Thumbs up to all of our veterans and all those who took part in and helped organize events to mark Veterans Day, either today or over the weekend.

This holiday is a time to honor those who have served in our armed forces, including those who are serving now, and an opportunity to say thank you for all they have done. If you haven’t had the chance yet, make a point to thank a veteran you know ”“ or even one you don’t.

Thumbs up to all the town and city clerks and election workers who prepare for and conduct municipal and state elections. There are many tasks that have to be performed by these folks well before Election Day, on the day itself and then that night, to calculate results after the polls have closed. Even afterwards, many also face the difficult task of recounting ballots in some races. While new voting machines have meant calculating results doesn’t take as long as in years past, election days are still lengthy ”“ and clerks have to get it right. So please say “thank you” when you see them, they deserve it.

Thumbs down to whomever made a bomb threat to the Exit 25 Kennebunk Service Plaza on the southbound side of the Maine Turnpike last week. While people think it may be a funny joke or it may get them out of work ”“ or school when it happens there ”“ it’s a costly emergency that uses our valuable law enforcement resources that could be put to better use. There are also serious consequences if someone is caught, including criminal charges. Maine State Police are asking anyone with information relating to the false bomb threat to call 624-7200.

Thumbs up to group of local mayors and mayors-elect who participated in a meeting last week to talk about economic development. Newly re-elected Mayor Alan Casavant of Biddeford and Sanford’s interim Mayor Maura Herlihy along with Mayor-elect Thomas Cote attended the session in Portland. The group also heard from Maine economist Charles Colgan and discussed where future jobs will be and how the cities represented can attract those jobs and workers. It’s great to see this kind of collaboration and planning going on in York County, and sharing information will hopefully help city leaders here prepare for the future.

Thumbs up to Sanford’s Adam Cote, who was honored by the White House last week as one of a dozen veterans named “Champions of Change.” Cote was not able to be at the ceremony, as he is currently serving in Afghanistan as company commander of the 133rd Engineering Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard, but he was to appear by video link. White House officials said the work being done by the individuals to advance clean energy is “extraordinary.” Cote founded Thermal Energy of Maine with Sam Zaitlin, and he is chief executive officer of the company, which uses electric thermal storage to allow residential, business and industrial customers to heat their homes and businesses with lower-cost, off-peak electricity. In addition to serving the country and advancing clean energy use, Cote has served his community as well. He ran for Congress in 2008 and served on the Sanford School Committee until his deployment. Thank you, Mr. Cote, and congratulations.

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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.