Here are this week’s “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” selections:
• Thumbs up to George Needham, who has been tapped to follow Mary Jane Santos as director of the Delaware County District Library. Notice we didn’t say “replace.” Santos, who is retiring next month, will be a tough act to follow, as she’s been a positive influence on our library system since she first became involved with it as a member of the Friends of the Library in 1977 — and has remained involved ever since. We wish Needham the best in his new role and, of course, hope Santos has a long and fulfilling retirement.
• We were somewhat disappointed that no taxpayers attended a forum Tuesday on the Delaware Area Career Center’s plans to consolidate its two campuses. Perhaps it’s a sign that everyone is on board with the $35 million project, but we doubt it. We fear it’s more likely a sign of apathy. In any event, you’ll have another chance to attend a second forum on the same important topic at the DACC North Campus (the one to be closed) from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 25. In the meantime, DACC will take questions on the project on its Facebook page from 2 to 3 p.m. Aug. 13 and 10 to 11 a.m. Aug. 31. Now’s the time to express your opinion, not after the project has started.
• Thumbs up to the patience demonstrated by the architects from West Virginia-based Silling Associates, who have been hearing the concerns and complaints of Delaware’s Historic Preservation Commission about the new county judicial center that’s to be built next to the Hayes Building on North Sandusky. The architects have patiently been tweaking the drawings for weeks in order to win the commission’s approval and to meet its demands for incorporating elements that will be consistent with the rest of the city’s historic district. Let’s hope they will have an easier time of it with the City Planning Commission and City Council so this project can get underway.
• If you missed last Monday’s Gazette, you missed the stories of two local heroes. The first was about Evan Lamping, 14, who offered his EpiPen to save a bee-sting allergy victim last month in Pennsylvania. The other was about Elijah Campbell, a local landscaper who’s giving a helping hand to 90-year-old William Combs, a local World War II veteran — just because he wanted to help out a veteran in need. Thumbs up to both Evan and Elijah for their good deeds. (By the way, you can still read the stories on our website, www.delgazette.com.)
• And on behalf of all the students who will trudging off to school this week, we give a big “thumbs down” to the school officials who keep starting the school year earlier and earlier and earlier. At this rate, it won’t be long until school starts on Aug. 1.
