Thumbs up to Robert Bohlmann, who will be retiring from his position as York County Emergency Management director after 15 years of service. Bohlmann has been helping his community handle emergencies ever since he was a 15-year-old in Connecticut and made his mark locally not only at York County EMA but also in the fire service in Wells.

His positive attitude and considerable talent in managing well-organized, quick responses to both natural and man-made disasters will be missed.

Thumbs up to Biddeford High School administrators and staff for improving students’ success rate. The school recently announced that its graduation rate improved 6 percent from 2009 to 2010 and the dropout rate decreased from 5.13 percent to 3.25 percent in that same time period. New efforts to help students regain lost credits and to support them in their education have helped make these goals a reality and the school district should be applauded for its continued efforts to improve student success at BHS. In today’s job market, those without at least a high school diploma will find it hard to make a living wage, so the school board also deserves some kudos for helping students reach that goal by recently giving initial approval to lowering the number of credits needed for graduation from 26, the highest in the state, to 24.

Thumbs up the Public Utilities Commission for its decision to grant Central Maine Power an exemption from Saco’s ordinance that would have required power lines to be buried underground. As our population grows and our demand for electricity swells with it, these new higher-voltage lines are needed throughout Maine. The utility company should not have to expend millions to bury lines underground ”“ a cost that all users of electricity will later have to pay ”“ because of one city’s belief that the lines may be harmful and would lower property values.

Thumbs up to the Masons, Knights of Columbus and all other community volunteers who are instrumental in opening the Westbrook Skating Rink every season. Organizers are saying that the rink needs significant improvements that have put its use into question for next season and we hope the community will step up to help with these costs and work. Skating at Westbrook is a long standing tradition in Biddeford that brings families together and gives youth a positive outlet for their energy.

Thumbs down to the closure of the Lyman-Dayton Food Pantry, which served nearly 50 families in the area. Though the York County Food Rescue will step in to help those in need in these two communities, it is unfortunate that those residents will now have to travel farther for help. The pantry had struggled in recent years over disagreements with the Lions Club, with which it was formerly affiliated, and the loss of its space at the old town hall in Lyman when the building was sold. Pantry director Linda McLaren did all she could to help the needy, even as the current location did not work out, and we wish her good work could continue.

Thumbs up to all those who have been donating their time to clean out the old York County Jail on Route 4. Bids will soon be coming in from contractors seeking to renovate the building as the new home of the county’s emergency management agency, and those who helped to clean out the building have saved the county ”“ and therefore, all taxpayers ”“ a great deal of money by removing all the junk inside for free.

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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 e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.