A big thumbs up to veterans. And because sometimes saying less means more, we’ll put it this way: We wouldn’t be here without you.

Thumbs up to those who turned out at a public hearing in Sanford Tuesday where the City Council pondered declaring some deteriorating vacant properties abandoned. The declaration begins the process to have the vacant houses secured and safety hazards dealt with. Some

who attended correctly sought action on one of the properties that has been in a particularly bad state; some owners or would-be owners seemed to indicate they had interest in making repairs. In one case, the owners were upfront, saying they didn’t have the financial wherewithal to get the work done. Under the new state law governing this issue, if the owners don’t or can’t get the work done, the city can have it done, and may attach the cost to the owner’s tax bill, if they can’t pay upfront.

Thumbs up to the Biddeford and Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry and DiriGo-Getters for partnering with each other. Formed at the beginning of the year, DiriGo-Getters aims to connect and empower professionals – the majority of them young adults – in the

Biddeford-Saco area. The partnership will further connect young people, such as University of New England students, with area businesses so that the community can retain young people, instead of see them move away to other cities or states. Communities are better positioned to prosper with many young people working, living and eventually starting families there.

Thumbs up to Tim DeLuca, who was recently promoted to Deputy Chief with the Old Orchard Beach Police. DeLuca has been serving with the department since 1984, and is always a friendly face in the community.

Thumbnails is a Friday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via e-mail (jtcommunity@journaltribune.com) or by dropping your letter off at our office.