This space (and my portion thereof) is usually given over to snark, sarcasm, and criticism, in various combinations. But there’ve been a few good-news stories lately, and I’d like to take the time on this newest, freshest day of the year to offer some thanks and gratitude. (Possibly seasoned by just a pinch of snark. Gotta be me.)

— Hooray for the opening of the new Champlain bridge! It took just a bit more than two years, and came in just a bit over budget. All in all, a pretty darn remarkable accomplishment.  Y’know, when government works, it can do some really nice things.

Snark: Hopefully, New York will be a little more diligent about inspection and upkeep this time.

— Three cheers for the beefing-up of the LIHEAP funds for this winter. (It’s gonna get cold sooner or later, right?) Our Congressional delegation, and the Shumlin Administration, did some good work in pumping more money into this crucial program.

Snark: Congrats to Jeb Spaulding for doing his part in this, despite the perfidious attempt by VSEA to distract his attention.  

— Finally, good-on-ya to the DOT and all the hard-working road crews for reopening Route 107, the last highway shut down by Tropical Storm Irene. It’s quite an accomplishment, getting all that done under very urgent circumstances, in what would usually be the tail end of the road-construction season. (And an assist to global warming for the late onset of winter that helped make it possible.)

Snark: We’ll see how the rivers and streams deal with the consequences of various unpermitted construction activities. Still, IMO, while I’m sure some unfortunate things were done, it was a rare situation when some shortcutting was called for.