Thumbs up to all those who participated in Tuesday’s elections. From election clerks to candidates shaking hands to those casting a ballot, Election Day was exciting and historic here in Maine, and people turned out to make their voices heard. And voters showed their beliefs at the ballot box ”“ Democrats took back the Maine House and Senate while same-sex marriage was made legal.

We also wish to thank all those proud Mainers who cast ballots and encourage those who didn’t to get involved next time.

Thumbs up to the Riverside Grange 475 in Lebanon for its achievement of earning Grange of the Year in addition to all the good work its members do all year-round. Granges and grange members have dwindled over the years, but it’s nice to know they are still out there, fundraising and supporting local causes and charities. Although people are busy and younger generations have schedules full of extracurricular activities, community service and good, old-fashioned face time with friends is important, and we hope this grange will continue its work and membership long into the future.

Thumbs down to the voters in Waterboro and Biddeford who voted against important bond measures. In Waterboro, a $500,000 bond was sought for a salt and sand shed to store the town’s winter supplies. The shed would have saved the town money because the salt would be covered ”“ not open to the elements that melt it. In Lyman, voters learned the hard way what the dangers of improper storage of salt can be ”“ as they, in 2011, agreed to pay $18,500 to Margery Sanborn to settle her claim of property damage from alleged contamination of her well caused by the town’s road salt. Salt should be properly stored, not only to keep it from damaging water supplies and the earth beneath it, but also to keep it from melting and being blown away in inclement weather. In Biddeford, voters nixed proposals to fix roads, infrastructure, sewers and sidewalks. Putting off the work now will only cost more in the future, and a serious and timely capital improvement plan needs to be implemented and funded in the city soon.

Thumbs up to the Good Samaritan who stopped at a Newfield house fire just to make sure everyone was OK. Thanks to his concern, the woman at home who had collapsed on her porch after making it out of the house was quickly flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment. Officials said the woman was the only person at home when the fire broke out, and the man who stopped to help stayed with her until emergency personnel arrived on scene. He also helped firefighters set up when they got there.

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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 email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.