Thumbs up to all of those who walked or ran in the annual Mary’s Walk and Kerrymen Pub 5k on Sunday, March 28 to raise money for cancer research in Maine.

Each person’s small effort can add up to make a difference in the fight against this prevalent disease and all should be commended, particularly those who continue to organize such a grand effort year after year.

Thumbs up to all the participants of the University of New England’s  recent “Passport to Culture International Children’s Festival” that allowed youth to learn about far-away cultures. The college students opened up their event to young people this year in an attempt to promote multi-cultural acceptance and understanding and by all accounts, it was a success.

Thumbs up to Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, for taking the time to visit with Mainers and discuss the newly passed health care legislation. While President Barack Obama made the rounds, with a visit to Portland Thursday, Snowe also let Mainers know about the law’s shortcomings and the impact it could have on small businesses. Sharing her concerns about the bill, after more than a year of working on it in the Finance Committee, is important so that Mainers can hear both sides of the story.

Thumbs up to the proposal in Old Orchard Beach to bring year-round passenger rail service to the town. Currently, the train platform is seasonal, but it is set up with pipes for heating if a furnace is added. If the rail authority is willing to make another stop along the way to Saco, the train service could be a boon to those who are working to keep the beachside town thriving during the off-season.

Thumbs up to all those who volunteered their time to help with the presidential visit Thursday and also to those who took the time to share their opposing views as protesters. Regardless of whether one agrees with the new healthcare legislation, it was a great honor for a sitting president to visit Maine. He was given a warm, well-organized reception by supporters and the opposition remained respectful while getting their point across.

— 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.