Thumbs up to Maine Gov. Paul LePage and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen for their recent visits to York County. The Governor took time to tour Biddeford and the University of New England, with a stop at some of the local mill redevelopments.

Bowen spoke with Sanford High School students, teachers and administrators about their plans to implement student-centered, proficiency-based learning within the district. We’re pleased to see state officials getting out of Augusta and speaking with local people about what is happening in this densely populated and fast growing area of the state.

Thumbs down to all of the high schools in the state that continue to display posters and signs for unhealthy foods and beverages. A study, “Examining Compliance with a Statewide Law Banning Junk Food and Beverage Marketing in Maine Schools,” led by University of New England Associate Professor of Public Health Dr. Michele Polacsek, reported that signs and posters advertising unhealthy foods and beverages were found in 85 percent of the state’s high schools. Despite efforts to increase healthy options, if chips, ice cream and soda remain, there is nothing to stop students from making those choices. We hope schools like Biddeford continue their efforts to educate students about healthy options and follow through on plans to further promote those choices in their renovated cafeteria and beyond. We also hope schools will remove unhealthy snack foods and drinks altogether.

Thumbs up to the Biddeford City Council for supporting the Main Street Challenge. Three businesses will be chosen through a competitive process to receive six months of free rent in one of the city’s vacant downtown storefronts, a $10,000 forgivable loan and other services. These boost should help some local entrepreneurs get started, and hopefully, open businesses that will have a future in the city’s downtown.

Thumbs up to the organizers of and students participating in Walking Wednesdays at Young School in Saco. Walking Wednesdays is an adaptation of a national Feeling Good Mileage Club, a national school fitness program, said Young School Principal Peter Harrison. Carrie Woodcock, a PTO member and program coordinator, said it began in October, and since then, every Wednesday, students are encouraged to walk or skip around the building during recess time. To date, the students have collectively walked enough miles to go to Maryland and back. Well done to the students and organizers for encouraging students to exercise and offering incentives to keep them motivated. Other area schools should consider similar programs to keep their students active and healthy.

Thumbs up to the Town of Arundel for upgrading the Rapid Renewal system to accept payment via debit or credit cards for services like vehicle registration. The change seems like a win-win for residents and the town because the town should not incur additional costs on the transactions. Many people don’t mind paying a small fee for the convenience of doing business from their home computer. Other towns should look into the option as well, since the cost issue has been settled by a change in state law.

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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.