held in March at the Elks Lodge in Sanford, and the groups are looking for women to attend and be recognized. Veterans will also be presented “Forever Remember” coins by Director of Maine Veterans Service Peter Ogden. Women must apply for the coin, though, and organizers are also encouraging women to do that. Women veterans who wish to reserve a seat or apply for a commemorative coin should gather their separation papers or DD214 and ask for an application from Joe Armstrong at 490-2094, Steve Malo at 490-1282, Elaine Scanlon at 658-4431 or Debra Moulton at 602-8895. Applications for the coin are also available at the state’s website, www.maine.gov/dvem.

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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.