Thumbs down to the closure of Hostess Brands, Inc., whose Biddeford plant is a major employer in this area. Hostess has been struggling for years, in and out of bankruptcy, and while workers certainly had grounds for being disgruntled enough to strike, it’s a shame the situation could not end in an appropriate compromise to keep the business open. Nationwide, about 18,500 workers are losing their jobs with the closure and it’s unclear if another buyer will step in to buy some of the well-known brands of foods, such as Twinkies or the Drake’s line of snack cakes. If the plant is not reopened by another entity soon, this closure is going to swell the unemployment ranks in York County, likely for a long time, as manufacturing jobs become ever harder to find.

Thumbs up to all those who hosted community Thanksgiving meals last week, from the VFW in Sanford to the Knights of Columbus in Saco and all those in between. Volunteers included cooks, servers, waiters, delivery drivers and many others. These folks make a real difference in our communities by spreading holiday joy to those who are unable to leave home, and providing a gathering place and special meal for those who cannot celebrate at home or who would otherwise be alone. It’s no small feat to peel potatoes, bake pies and chop carrots for a big crowd, among all the other tasks, and we applaud their considerable effort in carrying out the spirit of the season.

Thumbs up to the Biddeford City Council for agreeing to address the re-establishment of an airport commission for the Biddeford Municipal Airport. The commission was abolished five years ago, and in the meantime, the airport has lost its fixed-base operator and floundered amidst uncertainty and council indecision about FAA requirements for repairs and improvements. Meanwhile, Sanford’s airport is flourishing with increased municipal support and recently hosted a nationally recognized model plane airshow. It’s time for Biddeford to recognize the airport as an asset and work toward making the most of it. Agreeing to discuss the commission is a good first step.

Thumbs up to the work of the Community Partnership for Protecting Children, which is making a difference in downtown Biddeford by working directly with families to keep children safe and create a stronger community by connecting people with the help they need. For those who are living below the poverty line, it’s easy for frustrations to mount and negatively affect family life and children ”“ and that’s where the CPPC is helping, by working together with schools, housing agencies, after-school programs and mental health agencies. It’s this kind of ground-level, personal work that can help keep children safe and with their own families, which in turn helps them to become more productive members of society.

Thumbs up and good luck to the dancers who train at Steppin’ Out Dance Centre in Saco, who will be performing in the Disney World Christmas parade this week. These youth, some as young as 8, have been practicing their routines diligently since they got word, and we wish them the best as they take this opportunity to represent southern Maine on a national stage.

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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.