Thumbs up to a gift that really will keep on giving, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon’s $1 million contribution to NorthEast Medical Center. The result was unveiled last weekend, the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, and it will help area children for years to come. The benefits of being home to NASCAR have never been more evident. Thanks, Jeff.

Thumbs down to stress-induced rudeness, a malady shoppers sometimes exhibit without realizing it. The shopping crunch is coming to an end, but sometimes the end is worst of all. Please have patience with retail clerks and other shoppers. They’re probably under just as much pressure as you are.

Thumbs up to Harmony Labs’ success. The Landis-based cosmetic and pharmaceutical company has bought the former Wal-Mart building on North Cannon Boulevard — the better to spread out its operations in. Cannon Boulevard has had its share of empty stores. Filling this space should help the local tax base and our appearance. Hooray.